Stockton 2026: A Look Ahead

January 2, 2026

We hope 2026 is full of bright and sunny days on campus.

Galloway, N.J. – The upcoming year promises growth, celebrations and new beginnings. Take a look at what’s ahead for Stockton University in 2026:

Soaring Forward: Strengthening Community, Advancing Excellence

A student receiving her diploma

A student and faculty member at a whiteboard

Staff members posing for a photo at a Tri Union BBQ

Student nurses in a simulated lab

Volunteers posing for a photo with sandwiches they made for the MLK Day of Service

The plan’s strategic priorities include:

Cultivate a Community of Care: Belonging and Pride
Inspire Minds: Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship
Empower Student Success
Anchor in Purpose: Serving the Region and Beyond
Sustain Tomorrow: Stewardship and Innovation

Following the introduction of Stockton’s new Strategic Plan last fall, the university will continue implementing the plan’s objectives, which reflect what the university wants to achieve over the next three years.

This month, the Implementation Team will begin prioritizing actions, aligning resources and preparing the first reporting cycle. Strategies will be put into action with regular monitoring, evaluation and refinement beginning with the spring semester.

These priorities will guide how the university sets goals, invests resources and measures progress through 2028.

Review Stockton's Strategic Plan

Gaining a New Library Learning Commons

The $19.5 million Bjork Library renovation project will continue in 2026 and is on track to be completed by the start of the fall semester.

Staff members with hard hats walking through the library while it's under construction — The Richard Bjork Library renovation has been underway since fall 2024.

The project will transform the three-story, 100,000-square-foot space in the middle of the Galloway campus into a library learning commons where students can gather for meetings, participate in experiential learning opportunities and work with archival materials and primary sources.

Some of the upgrades include 34 additional study rooms, a new roof and heating and air conditioning system, and more charging stations for computers and mobile devices.

Learn More | Richard E. Bjork Library

View Timeline | More Details | Library Learning Commons Planning

Stockton’s Performing Arts Center Celebrating 50 Years

For five decades, Stockton’s Performing Arts Center has been a space that housed impressive musical acts, cutting-edge dance, soul-stirring theatrical performances and more.

Peking Acrobats performing on stage — The Peking Acrobats will perform gravity-defying feats on the Stockton PAC mainstage this March.

Founded in 1976, the Stockton PAC has grown into a venue for on-campus, local and global talent, while also becoming a hub for educational programming that will inspire the next generation of learners and lovers of the arts.

As the 2025-26 season begins to wind down, the PAC plans to reflect on and honor the past while asking audiences what they envision for the next 50 years. The 2026-27 season and further 50th-anniversary plans will be announced in late August or early September.

View the 2025-26 Season Calendar

Lending a Hand and Being of Service to the Community

The Stockton community will come together for a day of honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy during the 22^nd annual Day of Service on Monday, Jan. 19.

The day, beginning with breakfast and an awards ceremony at 9 a.m., will feature projects at the Galloway, Atlantic City and Hammonton locations. Last year, nearly 900 volunteers worked across all three campuses.

Students posing for a photo after picking up litter in Atlantic City — Last year's Community Clean Up drew hundreds of volunteers to beautify Atlantic City.

The 5^th annual Community Day Clean Up and Party in the Park is slated to return on Saturday, Oct. 24.

Volunteers will help beautify Atlantic City by picking up trash and litter in neighborhoods and on beaches. Following the cleanup, volunteers will enjoy a day of family-friendly activities, supporting small local businesses and more in O’Donnell Park.

Explore Stockton's Impact on Atlantic City

Supporting Student Scholarships

The Stockton University Foundation’s annual Scholarship Benefit Gala will be back at the Campus Center in Galloway on Saturday, April 18.

Students, staff and faculty at 2025's Scholarship Benefit Gala — After a successful return to campus last year, the Scholarship Benefit Gala in April promises to be a lively evening full of connection and purpose.

In 2025, the Gala returned to the Galloway campus for the first time in 20 years. Nearly 500 alumni, donors, faculty, staff, parents and friends raised more than $333,000 toward scholarships.

Save the Date | Scholarship Benefit Gala

Celebrating the Class of 2026

Ospreys will celebrate their achievements at a trio of commencement ceremonies in May.

Graduates celebrating and posing for a photo in Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall — Stockton's three ceremonies, taking place in May on both the Galloway campus and Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, offer a chance for families and friends to celebrate their graduate's accomplishments.

Graduate students earning master’s and doctoral degrees will participate in a ceremony on Tuesday, May 12, in the Sports Center on the Galloway campus. Baccalaureate candidates will walk in ceremonies on Friday, May 15, at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

The morning ceremony, beginning at 9:30 a.m., will recognize students in the Schools of Business and Social & Behavioral Sciences. The afternoon ceremony, beginning at 2:30 p.m., will include graduates of the Schools of Arts & Humanities, Education, Health Sciences, Natural Sciences & Mathematics, and the William T. Daly School of General Studies.

More Information | Commencement

– Story by Stacey Clapp, Mark Melhorn and Loukaia Taylor

– Photos by Susan Allen, Lizzie Nealis and Stockton staff