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CRANFORD, NJ – As economic times remain uncertain, college students are seeking an education that benefits them academically, as well as financially. For business students who graduate from UCNJ, they receive a degree ranked number one by Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW).

According to this CEW report, UCNJ ranks as the number one business program for associate degree holders based on economic value. More than 5,500 business programs were evaluated based on data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard 2022. UCNJ’s program tied for the number one spot – these graduates have the highest annual earnings net of debt payments two-years after graduating with an associate degree.

“This outcome is a direct reflection of the faculty and staff commitment to our mission of transforming our community, one student at a time,” stated UCNJ Board of Trustees Chair Victor M. Richel, who holds a degree in Economics from Villanova, with additional certifications from both Columbia University and the Harvard Business School. “As a former banking and utility executive, I am confident that UCNJ’s business programs are first-rate.”

As a student success and equity initiative, UCNJ maintains a flat-rate tuition for full-time students. Moreover, UCNJ has not increased tuition for students in three years. With this financial stability and overall academic contributions, the business students are setup for success from the moment they enroll.

Business students are encouraged to use the Bloomberg Terminals in UCNJ’s Bloomberg Business Center, which serves as a critical “destination” to support student learning, engagement, and career preparedness. Students utilize Bloomberg Terminals to review and analyze economic data, trends, financial data, and build investment portfolios.

UCNJ’s business students also receive an education outside of the classroom. Several students who participate in Project Achievement, a student success initiative focused on supporting Black males, visited the Bank of New York Mellon. During the visit, senior executives from the company spoke to the students and offered words of wisdom.

“UCNJ’s focus on academic excellence, career readiness, and helping students experience a sense of belongingness is what sets us apart from other colleges,” states UCNJ’s president Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin. “Students may enter the workforce after completing their degree or continue onto a four-year school.”

UCNJ offers several Business-related programs, including Blockchain Technology, Business Marketing, Public Administration, Sports Management, and Supply Chain Management for example. For more information on these programs, go to https://www.ucc.edu/campus-life/academicmaps/business-programs/.

Cranford, NJ – UCNJ held its commencement ceremony for the class of 2022 on Wednesday, May 25. More than 500 hundred graduates celebrated the momentous achievement at the College’s Cranford campus. Two ceremonies, which were led by UCNJ’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin, were held to honor the graduates. This was the first in-person ceremony since January 2020 and the first time holding the ceremony on campus in over a decade.

UCNJ Board of Trustees Chair Victor M. Richel welcomed the graduates and their families on behalf of the College’s Boards. Each ceremony featured a speaker from the graduating class. Luana Rampelotti, of Hillside, gave remarks at the first ceremony and plans on attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Jacob Ashton, of Winfield Park, spoke at the second and plans on attending Columbia University.

Several students were recognized for both their academic and extracurricular achievements. The Post-Day Memorial Award was created more than 50 years ago in memory of two UCNJ students who were killed in a car accident while driving to their graduation. This notable award is given to students that exemplify the College’s ideals of scholarship, leadership, and service. At the first ceremony, the Post-Day Memorial Award was presented to Mark Farag, of Elizabeth, and George Stephens, of Kenilworth. At the second ceremony, the Post-Day Memorial Award was presented to Sophia Morales, of Linden and Alexander Hall, of Scotch Plains.

The Alumni Award was presented to the graduating student with the highest GPA. Hazel Nderitu, of Elizabeth, received the Alumni Award with a 4.0 GPA.

“We are pleased to have our graduates back for in-person Commencement for the first time in more than two years,” states College President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin. “Many of these students started with us virtually, and it is great to see them here to receive their diplomas. They have worked hard during their time at UCNJ, while facing additional stresses caused by COVID-19. We have seen them grow into leaders, achieve many successes, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for them.”

