Rutgers President Holloway Holds First Town Hall at Rutgers–Camden
In his first public appearance at Rutgers University–Camden, Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway on Wednesday praised the spirit of community and camaraderie cherished by students on the Camden campus, as well as addressed issues of pay equity and budgeting.
Holloway, who began as president in July 2020, said early in his tenure he met with Rutgers–Camden student government leaders in a virtual meeting. “Their enthusiasm for Camden was palpable—even through the Zoom wires,” Holloway said during the town hall session attended primarily by students, faculty, and staff in the Campus Center. “They love this place.”
He said one of the student group’s initial requests was that when he visited Camden, that they be allowed to give him a campus tour. He took them up on their offer Wednesday morning, taking a tour guided by three students who knew everyone they encountered. “The things that the students told me on Zoom were confirmed,” Holloway said. “That’s a very beautiful thing.”
Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway (left) was introduced by Rutgers University–Camden Chancellor Antonio D. Tillis (right) during the town hall.
He said students value the family feeling and close-knit community on campus, which he witnessed firsthand. “That’s something that is very special about Camden that cannot be replicated at New Brunswick.”
In addressing issues of pay equity that have been raised by Rutgers–Camden faculty recently, Holloway, who fielded questions from the audience as well as ones provided beforehand, said he could not specifically comment on the issue because the university is following a process and that pending litigation also limits what he can say publicly. However, he said he is optimistic the issues can be addressed and the university can become a leader in establishing fair pay. “I want us to be a beacon of how we treat people equitably,” Holloway said.
Holloway also addressed the perception of inequities regarding comparisons of Rutgers–Camden budgets with those in Rutgers–New Brunswick and Rutgers–Newark. He reassured the Rutgers–Camden community that they are not overlooked. “There is incredible talent here,” he said.
Three weeks prior to Holloway’s town hall session, Rutgers–Camden Chancellor Antonio D. Tillis gave his inaugural Fall Address on Sept. 28. Tillis, who took the helm as chancellor in July and introduced Holloway on Wednesday, plans to present Fall and Spring Addresses to the campus community to continue an open dialogue of communication. “That way, the entirety of the community will have a level of transparency as to what are our major initiatives and priorities at Rutgers–Camden,” Tillis said.
