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Cranford – Excelencia in Education, the nation’s premier authority in efforts accelerating Latino student success in higher education, announced that UCNJ’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin has chosen to be part of Presidents for Latino Student Success network.

This important national network is comprised of college and university presidents and chancellors who commit to making their institutions learning environments where Latino students thrive. The institutions in Excelencia’s network are transforming higher education.

Of the thousands of colleges and universities across the country, the more than 150 leaders of the 175 institutions in the network enroll one in four of all Latino students in higher education. More importantly, these institutions account for one in three of all Latino graduates. In fact, a subset of the Excelencia network – 30 institutions that have been certified with the Seal of Excelencia – represents 13% of all Latino enrollment and graduates 14% of all Latinos in the U.S.

For the Fall 2022 semester, 45% of UCNJ’s students and over 55% of first-time full-time students identified as Hispanic, the largest percentage in the College’s history. UCNJ is identified as a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) based on the College’s Hispanic student enrollment.

Excelencia professionals, the leadership network, and their campus teams, actively collaborate to put evidence-based practices and strategic analysis of student data to use supporting and advancing the talents, skills, and contributions of Latino students and the institutions.

Sarita Brown, Co-founder and President of Excelencia, said, “Higher education leaders with skills and vision are fundamental to our country’s strong recovery. Those prepared to engage and intentionally serve Latino students, while serving all their students, will lead the way.”

Excelencia is honored to work with the trendsetting presidents and chancellors who have accepted this challenge. The leaders in the network have made common cause with Excelencia to accelerate Latino student success in higher education.

“Dr. McMenamin’s leadership has worked in the best interest of students since she arrived at UCNJ almost 13 years ago,” stated UCNJ UCNJ of UCNJ County, NJ’s Board of Trustees Chair Victor M. Richel. “Her focus from the beginning has been on student success, specifically with initiatives such as Inspire the Future, which provides support to Hispanic students and aims to increase graduation rates of UCNJ’s Hispanic population. With her new affiliation with Excelencia, she will have the opportunity to bring her innovative ideas to a national level.”

Through the network, President McMenamin will collaborate with Excelencia to leverage collective expertise and resources, foster partnerships, and amplify current efforts at the national level. To learn more about Presidents for Latino Student Success network and the other institutional leaders across the country affiliated with Excelencia, visit: https://www.edexcelencia.org/leadership/presidents-latino-student-success

CRANFORD, NJ – UCNJ UCNJ UCNJ of UCNJ County, NJ is excited to welcome Dr. Charnette Hockaday as the new Dean of Students. Dr. Hockaday has worked in the field of higher education and student affairs for 18 years. Before joining UCNJ, Dr. Hockaday served as Associate Dean of Students at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT).

Dr. Hockaday earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Farleigh Dickinson University and a Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School. She began her career in student affairs at Stonybrook University and NJIT, working in residence life at both universities.

In her most recent role, Dr. Hockaday returned to NJIT as the Associate Dean of Students where she was responsible for the adjudication of academic integrity and student conduct violations, in addition to providing general support to students as a member of the Dean of Students team. During her time as Associate Dean at NJIT, Dr. Hockaday oversaw student affairs departments such as Counseling Services and Residence Life.

At UCNJ, Dr. Hockaday will provide direct oversight of the Assistant Dean of Students, Disability Support Services & Veteran Affairs, College Life & Athletics, and Social Work Services. Also included is overseeing the advocacy and support of students of concern and serving as chair of the CARE Team, a multidisciplinary team that works to assist students in need of personal and/or academic resources. Dr. Hockaday will serve as the College’s Title IX Deputy Coordinator, assisting with compliance as it relates to higher education and federal regulations and laws directly impacting students.