UCNJ is a public comprehensive community college providing quality, affordable, accessible educational programs to the greater UCNJ County region. It is the first of New Jersey’s 18 two-year colleges, serving both career-minded and transfer-oriented students since 1933. The College enrolls almost 20,000 credit, non-credit, and continuing education students and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. UCNJ has been recognized as one of the top 150 community colleges in the country for 2021 and is a 2023 top 25 semifinalist as designated by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program.

The Westfield Leader argues that Two-Year Colleges, Trade Schools Should Be Stigma Free.

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CRANFORD, NJ – UCNJ County College is excited to announce that it is changing its name to UCNJ UCNJ UCNJ of UCNJ County, NJ, effective July 1, 2022…

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CRANFORD, NJ – UCNJ is excited to announce a new partnership with Queen City Academy Charter High School in Plainfield for an Early College Program. Students participating in the Queen City Academy partnership will have the opportunity to receive their Associate Degree from UCNJ at the same time as they earn a high school diploma from Queen City Academy.

As part of the new partnership, Queen City Academy students will have the option to pursue their Associate Degree in either Engineering or Computer Information Systems Technology. There are currently thirty students enrolled in the program. The partnership started at the beginning of the 2021 school year, and the first students enrolled in the Early College Program may graduate in 2025.

“Through our partnership with UCNJ, our high school students have the opportunity to begin laying the tracks for post-secondary education in advance and we are thrilled that QCACHS’ inaugural class has set the tone of excellence for this partnership moving forward,” says Danielle West-Augustin, Chief Executive Officer of Queen City Academy Charter School. “This program undoubtedly levels the playing field for Black and Brown students. With early exposure to a post-secondary and STEM-focused curriculum, we hope to put our scholars on a trajectory to address inequities in education and garner success.”

Students in the program will take all classes for their first two years at Queen City Academy. For their junior and senior years, they will also attend classes at UCNJ. The partnership provides young people interested in STEM the opportunity to pursue these degrees at a younger age.

“We are excited to partner with Queen City Charter to offer students in our community this valuable opportunity,” states UCNJ President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin. “They will experience college courses on our campuses, and more important, they may be eligible to graduate high school with an Associate Degree.”

CRANFORD, NJ – UCNJ student-athlete Thomas ‘Tommy’ Flanagan, of Clark, is a national champion in javelin. On May 13, Tommy and UCNJ’s track team traveled to Troy, New York, to compete in the 2022 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III Track and Field Championship. To secure the win, Flanagan threw the javelin 56.27 meters. Not only was this Flanagan’s personal best throw, but it also broke the school record, which was previously set by Flanagan himself.

Flanagan, a freshman at UCNJ, began throwing javelin to stay active in baseball’s off-season. As he continued to practice and train, he realized his potential and knew that he could become a successful thrower.

This season, Flanagan traveled with the team to Princeton University, where he broke the College’s record for the first time, throwing 55.17 meters. With this, Flanagan gained momentum and felt confident going into the national competition.

As he prepared for his throws at the national competition, Flanagan wasn’t feeling the confidence he had previously, having to throw on a scorching field. During the competition, he said to himself, “We persevere and thrive in adversity.” On his fifth throw, Flanagan did just that, and threw the record-breaking 56.27 meter throw.

“We are proud of Tommy for winning this NJCAA national championship. He is a prime example of a student taking advantage of all we have to offer here beyond our excellent academics. There is a sport, activity, and club for all interests, and we encourage our students to get involved and engaged on campus,” stated UCNJ President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin.

Flanagan is especially grateful for all the support he received both on and off the field. UCNJ’s track coach Kyle Duggan and UCNJ’s athletic trainer Frank Aiello are two of Flanagan’s biggest supporters. Off the field, the UCNJ community gathered in the Victor M. Richel Commons to watch Flanagan’s winning throw and cheer him on. When Flanagan found out about that, he got very emotional.

“Tommy is very dedicated to throwing javelin,” says UCNJ track coach Kyle Duggan. “My hope for next year is that he throws over 200 feet (60.96m) and he brings home that national championship again.”

