Rowan University is set to launch the public phase of a $240 million fundraising campaign this today, Sept. 19. The initiative, named “Forging Forward,” aims to secure significant investment to support students, drive innovation, and expand the university’s presence in the region.
The campaign will focus on three key areas:
- Enhancing the student experience, with an emphasis on scholarships, wellness programs, and career pathways.
- Catalyzing research and innovation to advance the university’s academic mission.
- Building the “University of the Future,” which includes the transformation of Rowan’s West Campus.
The fundraising effort has already seen major success during its private phase. This includes an $85 million commitment from Virtua Health and a $25 million gift from alumni Ric and Jean Edelman to support the Edelman Fossil Park & Museum.
This launch comes as Rowan builds on a period of remarkable growth. The university’s student body has doubled to nearly 25,000, and it recently opened the Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine, the first of its kind in New Jersey. With the addition of this new school, Rowan is now just the second university in the nation to offer M.D., D.O., and D.V.M. medical programs. This expansion contributed to the university being recognized by the Chronicle of Higher Education as the fastest-growing public college in the Northeast.
The campaign’s public launch event will be held on Friday at 10:30 a.m. on the back patio of the Chamberlain Student Center, featuring comments from Rowan President Ali Houshmand and other leaders.
