Rutgers, County College of Morris Sign Agreement To Offer Rutgers Baccalaureates at CCM’s Campuses

The County College of Morris (CCM) and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, have partnered to allow CCM graduates, and others who hold associate degrees, to earn Rutgers baccalaureate degrees at CCM’s Randolph and Morristown locations, beginning in Fall 2014.

About 60 deans, faculty, executive team members and trustees from the institutions attended a signing ceremony at CCM’s Randolph campus on Feb. 27, to celebrate the new educational alliance. The program will launch with the Rutgers University–Newark majors of psychology, journalism, criminal justice, and public and non profit administration. The institutions plan to add other majors to the agreement in the future.

The collaboration will improve access to Rutgers' programs and resources to citizens of Morris County and the Northern New Jersey region.  Program participants also can take courses at other Rutgers University locations, including summer and winter courses.  On-site academic advising at CCM will be offered by Rutgers staff.

“The new Rutgers Higher Education Center at CCM fits perfectly with Rutgers' mission, and with the mission of the Newark campus in particular, of providing access to a four-year degree to students throughout the state of New Jersey,” notes Gretchen Van de Walle, associate dean for undergraduate education, Newark College of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University–Newark. “County College of Morris, with its excellent students, academic programs and faculty, as well as its location in the heart of northern New Jersey, is the ideal partner for this initiative.”

“Rutgers is pleased to be working with Dr. Edward Yaw and the administration of County College of Morris to enable their graduates and others in the surrounding region to attain their higher education goals,” said Richard Edwards, executive vice president of academic affairs at Rutgers. “Rutgers’ Off Campus Programs at CCM will give students more flexibility to balance family and work obligations while studying closer to home.”

“We at County College of Morris are delighted to enter into this partnership with Rutgers,” said Dr. Edward J. Yaw, president of CCM. “The agreement will allow us to serve Morris County and Northern New Jersey in an even greater capacity. We are happy to give the region’s residents the ability to receive Rutgers baccalaureate degrees at CCM in the four initial areas, and are excited to expand into additional majors in the future.”

In recent years the communities served by CCM have experienced both population and workforce growth, creating new educational demands and needs.  To respond to these changing needs, CCM wanted to offer increased academic opportunities through its learning resources and facilities.  The partnership between CCM and Rutgers will expand opportunities for Northern New Jersey residents to complete a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science degree through Rutgers, while making CCM a more comprehensive destination for lifelong learning and professional development.

Rutgers already has successful degree-completion partnerships with several other community colleges, including Atlantic Cape Community College, serving the state’s Southern shore region; Brookdale Community College, serving the Northern shore region; and Mercer Community College and Raritan Valley Community College, serving Central New Jersey.

PICTURED IN PHOTO: CCM President Edward Yaw and Rutgers’ Richard Edwards at front with representatives from CCM and Rutgers. From left to right, Keith Smith, dean of liberal arts at CCM; Dr. Bette Simmons, vice president of student development and enrollment management at CCM; Kari Hawkins, transfer services coordinator at CCM; Patrick Enright, dean of business, mathematics, engineering and technology at CCM; Dr. Dwight Smith, vice president of academic affairs at CCM; Dr. Todd Clear, provost of Rutgers University–Newark; Dr. Gretchen Van de Walle, associate dean of undergraduate education at Rutgers University–Newark; Betsy Rowe, assistant chancellor for instructional programs and services at Rutgers University–Newark; Barbara Fiorella, associate vice president of degree completion programs at Rutgers; and Dr. Richard Novak, vice president of continuing studies at Rutgers.