Flanagan continues to train for his second season at UCNJ and plans to graduate with an Associate Degree in Health Science. For more information on UCNJ athletics, go to www.unionowls.com/

CRANFORD – Union County College student Mark Farag, of Elizabeth, has been selected as one of 100 recipients of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. This prestigious award will provide Farag with up to $55,000 a year to complete his bachelor’s degree.

Farag is majoring in Engineering and has a 3.92 GPA. During part of his time at Union College, Farag has served as the president of Phi Theta Kappa honor society, is an American Honors student, and tutors students in the College’s Academic Learning Center, all while working full-time to support himself.

Farag currently serves as an ambassador for NASA’s Lucy mission. He has participated in two programs for NASA’s L’Space Academy, where he chose and designed components for spacecrafts to study Venus. He hopes to pursue this as a career, starting with an associate’s degree from UCNJ and then a bachelor’s in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering. With this degree, he plans to become a project manager aerospace engineer.

“We are proud of Mark’s determination and achievements during his time at Union. His commitment to pursuing his dreams is a great example for our students. We are grateful to the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation for recognizing Mark and students like him at community colleges, and that they are providing these outstanding students with an opportunity to finish their degrees debt free,” stated Union’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin.

New Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholars will receive comprehensive educational advising to guide them through the process of transitioning to a four-year college and preparing for their careers. Along with financial support, scholars will additionally receive opportunities for internships, study abroad, and graduate school funding, as well as connection to a thriving network of over nearly 3,000 Cooke Scholars and alumni.

“Today, almost half of all college students begin their academic career at a community college. We know our community colleges are full of high-achieving students, and we’re committed to playing our part to ensure those students succeed,” said Seppy Basili, executive director of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. “Congratulations to a cohort of students who have persisted in the midst of such unprecedented disruptions in our lives. We welcome you into our community and look forward to learning alongside you.”

Farag is the fourth recipient from Union College. Previous recipients were Nuno Pereira, of Hillside, in 2015, McDaniel Jeantus, of Maplewood, in 2016, and Kamilla Kocsis, of Rahway, in 2020. This year, more than 1,200 students from 332 community colleges applied to receive the Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. Four semifinalists were selected from Union College.

For more information about Union, please visit www.ucc.edu and for more information on the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, please go to www.jkcf.org.

CRANFORD – In a time when equity is paramount, UCNJ and Montclair State University have announced a partnership to provide access to a high-quality and convenient four-year education to students. Beginning in Fall 2022, students may pursue their baccalaureate degree with Montclair State University on UCNJ’s Scotch Plains Campus.  

UCNJ’s Scotch Plains Campus is home to the University Center, a destination campus with several four-year university partners where they will offer specific degree programs that support employment opportunities for our graduates. Montclair State University is slated offer bachelor’s degrees in Business, Communication, and Computer Science, as well as graduate degrees in Business and Educational Leadership. Montclair State University will grant priority registration to UCNJ graduates.

“We are happy to partner with Montclair State University to provide additional opportunities for our students. Now, UCNJ graduates will be able to conveniently and affordably pursue their bachelor’s degree with Montclair right here in UCNJ County, at the University Center on our Scotch Plains Campus. Helping our students achieve their dreams is our top priority,” stated UCNJ’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin.

The College has completed significant renovations for the Scotch Plains Campus. This includes additional state of the art technology-enhanced classrooms, lecture hall, seminar and conference rooms, science laboratories, faculty and administrative offices, and new study spaces for students.

“We are excited that this partnership not only strengthens our relationship with UCNJ, but represents a major step forward in meeting the needs of students who seek an affordable and accessible college education,” says Montclair President Jonathan Koppell. “Offering options that complement our traditional model of in-person, on-campus learning needs to be part of Montclair’s future and the future of higher education.”

Montclair joins Kean University and Saint Peter’s University as partners with the College at the Scotch Plains University Center. Presently, Kean offers three baccalaureate programs including Psychology, Criminal Justice, and Supply Chain Management. Saint Peter’s will offer baccalaureate programs in Biology and Health Sciences. Future partnerships with additional institutions and programs are pending.

