Drew University joins through its newly launched college — an ambitious initiative, built on Drew’s long history of educational innovation since its founding in 1867, that reimagines undergraduate education around human connection, mentorship, and student purpose. The model places close faculty-student relationships and applied, real-world learning at the center of the experience, reflecting a core belief that student flourishing depends not only on academic achievement but on the development of identity, belonging, agency, and purpose. Drew’s first prototype cohort launched in January 2026, offering an intensive, mentor-guided experience organized around two focal points: building real-world problem-solving capabilities and cultivating a clear sense of personal mission.

Launched in spring 2026 and working within a cohort-based structure, students engage with complex problems alongside faculty mentors and peers, then use that foundation to design individualized learning pathways for the rest of their undergraduate careers. The initiative is part of a broader and longer-term vision — extending the model across a 60-year learning journey that supports individuals as they navigate changing personal and professional landscapes well beyond graduation. Through its membership in the LearningWell Coalition, Drew will contribute to and learn from a national network of institutions advancing the kind of bold, learner-centered innovation that prepares students to flourish in work and in life.