Cranford – UCNJ UCNJ UCNJ of UCNJ County, NJ student Carine Medellus, of Roselle, is one of only 20 college students nationwide named to the prestigious All-USA Academic Team and will receive a $5,000 scholarship. More than 2400 students were nominated for this award. Medellus is studying biology at UCNJ and has a 4.0 grade point average. She is the Committee Leader of Scholarship in Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the Vice President of the Research Club, an American Honors Program student, and a peer tutor in the College’s Academic Learning Center. Medellus is currently working on an undergraduate research project with her dedicated professors.

Team members were selected for their outstanding intellectual achievement, leadership, community, and campus engagement. The All-USA Academic Team is sponsored by Cengage, with additional support provided by PTK and the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC).

The All-USA program is widely recognized as the most prestigious academic honor for students attending associate degree-granting institutions. Each college may nominate two students for showing intellectual rigor and demonstrating academic achievement, leadership, and civic growth. The program also recognizes students who extend their community college education to better themselves, their schools, and their surrounding communities.

Learn more about the All-USA Academic Team Scholarship Program.

“We are deeply inspired by the achievements of this year’s All-USA Academic Team. With so much focus and pressure on which post-secondary institution a student attends, these students show that the real keys to success are hard work and determination,” said Edwin Robles, Senior Vice President and General Manager, US Higher Education and Canada, Cengage. “Community colleges play an important role in providing affordable education that helps students transition successfully to the workforce or a four-year institution. Despite facing significant enrollment headwinds since the pandemic, community colleges have been the most innovative in taking steps to make learning more flexible, affordable and accessible. We are proud to support these institutions and their students in their continued success.”

Additionally, Medellus was named a 2023 New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar and will receive a $2,250 scholarship. Selection was based on the score earned in the All-USA Academic Team competition. Medellus received the highest score in New Jersey. The program is sponsored by The Coca-Cola Foundation, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, Phi Theta Kappa, and AACC.

“The UCNJ community is very proud of Carine’s achievements and the recognitions she has earned during her time at UCNJ. Her strong work ethic and passion for success are going to help her accomplish great things,” stated UCNJ’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin “We applaud the PTK faculty advisors and staff for their successful mentorship of Ms. Medellus. She has achieved what very few students have ever achieved.”

As for her plans after graduating from UCNJ, Medellus has been selected as an undergraduate researcher at the University of Buffalo for this upcoming summer. She plans to transfer to a four-year university and study biochemistry, and her career goal is to earn a doctorate and work as a researcher. Medellus will be recognized during the AACC convention at PTK’s Presidents Breakfast on April 3, 2023, in Denver, Colorado.

About Cengage

Cengage, the U.S. Higher Education business of global education technology company Cengage Group, serves millions of instructors, learners, and institutions. We deliver affordable, high-quality digital products and personalized support to power learning individually and at scale. Our customer-centered approach enables innovation, including Cengage Unlimited, the first and only all-access digital subscription for textbooks and course materials. Our textbooks, homework tools, and flagship online learning platforms, MindTap and WebAssign, help educators and students achieve their goals. Learn more at www.cengage.com.

About Phi Theta Kappa

Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is made up of more than 3.8 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 countries, with approximately 240,000 active members in the nation’s colleges. Learn more at www.ptk.org. 

About UCNJ UCNJ UCNJ of UCNJ County, NJ

UCNJ is a public, comprehensive community college that provides 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 offers a wide variety of academic and extracurricular activities. UCNJ provides many experiential learning opportunities such as access to a Bloomberg Business Center, Innovation Center, and Student Research hub. Additionally, students at UCNJ attend one of the top 25 community colleges in the country for 2023 as designated by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. For more information, visit https://www.ucc.edu/

CRANFORD, NJ – UCNJ UCNJ UCNJ of UCNJ County, NJ is proud to announce that student Junaid Ilyas, of Roselle Park, has been selected as a Kaplan Leadership Scholar. Ilyas is one of only 11 students selected nationwide as a Kaplan Leadership Scholar.

The Kaplan Leadership Scholar Program, which is a part of the Kaplan Educational Foundation, targets students at two-year schools who demonstrate financial need, leadership potential, and educational acumen.

