Kean University and New Jersey City University (NJCU) just signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) on May 15, 2025, moving forward with a proposed merger. The deal would merge NJCU into Kean, creating a new location called “Kean Jersey City.” The merger still needs approvals and a formal agreement between the two institutions before it becomes official.
Kean University President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D., shared, “This plan respects NJCU’s history while strengthening our joint dedication to access, fairness, and excellence. By joining forces, we are building a more robust public higher education system that meets the needs of New Jersey’s students and communities. Together, Kean and NJCU are reaffirming our duty as anchor institutions to support and empower those we serve.”
NJCU Interim President Andrés Acebo, J.D., added, “As NJCU approaches its centennial, this merger will kick off a new era in our mission to offer accessible and fair public higher education. Through a collaborative process focused on students and communities, we believe we can bring our campus communities together in a way that celebrates our unique cultures and creates a more vibrant, inclusive, and innovative university for the next century.”
Once the merger is finalized, the Kean president would take on executive oversight, with a campus chancellor chosen by the Kean president leading Kean Jersey City. NJCU students would seamlessly transition to Kean without any disruption to their education. Kean would also absorb NJCU’s assets and liabilities.
“This partnership demonstrates our strategic vision to create a strong, inclusive university that meets the needs of New Jersey’s students,” said Steve Fastook ’06H, chair of the Kean University Board of Trustees. “We are dedicated to shaping a future where public higher education has a significant social and economic impact.”
The signing of the LOI marks a significant step in the process, with a more detailed discussion set to follow. The Board of Trustees for both institutions is optimistic about the collaboration that will lead to a stronger university that better serves students and communities.
An integration planning team made up of representatives from both universities will start working immediately to coordinate the merger process with the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE). Shared services agreements will be developed to ensure operational efficiency and improved student success.
Overall, the state is supportive of the merger, viewing it as a positive step toward a strategic collaboration between the two institutions. The focus remains on fulfilling obligations, supporting long-term resilience, and prioritizing student success.
The nonbinding LOI outlines a regulatory process that will begin with a change in control, expected in June 2026, pending various approvals. This will be followed by the final merger implementation, subject to approval from the United States Department of Education (USDOE), where the NJCU campus will become an additional location of Kean University known as Kean Jersey City.
Maybe it’s just me, but this merger between Kean University and NJCU seems like a big deal. Not really sure why this matters, but it looks like they are trying to create a stronger, more inclusive university system in New Jersey. Let’s see how it all plays out in the end.
