Office of Community Affairs

Council for Higher Education in Newark (CHEN)

Council for Higher Education in Newark The vision for CHEN is two-fold: one internal to the academic life of the four institutions, and the other in relation to the institutions' external environment of Newark, the region and the state.

Mission and Vision

The Council for Higher Education in Newark (CHEN) has existed as an informal association for thirty years without formal/legal relationships. In the early 1970's, CHEN was formed to foster cooperation among the schools and to make Newark a significant American University Center. The participating schools were, and continue to be, Essex County College, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Rutgers University-Newark and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. As a vehicle for collaboration in both public service and education, CHEN has increased the range of the universities' programs and services, as well as the number of students served.

CHEN builds intellectual capacity, student options and opportunities, develops faculty strength, and increases research opportunities within and between the four institutions. By identifying overlapping interests, working collectively in areas of academic, administrative and student affairs, CHEN enhances the standing of each individual institution. Recognizing the unique character and individuality of each institution, its purpose is to encourage collaborative relationships among the four institutions in Newark.

CHEN is committed to improving the quality of life in the surrounding neighborhood through advancing the College Town image. Through economic, business and community development initiatives, CHEN has engaged in the following variety of activities:

CHEN Summit on the Development of University/ Business Partnerships:

Through Summit Conferences on the Development of University/Business Partnerships, CHEN, along with the City of Newark, Newark Alliance, Regional Business Partnership and Regional Plan Association, panelists focus on how strategic partnering can fuel the economic development of Newark and the Northern New Jersey region. “Destination: Newark, Year 2013,” issued at the Summit Conferences explores Newark's potential to emerge as a top destination, that will depend on effective civic partnerships. Dramatic expansion in Newark's housing, education, healthcare and cultural institutions may pose certain challenges, but these attractions enable Newark to connect with other towns as the hub of metropolitan life and industry. The Summit conference discusses how powerful collaboration--which for decades has been CHEN's specialty--can change the entire region, beginning in Newark.

Economic Impact Study:

In 2001, CHEN released an Economic Impact Report which documented the universities’ collective impact toward fueling the economy of the city, the state and the entire region. Together, the institutions spent billions of dollars in 2001 educating students and through their collective efforts. In fact, if the four CHEN schools were viewed as a business‚ they would be a $1.1 billion corporation with more than 11‚800 employees‚ $480 million in payrolls and 26‚000 students. In addition to the colleges’ economic impact upon the city‚ the four schools also revitalize the community‚ improving the quality of life and turning it into a college town. Thousands of students graduate each year from the colleges‚ joining the workforce as doctors‚ dentists‚ engineers‚ architects‚ computer scientists‚ lawyers‚ teachers and executives. Additional information about CHEN is available at the CHEN website: www.chen-nj.org.

CHEN College Town Shuttle

The CHEN College Town Shuttle, an inter-campus shuttle service serving the University Heights area in Newark, is a result of the longstanding‚ collaborative relationships between the CHEN institutions. The shuttle is available for use by faculty, staff and students from Essex County College, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Rutgers University-Newark and UMDNJ. The CHEN Shuttle operates Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. In addition to transporting University-bound passengers at each institution, the Shuttle also allows individuals to board or exit the shuttle at the Broad Street Train Station (formerly called Lackawanna Station) and at the CHEN Building (corner of Warren and Lock Streets), which is in close proximity to International Center for Public Health.

Specific pick-up/drop-off locations are designated at each institution (Note: On the UMDNJ Newark campus, the shuttle will pickup and discharge passengers at the entrance of the Medical Science Building).