Welcome to Edition 186 of This Week at NJCU for December 15, 2025. This once-weekly Monday publication will inform the university community about all events happening each week over the next eight days on campus + future events to add to your calendar.

To submit your event for the December 22, 2025 edition, which will cover events from December 22, 2025 through January 5, 2026, please use the form at the bottom of this communication. This Week at NJCU will take a break during the holidays and will resume publication on Monday, January 5.

All listed times are Eastern Standard Time (EST). All events are in-person unless otherwise noted as online, via Zoom, or hybrid.

Connect with us at communications@njcu.edu.

Beginning in January, This Week at NJCU will expand into two editions to better serve our campus community. Due to the newsletter's continued growth and success, we are splitting content to make it easier for you to find the information you need.

The Monday edition will focus exclusively on upcoming events, giving you a comprehensive look at what's happening on campus each week. Our new midweek edition will feature university announcements, news, and important updates.

We appreciate your continued readership and hope this new format will make This Week at NJCU even more useful for staying connected to campus life. You will still use the same form to submit your announcements.

Monday, December 15 • 2-4 p.m.
via Zoom

The University Senate will hold a regular meeting on December 15. Register in advance for this meeting. You must have an NJCU email account to register. Dr. David S. Birdsell, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Kean University will provide an update.

Friday, December 19, 2025 • 7:30 p.m.
Margaret Williams Theatre (Hepburn Hall)

Step back into the era of mirror balls and pure musical magic. Join us for STUDIO2039, as the NJCU Pop/R&B Ensemble celebrates the anthems that defined a generation.

Get 50% off tickets with code FamilyandFriends!

Wishing a joyful and bright Hanukkah to all who celebrate! May this season bring peace, light, and happiness to you and your loved ones.

Hanukkah 2025 begins at sundown on Sunday, December 14, and ends at sundown on Monday, December 22

See Spotlight Events for more information

No additional events are scheduled.

No additional events are scheduled.

No additional events are scheduled.

No additional events are scheduled.

Friday, December 19, 2025 • 7:30 p.m.
Margaret Williams Theatre (Hepburn Hall)

Get 50% off tickets with code FamilyandFriends!

See Spotlight Events for more information and to register.

No additional events are scheduled.

Last day of the Fall semester

No additional events are scheduled.

No events are scheduled.

December through January

As the semester winds down, settle in with a great read and explore frosty landscapes, thrilling mysteries, heartwarming romances, and surprising journeys. The Guarini Library’s latest leisure reading collection offers a fresh escape for any winter day.

Visit the Library on the first floor to book your winter adventure with your Gothic ID — or view it online — and discover a story to enrich your season.

Multisite University Student Experience Survey

College/University Students ≥18 Needed for an Anonymous Online Survey on Student Life & Tech Usage

Faculty from the NJCU Psychology Department are seeking volunteers to complete an anonymous online survey about everyday online and offline behavior and technology use (including AI) among university students.

Your anonymous responses will help investigators understand student experiences and skills across campuses and will inform peer-reviewed research, campus support services, and responsible technology guidance.

If you are 18 or older, please use the survey link/QR code to read the consent information before starting this study. Please feel free to share this volunteer research opportunity with other students.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this study, contact the Principal Investigator Dr. Peri Yuksel at Pyuksel@njcu.edu or Co-Investigator Dr. Nic Zapparrata at NZapparrata@njcu.edu. You can also contact Dr. Meriem Bendaoud, chair of the NJCU Institutional Review Board, for any questions concerning your rights as a participant in this study at Mbendaoud@njcu.edu.

Eligible graduate students are invited to apply for the Professional Pathways Scholarship for the Spring 2026 semester. This program is part of the Department of Education Title V PPOHA initiative, which is dedicated to enabling Hispanic and low-income students with academic ability to successfully complete graduate professional degrees.

We are providing a limited number of scholarships—14 awards of up to $5,000—for Spring 2026.

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must meet the following criteria:

Don't miss out on this opportunity!

The Alumni Relations office is pleased to share that New Jersey City University has once again been awarded funding from the Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation to support scholarships for NJCU students. This scholarship is designed to ease financial burdens and recognize the unique challenges faced by students who balance academics with work and family responsibilities.

To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Each year, over 25 students are selected to receive this scholarship. If you meet the eligibility requirements, the Alumni Relations team strongly encourages you to apply.

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 1839 AFL-CIO is offering three scholarship opportunities each in the amount of $1,000 during the Spring 2026 semester to any NJCU undergraduate or graduate student who meets the following qualifications:

GPA Requirements:

For further information, contact: Isabel Casais at icasais@njcu.edu.

Join our weekly drop-in support group - no appointment needed, no commitment required. Every week, students gather to share real experiences, learn practical stress-management techniques, and discover you're not alone in navigating college challenges.

Whether you're dealing with academic pressure, relationship stress, or just feeling overwhelmed, this is your space to connect authentically with peers who understand. Drop in anytime during our weekly sessions. Stay for 20 minutes or the full hour - whatever works for your schedule and comfort level. Every voice is valued and every student belongs.

