Rutgers, Mercer County Community College Partner to Offer Bachelor’s Degree-Completion Programs on West Windsor Campus

In a new partnership to be formalized May 30, Rutgers University and Mercer County Community College (MCCC) will expand opportunities for associate degree holders in the Mercer County area to earn Rutgers degrees on MCCC’s West Windsor campus.

The two institutions will sign a memorandum of understanding formalizing their partnership in a ceremony at MCCC at 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, at 10 a.m., Thursday, May 30. Rutgers Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Richard L. Edwards and MCCC President Patricia C. Donohue will sign the document, officially commencing the partnership.

“Rutgers is pleased to be working with Dr. Donohue and the administration of Mercer County Community College to enable their graduates and others in the surrounding region to attain their higher education goals,” Edwards said. “Rutgers’ Off Campus Programs at Mercer will give students more flexibility to balance family and work obligations while studying closer to home.”

"Through this partnership, both Mercer and Rutgers University promote student success and expand opportunities for students," said Dr. Donohue. "Enabling our graduates to pursue their bachelor's degrees right here on the West Windsor campus opens the doors to opportunities that otherwise might not be available. We look forward to an exciting and productive relationship with Rutgers University as we serve New Jersey’s students."

Offices for Rutgers' Off Campus Programs will be located in MCCC's Fine Arts Building. Courses will be offered in West Windsor Campus classrooms, online, and in a hybrid blend of on-site and online formats. On-site classes will be held in the evenings, adding to the convenience for students with work or family obligations.

The off-campus concept grew out of a state Commission of Higher Education study in 1998 that identified underserved regions for four-year degree opportunities in New Jersey.

The program at MCCC marks the fourth off-campus partnership Rutgers has established with community colleges around the state since the late 1990s, when it began offering degree-completion opportunities in partnership with Brookdale Community College at its Freehold campus.

Subsequent partnerships were established with Atlantic Cape Community College in Mays Landing and Raritan Valley Community College in North Branch. Last fall, Rutgers opened a 22,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Lifelong Learning Center on the Atlantic Cape campus to serve its students there.

All classes are taught by Rutgers faculty and instructors affiliated with academic programs on the Camden, Newark and New Brunswick campuses. On-site advising is provided by Rutgers professional staff.

To be considered for admission, students must hold an associate degree or 60 credits from an accredited community college or four-year institution. Candidates must meet all Rutgers admissions criteria. Students enrolled in off-campus programs are Rutgers students and have access to university services, such as the libraries.

To date, more than 500 degrees have been awarded through Rutgers’ Off Campus Programs, which are part of the Division of Continuing Studies. More than 600 students are enrolled for the spring 2013 semester in 80 classroom course offerings on the three community college campuses.

Established in 1966, Mercer County Community College is a publicly supported comprehensive educational institution that provides opportunities for higher education through an open-door admissions policy. MCCC offers 70 degree program options and 30 credit certificate programs. It enrolls more than 13,000 full- and part-time students.