With a new student center, a new school of veterinary medicine, new graduate and doctorate programs, and a “master plan” for the university’s future it’s safe to say that Rowan University is well prepared for its incoming Profs. For the past twenty years, the university has adopted a visionary approach to its growth, with new amenities, rising national rankings, and a desire to expand past the Glassboro campus. 

While shiny new museums and buildings are exciting for the future of the university, its rapid and ever-present construction may leave some students feeling like their current education, here and now, is not as important as what’s to come. 

The first and most prominent reason for this feeling of disregard is the ongoing construction on campus. Since the spring of 2022, the Chamberlain Student Center has been undergoing construction, with the center of campus largely blocked off as the expansion continues to be built. Due to this blockage, students walking routes to academic buildings are lengthened, cutting into valuable time that students could be spending studying or making it to class on time. 

The construction also restricts access to study spaces, like the Campbell Library. Currently, floors 4-6 are under construction due to phase one of construction, with several of the study spaces unavailable. Many of the books have also been removed due to the renovations. 

The second pain point for students is the decentralized locations of resources, like Career Services, which earlier in the year was brought up to the university senate. Many departments have also been spread out across multiple academic buildings, which makes creating a cohesive schedule more difficult for students, especially when required classes are scheduled back to back on opposite sides of the campus. 

Academic advisors have also felt the strain of the rapidly growing student population. Many advisors have brought up to the senate that they feel “understaffed” due to having too many students per advisor to provide them with sufficient help that they need. Some handle over 300 students, which is a massive responsibility placed on one person.

With all of this in mind, it isn’t to say that growth and expansion are all negative. When the university expands, so do job opportunities, economic development, and academic opportunities for students. Just last year, Rowan put together a report that stated that the economic impact of the university in the state was $2.9 billion. Metrics and fiscal reasons aside, more amenities and learning facilities provide students with greater opportunities for experiential and interdisciplinary learning. 

In order to really allow students to take advantage of the benefits of its growth, Rowan needs to pay more mind to its current students and focus more attention to their academic experience. Planning for the future is great– but not at the cost of the present. 

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