Confident Of Resolving Student Concerns, Says Rider University

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — Rider University said it was “confident” of resolving all concerns after Westminster Choir College students signed a petition expressing concerns over inadequate facilities, decreasing enrollment, unfulfilled promises and more.

In response to the petition, the University said it welcomed the feedback.

“Rider has invested considerable time and millions of dollars in the Westminster Choir College campus transition and the facilities to support it, all in a very challenging fiscal and COVID-impacted environment. We know transitions are hard and often require sustained work to get right,” said Kristine Brown, Rider’s associate vice president for marketing and communications.

“We welcome all feedback from students on their experience at Rider. Given the opportunity to investigate and respond to such concerns, we are extremely confident in our ability to resolve them to the satisfaction of students, faculty and staff.”

Read More Here: Rider U. Failed To Keep Promises, Say Westminster Choir Students

Until recently, Westminster Choir College was housed at Princeton. They moved to the Lawrenceville campus in 2020.

Many faculty members at Rider University have supported the students.

In their petition, the students highlight inadequate facilities, with leaking ceilings, water damage and mold, poor quality pianos, and rehearsal and performance spaces that are inadequate in size and have poor acoustics.

The University said it was constantly focused on ensuring the facilities “meet or hopefully exceed expectations.”

“That’s why we worked closely with industry experts to create or adapt practice rooms, performance spaces, classrooms and more on the Lawrenceville campus, including the same acoustic consultants who worked on Hillman Performance Hall on the Princeton campus,” Brown said.

Rider highlighted facilities-related information related to the Westminster campus transition, including new music computing lab, new presser voice lab inside the Fine Arts Center, 36 total practice rooms now available to students, and more.

This fall, audiences “enthusiastically greeted new recordings by Westminster choirs and their long-awaited return to live performance,” Brown said.

“We are fully dedicated to maintaining the high level of artistry and musical expression that makes such events — and Westminster's unique legacy — possible.”

Thank you for reading. Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com

Get breaking news alerts on your phone with our app. Download here. Sign up to get Patch emails so you don't miss out on local and statewide news.