Transforming FDU
Fairleigh Dickinson University Announces Bold Academic Transformation to Strengthen Student Success and Career Readiness
March 6, 2025 — In response to the evolving landscape of higher education, Fairleigh Dickinson University is embarking on a strategic transformation to enhance the student experience and align academic offerings with today’s critical in-demand careers. This initiative follows priorities identified in the “FDU Will Soar” strategic plan and the commitment to investing in areas of high student interest and need, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared for success in an increasingly competitive workforce.
To that end, and after an extensive review of FDU’s offerings — including consultation with faculty — the University will be discontinuing a number of programs on the New Jersey campuses and will be strengthening programs that lay the groundwork for careers in demand.
“The discontinuance of selected academic programs will help better define the focus of the institution,” said President Michael J. Avaltroni, “and will provide more targeted resources for programs to grow and develop and for FDU to better support our students.”
While FDU will continue to offer a range of academic programs, the president says the path forward will provide transformational opportunities for learners that align with and address critical workforce needs in professionally focused areas. An emphasis will be placed on programs including those in the health sciences, health-related fields, and other career-focused offerings.
FDU will cease enrolling new students in the discontinued programs effective immediately; however, FDU will be taking appropriate measures so that students currently enrolled and progressing in these programs will be provided with the necessary support and options to complete their studies and earn a degree in their area of interest. FDU’s current plans include continuing affected programs through June 30, 2027, and establishing teach-out programs as needed. Academic advisors are available for students enrolled in the affected programs to provide guidance and explore options to enable students to achieve their educational goals.
This shift in programming is part of FDU’s ongoing evolution and an effort to better respond to students’ desires for an education that is portable, flexible, affordable and aligned with career opportunities. Among notable recent initiatives, FDU created FDU Health, a new division uniting programs in the health sciences. It also established Lifelong Learning at FDU, an initiative to educate across the lifespan. And just last week it announced the launch of FDU HealthPath Forward, a new strategic initiative that will build a coalition of institutions to help develop healthcare-related programs, enhance workforce training, foster innovation in the sector and position the campuses as hubs for lifelong learning, health and wellbeing.
Avaltroni added that, in today’s higher education environment, it is not possible and does not serve students well to offer programs in every subject of interest. “Refocusing resources will enable FDU to thrive as an institution and heavily invest in addressing and supporting the needs and desires of today’s students by providing the distinctive and innovative education they deserve.”
For more information, see a letter from President Avaltroni, as well as key points, FAQs and the list of discontinued and impacted programs.