KNIGHTPASS is your ultra-affordable ticket to all of the VIP experiences, private receptions, biggest moments, best thrills, and breakthrough performances by tomorrow's elite actors and actresses, today's award winners, and more.

The NJCU Exercise Science Department is recruiting participants for a university-approved research study titled “Culturally Tailored Dietary Guidelines for Hispanic and Afro-Caribbean Populations.” The goal of this study is to better understand cultural food practices and create more inclusive and effective nutrition resources.

We’re looking to speak with individuals who identify as Hispanic or Afro-Caribbean and are interested in sharing their experiences and perspectives in a short focus group session (in-person or via Zoom).

If you or someone you know may be interested, sign up here:

For more information, please email Dr. Josh Williamson at jwilliamson3@njcu.edu.

This annual award is presented for the best memoir, personal essay, or creative nonfiction written by a student in a course at NJCU during the 2025-26 academic year.

Email submissions by May 20, 2026 to:

Submissions must be 2,000-3,000 words and must be submitted in a file that includes title and word count, but not the author’s name. A separate file should include the title of the submission, author name, course, and semester for which it was written, and contact information. No more than one submission per student.

About the Kathy Potter Memorial Writing Award

The Kathy Potter Memorial Writing Award was established in 2013 in memory of Kathleen M. Hackett Potter who died on January 6, 2013. Kathy graduated summa cum laude from NJCU with a bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in Creative Writing and a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. She received honors for her senior thesis in creative nonfiction, “Thruway.” In 2008, she became Editorial Assistant at "Transformations: The Journal of Inclusive Scholarship and Pedagogy," published by NJCU, and was a vital force in its success. In 2009, she was appointed Managing Editor. With other NJCU writers, Kathy started a 100-word group that became the catalyst for countless NJCU-based 100-word groups. With other alumni, she founded the writers’ group The ReCollective. Kathy’s family, friends, fellow writers, and the NJCU community remember her though this award that recognizes the literary excellence of a student at the university she so loved.

NJCU’s Community Music School is now accepting registrations for private, one-on-one music lessons for students of all ages. Whether you're a beginner or looking to sharpen your skills, our experienced instructors offer personalized lessons across a wide range of instruments.

Instruments offered:

Lesson Details:

Start your musical journey with NJCU today!

For more details, or to enroll, contact us:

Adult and Continuing Education | 201-200-3089 | conted@njcu.edu

This fall, take a midweek pause to refresh your spirit! Join us every Tuesday at 1 p.m. in Vodra Hall Room 101 (Conference Room D). Online Option Available on Teams.

Come connect with colleagues, share fellowship, and grow in faith together. As a community, we’re here to support one another. If you have a Prayer Request, you’re invited to submit it using this form. All requests are kept entirely anonymous.

For more Information, contact Monica Almonor at malmonor@njcu.edu. Follow CRU on Instagram at @njcucru.

Select a therapist that aligns with your personal preferences, including gender, language, ethnicity, and area of expertise. Additionally, choose a time that suits your schedule, whether it be during the day, night, or weekend. You can conveniently connect with them through video, phone, chat, or message.

Experiencing a mental health crisis?

Help is available 24/7/365 by contacting: 866-646-1526.

Ask. Listen. Refer. is a 15–20 minute online suicide prevention training that equips faculty, staff, and students with the skills to recognize warning signs, identify those at risk, and refer them to help.

The training covers:

Participants will complete a pre- and post-test and receive a certificate. If you need proof of completion, please contact me—I can track participants.

This interactive program supports our ongoing commitment to mental health awareness and is a valuable resource for our division and campus.

Orientation is your gateway to college success at NJCU. At New Student Orientation, you'll finalize your course schedule and plan your academic path forward while picking up your official Student ID. You'll discover the leadership and professional development opportunities that will help distinguish you throughout your college career, and explore the comprehensive campus resources designed to support your academic and personal growth. This is also your chance to build meaningful connections with your classmates—the peers who will be part of your NJCU story. Before you arrive on campus for the spring semester, we'll help you resolve any last-minute Financial Aid or billing questions so you can start the year with confidence and clarity. Your future starts here!

Save the date for the 9th Annual NJCU Pedagogy Day. This year's theme is "From Neurons to Narratives: Motivation, Anxiety & Teaching in the Brain-Aware Classroom."

Spend a vibrant day grounded in science and best current practices as we explore the human driving forces behind learning and forgetting, motivation and anxiety, and the deeper drives that make us human. Through expert and student panels and workshops, we will connect brain research to classroom realities, share practical strategies, and build a community of educators committed to compassionate, evidence-based teaching.

All faculty, staff, alumni, and students are warmly welcome.

If you have any questions or would like to contribute, please contact the event chair, Dr. Peri Yuksel, at pyuksel@njcu.edu

All events/announcements must be submitted no later than Wednesday at noon to be included in the weekly email newsletter that will be released on the following Monday.