A graduation cap and diploma set over background of greenery and brown eyed Susans. (Graphic via Canva)
Rowan University is growing. It always has been, but the past few years have been different. So much so that in 2023, Rowan was the third fastest growing research university in the nation and even today is among the top 10.
Rowan is even set to be listed as an R1 university in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, a distinction colleges earn when, among other things, they award 70 or more doctoral degrees per year and spend at least $50 million per year on research activity.
Changes to Rowan aren’t just happening in the classroom, however. There’s been the Chamberlain Student Center expansion as well as the closure of much of the Campbell Library, the opening of Discovery Hall, the acquisition of various properties in the region, and new campuses popping up left and right.
Socially, Rowan is ever-evolving as well. Speak to any Rowan alumni and they’ll talk to you about what it was like to go to school in the “sleepy town” of Glassboro. Today, you’ll find Glassboro to be anything but. Greek life is on the rise, with 31 recognized organizations active and many regularly hosting events, on and off campus. It’s impossible to be around campus on a weekend without seeing groups of people walking to one party or another.
But, it wasn’t always like this, and some students may not have been ready for the changes that come with going to a school growing as fast as Rowan.
When a student chooses to commit to a school, there are many factors that they take into account, such as location, cost, course offerings, and even prestige.
Rowan has never been a school for the latter, but the former have all been very alluring for students in the South Jersey area. Proximity to major cities, a low cost of attendance that has gotten even lower thanks to partnerships with neighboring community colleges, and ever-expanding course offerings have all brought students to Rowan, including a robust transfer population.
Still, some students may be surprised to find that the “unknown” university they committed to is home to 31 Greek organizations, a medical school, and a veterinary school. They might be even more surprised to find out that the college they committed to has merged with another, such as the Ric Eidelman College of Humanities and Social Sciences merger or the College of the Arts merger.
It can be difficult to stomach such a bait and switch when you’ve chosen to attend a school that, without warning, has made such drastic changes to its operation in such a short time.
It’s impossible for a student to anticipate these changes when selecting a school, something that students who committed to the University of the Arts (UArts) of Philadelphia found out after its dramatic and sudden closure mid-2024.
One thing students can be thankful for is that even amidst changes that can feel sudden, Rowan itself is not about to pull the rug from under us. After all, enrollment is on the rise, our administration is continuously finding new opportunities for growth and expansion, and donors are taking notice of Rowan, if the Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine is any indication.
Still, it’s not a comfortable feeling to watch your university transform before your very eyes. In times like these, it’s best to assess.
What brought you to Rowan?
How do changes on campus impact you directly?
What are your dealbreakers?
If you came to Rowan for the engineering program, then many of these changes would not impact you directly. Still, if you came to Rowan expecting a quiet dorm room and were thrust into the annals of Holly Pointe, it might be time to reconsider your expectations as well as your goals. That’s when it’s important to ask, what are your dealbreakers?
If it’s impossible for you to reckon with these changes, be it a merger, expansion, or even something as minute as parking, it’s okay to consider leaving Rowan. As a university student, you are the consumer. If you find that your money and time would be better spent elsewhere, and there is a school or program that would better serve your needs, then you should go there.
The Whit Staff wants to encourage our readers to consider first and foremost what is important to them. If staying at Rowan is among those values, then look at the steps you can take to make yourself more comfortable here.
Feedback is paramount to operating a public university. As such, if you think that changes being made negatively impact you, your major at large, or the people who live here, it might be best to consider reaching out to relevant parties. Schedule a meeting with your academic advisor to discuss how these changes impact you. Create a game plan. If you think part of your education is being overlooked or swept under the rug, you can even reach out to department chairs.
As Rowan changes, it’s completely normal to grapple with what these adjustments mean as you pursue higher education. Remember to prioritize yourself and your education, whatever that looks like.
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