For more information on UCNJ’s University Center at the Scotch Plains Campus, visit www.ucc.edu/universitycenter.

CRANFORD – UCNJ is proud to announce that four of its students are semifinalists for the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation (JKCF) Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The semifinalists are Mark Farag, of Elizabeth; Sophia Morales, of Linden; Luana Rampelotti, of Hillside; and George Stevens, of Kenilworth. This scholarship provides up to $55,000 per year for community college students to continue their education at a four-year accredited undergraduate school in any area of study. All four of UCNJ’s semifinalists are members of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the International Honor Society for two-year colleges, and maintain a 3.8 GPA or higher.

Students that are considered for this scholarship are hard workers, leaders in their community, and demonstrate a need for further support to continue their education. To qualify for this highly competitive award, students must have at least a 3.5 GPA.  When a student is selected as a JKCF Transfer Scholar, they receive financial support for two to three years to complete their bachelor’s degree.

UCNJ’s four semifinalists are all heavily involved on campus with high aspirations for their careers and are using the solid foundation UCNJ has provided them as they continue to further their education.

Mark Farag, from Elizabeth, is currently majoring in Engineering and has a 3.924 GPA. He is also the President of PTK and is an American Honors Student. Mark works full time and is currently serving as an ambassador for NASA. His career goal is to become a project manager engineer in the aerospace.

Sophia Morales is from Linden and is a Visual Arts major with a 3.94 GPA. She is an active member of PTK and serves as the Vice President of Fellowship. Sophia is also an American Honors Student, part of the History Club, and the Gay Straight Alliance. Sophia would like to work as a video game or short film animator.

Luana Rampelotti is an Engineering student from Hillside with a 4.0 GPA. She is a member of PTK and co-captain for the College’s Track and Field Team. She was selected to be part of the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars and hopes to continue her education in creation and design of autonomous robots.

George Stevens, from Kenilworth, is also majoring in Engineering with a 3.824 GPA. He serves as PTK’s Committee Leader of Communications and is an American Honors Student. George hopes to major in Electrical Engineering when he continues his education at a four-year school. With this education, he strives to create something new and innovative that everyone can use.

”We are proud of these bright, hardworking students and are thrilled that the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation has recognized their potential. The opportunity of not having to worry about the cost of continuing your education is priceless, and I hope that all four of these fantastic students receive the Scholarship,” stated UCNJ’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin.

Finalists for the JKCF Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship is expected to be announced in May.

For more information about UCNJ, please visit www.ucc.edu and for more information on the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, please go to www.jkcf.org.

CRANFORD – The UCNJ Foundation recently launched a new student success initiative, the Women 100 Project which helps to raise funds to support UCNJ’s female students. The mission of the project is to empower the next generation of women leaders – a critical endeavor for the success of our community and nation. Through the generous support of Women 100 Project donors, the Foundation was able to develop a new Single Mothers Scholarship to assist eight single mothers who are working toward their degrees at UCNJ, with $500 each.

According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, “Just eight percent of single mother undergraduates in the United States earn an associate degree within six years of enrolling in college, compared with nearly half (49 percent) of women in college who are not mothers.” This is why the Women 100 Single Mothers Scholarship is so vital. As shared from one of the recipients, “I am currently unemployed due to COVID. I also have an eight-year-old son and trying to take care of him while on unemployment is really difficult. This scholarship will help me better myself in life,” stated Alexsandra, a Single Mothers Scholarship recipient. This scholarship will aim to ensure that single mothers at UCNJ receive the assistance they need to achieve their dream of a college education.

“This is just the start of the Women 100 Project,” stated UCNJ Foundation Executive Director Doug Rouse. “We look forward to raising more funds and helping to support many female students through programming and scholarships at UCNJ.”

To support the project, a donation of $100 can be made from an individual, corporate, or community leaders. For more information on the Women 100 Project and how you can support this initiative, please visit www.ucc.edu/women100.