New Jersey City University (NJCU) said May 26 that AFT Local 1839, the American Federation of Teachers local union representing NJCU faculty, professional staff, and librarians, has authorized a $25,000 restricted gift to the NJCU Foundation to support faculty research, scholarship and academic initiatives on the Jersey City campus.
The investment is intended to benefit full-time and adjunct faculty, professional staff and librarians engaged in teaching, scholarship, and student mentorship, with priority given to work that advances equity, social justice, and economic inclusion; incorporates student engagement and collaborative learning; and addresses issues such as criminal justice reform, labor and workforce development, public policy, and community well-being.
Eligible uses include research stipends, conference participation and scholarly dissemination, curriculum development, high-impact teaching initiatives, and student-engaged research and applied learning projects.
The announcement follows AFT Local 1839’s initial gift, announced May 1, which established a $25,000 scholarship fund benefiting students on the Jersey City campus who demonstrate financial need, academic achievement, and a connection to the values of organized labor and public higher education.
The latest gift from AFT Local 1839 holds even greater promise, given what lies ahead for the Jersey City campus. Kean University was designated an R2 research university by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education in February 2025, a recognition reserved for institutions with high research activity.
Following the merger of NJCU with Kean University to form Kean Jersey City in the summer of 2026, faculty, professional staff, and students on the Jersey City campus will have access to an expanded research infrastructure, greater opportunities for scholarly collaboration, and the resources of an institution with a growing national research profile.
“With Kean’s R2 designation and the merger creating new possibilities for research and scholarly engagement, we want the faculty and staff on this campus to be ready to seize that moment,” said Dr. William Calathes, professor of criminal justice at NJCU and president of AFT Local 1839. “This investment says: we believe in your work, we believe in your future, and we are committed to making sure this campus remains a place where serious scholarship can thrive.”
The announcement adds to the growing momentum of a planned centennial campaign that will benefit student scholarships and community engagement on the Jersey City campus following the merger of NJCU with Kean University in summer 2026.
The two commitments by AFT Local 1839 announced this month build upon the recently announced Silverman Family Scholarship, established by prominent real estate developer and philanthropist Paul Silverman with an initial $50,000 endowed gift to the NJCU Foundation.