What Does the Virtual University Mean?

At the heart of the IAIMS Operational Phase Project is fulfillment of the vision of UMDNJ as the Virtual University of the Health Sciences.  This entails a collaborative electronic environment spanning the state and incorporating all elements of the academic enterprise, encompassing education, research, patient care, and community service; clinical, scholarly, and administrative resources.

A number of factors in UMDNJ's mission and identity made its role as a Virtual University of the Health Sciences, whose information resources could be accessed anytime, anywhere, a natural focus of our IAIMS vision.  UMDNJ's statewide scope and multiple campuses, with both full-time onsite and distance education students, as well as continuing health sciences educational programs, made this choice of emphasis natural.

UMDNJ is New Jersey's university of the health sciences.  We have five campuses, in Newark, New Brunswick/Piscataway, Camden, Stratford and Scotch Plains.  We operate a wholly owned hospital in Newark and a statewide behavioral health care network, and maintain over 200 academic and clinical affiliations across the state.  It is this statewide span, and our four-part mission of education, research, clinical care and community service, that make the focus of the IAIMS Operational Phase on integration and coordination so critical to UMDNJ.  

We have more than 5000 students enrolled in 50 degree programs available through our eight schools, including the only medical, dental and public health schools in the state.  We have three medical schools, a dental school, a School of Health Related Professions, School of Nursing, School of Public Health, and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

It was extremely gratifying to the participants in the IAIMS Project when the Board of Trustees of the University revised its mission statement to reflect the impact that these new communication and information technologies are having on the role of the University.  An excerpt from the new mission statement indicates that:

"...Providing education, research and service programs at campuses...and communities through the state, and nationally and internationally through advanced communication and information technologies, UMDNJ seeks to meet the needs of our diverse constituencies and improve the health and quality of life of the citizens of New Jersey and society at large."

                                    Approved by the Board of Trustees, 3/18/03