While pursuing his degree in engineering at UCNJ, Ilyas also serves as a tutor to his fellow students in the Academic Learning Center and is an American Honors student. Regarding Ilyas’ future, he plans to further his education by pursuing a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering, with a career goal of being a vehicle engineer. Specifically, he plans to be a part of the innovation side of vehicle design, creating ideas that he believes “other gear-heads would go crazy over.”

“Junaid is a dedicated student and is a great example of hard work resulting in tremendous opportunity,” states UCNJ President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin. “The financial support provided by the Kaplan Educational Foundation is transformative, and we are proud of Junaid for being one of only 11 students across the country to be selected for this honor.” Ilyas is the fourth student from UCNJ selected as a Kaplan Leadership Scholar. Marlon Artega (UCNJ ’22) shared his experience being selected as a Scholar, which can be found here.

UCNJ is a public, comprehensive community college that provides 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. UCNJ was named a semifinalist for the 2023 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. For more information on UCNJ, go to https://www.ucc.edu/ and for more information on the Kaplan Leadership Scholar program, go to https://www.kaplanedfoundation.org/

CRANFORD – UCNJ UCNJ UCNJ of UCNJ County, NJ will offer a Google IT Support Certificate program beginning in March 2023. This 15-week program prepares beginner learners for entry-level jobs in IT support through online, independent study. Weekly, virtual, instructor-supported sessions guide students to program completion.

After completing the Google IT Support Certificate program, students will understand the core functions that are central to all IT support jobs, including troubleshooting, customer service, networking, system administration, operating systems, and security. They will know how to assemble a computer, write effective support documentation, route paths and subnets and manage device software. Students will also gain knowledge of Linux, cloud computing, and command-line interfaces.

This certificate prepares learners for in-demand roles such as Technical Support Specialist, Data Center Technician, IT Helpdesk Technician, IT Administrator, and Manager or Network Administrator. The program will take place from March 20th through June 30th, 2023. The cost to enroll in this online program is $500. Interested students can register at www.ucc.edu/ce or call (908) 709-7600 for additional details.

Pharmacy Technician is one of the fastest growing healthcare industries, with a projected 6.6% increase in job openings, according to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

For those interested in joining this rapidly growing industry, UCNJ UCNJ UCNJ of UCNJ County, NJ is hosting an information session to learn how to become a Pharmacy Technician in four months. The session will provide information on program details, apprenticeship options, and on-the-job learning opportunities. UCNJ staff will be present to answer questions.

These information sessions will provide prospective candidates with an overview of topics covered in the Pharmacy Technician program. Pharmacy Technicians are an integral part of the health care industry, as they collaborate with pharmacists and other healthcare providers in different settings such as hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies.

Information sessions are scheduled for:

February 2 at 10 am

February 14 at 2 pm

February 17 at 10 am

Applicants may be eligible for tuition reimbursement as an apprentice under the New Jersey HealthWorks Scaling Apprenticeship program.

To pre-register for one of these sessions, go to https://form.jotform.com/212845309542153

CRANFORD, NJ – Union College of Union County, NJ celebrated its Winter Commencement on January 12, 2023 at the historic Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway. Two ceremonies were held for Union College’s newest graduates who received their Associate in Science, Associate in Arts, and Associate in Applied Science Degrees, and Certificates. The graduates completed their degrees in either August or December 2022. This Commencement was particularly meaningful as it was Union College’s first in-person Winter Commencement since January 2020 due to COVID-19.

Union College’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin served as the Master of Ceremonies and welcomed graduates and attendees to the celebration. Each ceremony included a student speaker who was selected to speak to their class. The student speakers were Wakila Timmons, of Elizabeth, and Amir Abdelmalak, of Scotch Plains.

At both ceremonies, two awards were presented to the students with the highest GPA at each ceremony. The Alumni Prize was presented to Brian Laura Zegarra, of Elizabeth, who graduated with a 4.0 GPA and Amir Abedelmalak, who graduated with a 3.914 GPA.

