• the highest quality transfer education through comprehensive curricula and the use of the most current technology, allowing for transfer to four‑year colleges and universities;
• the highest quality technical and career-oriented education through selected degree and certificate programs which use the most current technology, preparing students for immediate entry into a career;
• innovative student-centered teaching and support services to foster students’ personal and social development;
• continuing and community education programs and courses in varied schedules, at varied locations, and with varied modes of instruction for credit or without;
• developmental studies, particularly in writing, reading and mathematics, to prepare students for college‑level programs and courses and to increase their literacy;
• academic advising, career/employment services, transfer services, counseling services, tutoring services, and an array of extra and co-curricular activities;
• customized training and retraining for business and industry;
• workforce education programs for persons displaced from their jobs or unemployed.

Goals and Objectives

Goal I

Provide a series of relevant general education courses for all students.

Objectives

• insure that general education courses enable students to develop:
• critical thinking and problem solving skills
• effective communication skills
• values and ethical standards
• the ability to use modern technology
• the ability to become self‑directed learners
• an awareness of and concern about the ethical implications of institutional policies and individual practices
• an expanded awareness of their rights and responsibilities as citizens of a world community
• the ability to understand, communicate with, respect, and live harmoniously in a diverse society
• an understanding of themselves - their abilities, interests, and personalities
• an awareness of the diverse forces that shape their world and themselves in order to keep pace with the changing society

Goal II

Provide transfer programs and courses for students who want to continue their education at four‑year institutions.

Objectives

• meet the specific needs of transfer students
• ensure the academic standards for transfer are reviewed and maintained through the offering of a range of technical and professional programs
• continue to add to the existing articulation and dual admissions agreements with four‑year institutions both within and outside the state
• maintain an open avenue of communication among faculty, counselors, and administrators at the institutions involved

Goal III

Provide career programs to prepare students to function in a technologically and socially changing world.

Objectives

• offer a range of technical and professional programs in the business, engineering, and health technology fields
• evaluate and update curricula, programs, and courses in response to workforce needs
• accommodate the diverse needs of students entering the workforce, seeking to advance further in their careers, or retraining for new jobs

Goal IV

Provide developmental courses for students who need to prepare for college‑level credit courses.

Objectives

• develop necessary oral, reading, writing, and mathematical skills emphasizing process and concepts
• help students develop effective learning strategies
• facilitate the transition from developmental to regular college credit courses
• provide academic advising and placement

Goal V

Provide professional development programs to ensure excellence in teaching‑learning processes.

Objectives

• develop in‑service programs which explore and implement new pedagogy and technology
• provide a wide variety of professional development programs supporting individual, departmental, and college‑wide professional development
• provide faculty with access, support, and training in computer-mediated instruction
• train faculty in the development and implementation of distance learning courses

Goal VI

Provide support services for all students.

Objectives

• provide orientation for students and their families
• provide academic, career, and personal intervention counseling
• provide activities that promote personal and social growth and development such as multi‑cultural activities, wellness programs, and athletics
• explore new ways to assist students in financial need who do not qualify for established programs
• provide job placement services as required

Goal VII

Provide college services and resources to accommodate a diverse student population.

Objectives

• provide delivery systems to reach populations, including distance learning courses and non‑traditional course offerings
• provide courses in the English language and American culture to students whose first language is not English
• provide scheduling patterns responsive to the needs of working students
• expand articulation with high schools through faculty collaboration, college credit in high school, summer programs, and early identification of potential college candidates
• provide appropriate accommodations and accessibility to students with physical and learning disabilities
• effectively communicate the services of the College throughout the county
• provide peer, paraprofessional and professional tutoring and computer-assisted instruction through the College’s Academic Learning Centers

Goal VIII

Provide opportunities for life‑long learning and personal enrichment.

Objectives

• use community-based physical, financial, and human resources available to complement those within the College
• provide educational, cultural, and recreational activities for the Union County College community
• provide technological education

Goal IX

Develop workforce development programs through alliances with hospitals, universities, business, industry, and professional and governmental groups to meet the changing workforce requirements.

Objectives

• provide courses and programs that are responsive to the needs of business, industry, and professional and governmental groups through the Center for Economic and Workforce Development (CEWD).
• provide career assessment and educational opportunities through the Center for Economic and Workforce Development (CEWD) for persons displaced from their jobs, unemployed or underemployed
• actively participate in the economic planning and development of the county
• encourage faculty and staff to take active roles in various local and national community, service, business, and professional organizations
• provide active program advisory committees for technical programs
• collaborate with hospitals, universities, business, and industry in order to provide comprehensive programs
• provide externships and workstudy programs when appropriate
• provide instruction in English as a Second Language (ESL), civics, literacy, and General Education Development (GED) preparation.

Goal X

Serve as a cultural center for the community and surrounding areas.

Objectives

• provide an annual series of theatrical programs
• provide an annual series of art exhibitions
• provide a program of intercultural exchange including musical performances, lectures, literary publications and readings

Goal XI

Enhance teaching and learning through the use of instructional technology.

Objectives

• incorporate whole class multi-media presentation methodologies into classroom instruction on all campuses
• integrate web-based activities into the college curricula
• provide specialized hardware and software in dedicated laboratories and classrooms to meet curricular needs
• provide the required institutional support and access to students, instructors, and staff to realize the full potential advantages of technology

Goal XII

Offer distance learning courses and programs.

Objectives

• provide courses and programs utilizing a variety of media such as telecourses, Campus Web, wireless, and web-based/on-line
• provide faculty support and training for the development and delivery of distance education courses and programs
• provide web-based academic and non-academic student support services for distance learners
• foster collaborations with educational institutions and other organizations to better serve distance education students

Goal XIII

Provide the Union County College community with state-of-the-art information resources and services in facilities designed to foster intellectual, technical, and vocational growth.

Objectives

• develop library collections sensitive to and reflective of a diverse curricular and student body
• provide access to information in changing and emerging formats
• provide a program of information literacy-across-the-curriculum that teaches students how to access, evaluate and use information in the classroom and throughout their lives
• provide a comfortable library atmosphere and facilities that stimulate the learning process
• develop resources and services to support the needs of remote users
• develop in students an appreciation for the value of the library as an educational and life resource

Goal XIV

Increase the diversity of the College faculty, staff, and administration.

Objectives

• assess progress toward meeting these goals on a monthly basis
• achieve the goals contained in the affirmative action plan by the dates indicated

Goal XV

Provide sufficient resources, both public and private, to implement the preceding goals.

Objectives

• continue to seek funds from appropriate Federal, State and County agencies
• continue to seek funds from individuals and private sources
• continue to operate in a cost effective manner
• continue to seek funds for scholarship assistance to students and for faculty grants