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NJCU Board of Trustees Unanimously Extends President Acebo’s Contract
JERSEY CITY, N.J. | The New Jersey City University (NJCU) Board of Trustees announced it has extended the contract of Interim President Andrés Acebo. The announcement was made on Monday, December 9 during the regular public Board of Trustees meeting on campus after a unanimous vote of the Board of Trustees.
Acebo, who has served as Interim President since being appointed to a two-year term on January 17, 2023, has had his contract as Interim President extended for an 18-month period through June 30, 2026, with an option for a one-year renewal through June 30, 2027. The news earned a standing ovation from those in attendance at the meeting.
Luke Visconti, Chair of the NJCU Board of Trustees, said: “Mr. Acebo shares the Board of Trustees’ commitment to ensuring the long-term sustainability of NJCU’s mission and delivering best outcomes for students, as we seek a potential strategic partnership with another like-minded higher education institution. We look forward to his continued leadership at a pivotal time in this institution’s 97-year history. We are grateful we can count on his dedication, passion and commitment to the mission of NJCU, as we faithfully work to find a path forward.”
Since taking office in the midst of a financial emergency, Acebo has steered NJCU forward. He has helped orchestrate four major strategic initiatives: the release of the NJCU Recovery and Revitalization Plan (April 2023), introduction of the university's first Academic Master Plan (February 2024) and the institution’s first Strategic Enrollment Plan (April 2023). In December 2024, NJCU unveiled its first-ever Student Development and Community Engagement Strategic Plan.
In February 2024, the university unveiled a refresh of the University Mission Statement and introduced its first ever Vision Statement. Both statements are offered in both English and Spanish, in recognition of the richly diverse community the university serves and as testament to its status as the oldest public four-year minority and Hispanic-serving institution in New Jersey.
Furthermore, Acebo has led to the University's finances being stabilized and the first balanced operating budget since 2017 — less than two years after NJCU reported a $22.7 million deficit. Moody’s agreed, upgrading NJCU’s outlook from “negative” to “stable” in February 2024. In November 2024, Fitch Ratings did the same. This year’s two upgrades in rating and outlook are the first for NJCU in more than a decade.
Acebo's advocacy rallied support for the university from key stakeholders — including the campus and local community, union and local leaders, and legislative champions.
Additionally, he has forged key partnerships with other colleges, highlighted by the Hudson Connect Program with Hudson County Community College, and similar agreements with Essex County College and Mercer County Community College. Furthermore, Acebo has signed key strategic MOUs, including with the NJEA, Hudson Building Trades, GLACO, AFT Local 1839, Jersey City POBA, Boys & Girls Clubs of Hudson County, Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (SHCCNJ) and Hudson County Latin American Chamber of Commerce (HCLACC).
NJCU’s relationship with the Jersey City Public Schools (JCPS) has never been stronger than during Acebo’s tenure. Notably, NJCU in partnership with the A. Harry Moore Laboratory School launched the A. Harry Moore School Life Independence and Future Transitions (LIFT) in October 2024 on campus in Grossnickle Hall and in November 2024 signed an academic articulation agreement with the Jersey City Board of Education aimed at enhancing the operation of the JCPS Visual and Performing Arts Program.
RELATED NEWS COVERAGE | ||
Date | Media Outlet | Title (Link) |
12/10/2024 | ROI-NJ | |
12/10/2024 | NJ.com/The Jersey Journal | NJCU Interim President Acebo gets 18-month contract extension |
12/11/2024 | NJBiz | |
12/11/2024 | Hudson County View | NJCU board unanimously votes for 18-month extension for interim president |
About NJCU:
New Jersey City University is a comprehensive public regional institution committed to providing a high-quality education to a diverse student population. Located in Jersey City, New Jersey, NJCU offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for learning, professional development, and community engagement. Recognized as a top university for improving upward economic social mobility, students enrolled in our undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs have access to an affordable, diverse environment, and an exceptionally supportive faculty. This prepares them to go on to become the next generation of workers and leaders who improve their communities and the State of New Jersey.
Contact:
Ira Thor, Associate Vice President for University Communications and Marketing | ithor@njcu.edu | 201-200-3301