Atlantic Cape Community College, Rutgers University Establish Dual Degree Program

Students from Galloway Township can now take advantage of a Rutgers University education on the Atlantic Cape Community College campus in Mays Landing.

The school presidents came together on Friday, Sept. 28 for the unveiling of Rutgers at Atlantic Cape Lifelong Learning Center, according to a release issued by Atlantic Cape on Monday, Oct. 1.

The center paves the way for students from the southern New Jersey area who have associate degrees and hope to earn degrees from Rutgers in psychology and criminal justice.

“This splendid building demonstrates our strong relationship with Atlantic Cape as well as Rutgers’ commitment to address the growing educational demands of this region,” Rutgers President Robert L. Barchi said.

The two-story, 22,000-square-foot facility will house 12 classrooms, a 24-seat computer lab and a student lounge, Atlantic Cape representatives said. It is the home for the Atlantic Cape-Rutgers University dual degree program –the third dual degree program Atlantic Cape entered into this year- as well as other programs and events, according to Atlantic Cape officials.

It will also be the home for Rutgers’ Gifted Education Professional Certificate Program for K-12 educators, Atlantic Cape officials said.

"The opening of the Rutgers degree-completion facility at our Mays Landing campus is a truly transformational event in the history of Atlantic Cape Community College," Atlantic Cape President Peter L. Mora said. "Simply put, this facility will greatly expand the opportunity for our graduates, along with graduates of other southern New Jersey community colleges, to obtain baccalaureate and master's degrees from our state university without having to re-locate from their homes."

Rutgers already offers courses taught by Rutgers professors on Atlantic Cape’s campus, and has done so for six years, according to Atlantic Cape officials. There were 38 students enrolled in Rutgers classes the first year, and since then, it has grown to 300 students this fall, according to Atlantic Cape officials.

Rutgers currently offers 10 undergraduate degree programs at Atlantic Cape, including nursing, political science, business administration and labor and employment relations, according to Atlantic Cape. They also offer graduate courses in social work and a certificate program in diversity and inclusion in the work place, Atlantic Cape officials said.

Earlier this year, Atlantic Cape established dual degree programs with the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and Neumann University. Rutgers has similar partnerships with Brookdale Community College in Monmouth County and Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg, Somerset County.