Joceline Guerra Osorio and Shaneka Baker, both from Elizabeth, received the Abdallah-Thomas Memorial Award. The Abdallah-Thomas Memorial Award, which was established in memory of Ibtissam Ahmed Abdallah and Marquest S. Thomas, is awarded to two graduating students who have at least a 3.25 GPA, have participated in college life through service in college activities and/or sports, and have completed community service. Osorio graduated with a 3.941 GPA, and Baker graduated with a 4.0 GPA.

“We are especially proud of the class of 2023 for their accomplishments given that they began their college careers during the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated Union College’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin. “They faced unique challenges, and their ability to persevere and remain focused on their goals will serve them well.”

Union College of Union County, NJ is a public comprehensive community college providing quality, affordable, accessible educational programs to the greater Union 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. Union College has been recognized as one of the top 150 community colleges in the country for 2021 and a top 25 community college for 2023 as designated by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. For more information about Union College, please visit www.ucc.edu.

CRANFORD – UCNJ UCNJ UCNJ of UCNJ County, NJ, will offer a Google Project Management Certificate program beginning in March 2023. This 15-week program prepares beginner learners for entry-level roles in project management through online, independent study. Weekly, virtual, instructor-supported sessions guide students to program completion.

After completing the Google Project Management Certificate program, students will understand how to manage and run Agile and traditional projects from initiation to completion. They will develop the skills they need to successfully manage an array of projects, and they will understand organizational structure, business process and acumen, and communication and leadership styles.

This certificate prepares learners for in-demand roles such as Project Manager, Technical Program Manager, Supply Chain Project Manager, Process Manager, Project Management Analyst, and Compliance Manager. The program will take place from March 6 through June 16, 2023. The cost to enroll in this online program is $500. Interested students can register at www.ucc.edu/ce or call (908) 709-7600 for additional details.

CRANFORD, NJ – As inflation continues to climb and prices are on the rise, UCNJ UCNJ of UCNJ County, NJ Board of Trustees approved to not increase tuition for the 2023-2024 academic year. The decision was voted upon by the Board at their January 2023 meeting. This is fourth year in a row that UCNJ’s Board has voted to freeze tuition.

When graduating high school students consider their college choices, tuition cost is a significant factor. Thanks to UCNJ’s Board of Trustees, the College will continue to be an economically and academically strong contender for students. Students who live in UCNJ County and are taking a full-time schedule of 12 to 18 credits will pay a flat rate of $2,640 per semester. The Board also elected to decrease the tuition for out of county students.

Students who are New Jersey residents may also be eligible for other aid to further offset the cost of tuition. UCNJ students who enroll in at least six credits and have an adjusted gross income of less than $65,000 may be eligible to attend the College tuition free under New Jersey’s Community College Opportunity Grant; partial funding is available for those with an income of up to $80,000. Students who complete the FAFSA or NJ Alternative Financial Aid application are automatically considered. Additionally, the UCNJ County College Foundation has awarded over one million dollars a year in scholarships to UCNJ students for the past several years.

“At UCNJ, we put our students and their needs first,” stated UCNJ’s Board of Trustees Chairman Victor M. Richel. “Rising costs are impacting everyone, and we want to ensure that our current and new students receive an excellent education at the lowest cost possible. By being careful with our budget, I’m proud that we are keeping our tuition and fees flat for the fourth year in a row. While costs all around are rising, our students can rest assured that their tuition at UCNJ is not one of them.”

UCNJ is a public, comprehensive community college that provides 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 offers a wide variety of academic and extracurricular activities. There are over sixty programs of study including Communications, Engineering, Health Information Technology, Supply Chain Management, and more. Students can participate in clubs, honor societies, and NJCAA athletics. The College offers many experiential learning opportunities such as access to a Bloomberg Business Center, Innovation Center, and Student Research hub. Additionally, students at UCNJ will be attending one of the top 25 community colleges in the country as designated by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. For more information about UCNJ UCNJ of UCNJ County, NJ, go to www.ucc.edu