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Cranford, NJ – The Elizabeth I. Kellogg Building, one of the buildings on UCNJ’s Elizabeth Campus, reopened for the fall semester. The Kellogg Building sustained significant water damage after Hurricane Ida flooded the lower level of the building with over four feet of water. Damages were repaired throughout the year and on December 1, the reopening of the Kellogg Building was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

On September 1, 2021, Hurricane Ida made landfall in UCNJ County, with more than 40 UCNJ faculty, staff, students, and members of the public sheltered overnight across the College’s three campuses in Cranford, Elizabeth, and Plainfield waiting for the storm to subside. Due to the flooding caused by the storm, the Kellogg Building sustained electrical, structural, and equipment damage.

Over the next year, UCNJ’s Finance and Operations team worked diligently to reopen Kellogg as quickly as possible. The operations housed in Kellogg, including the Trinitas School of Nursing, had to be relocated until renovations were completed.

On December 1, UCNJ’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin was joined by members of the UCNJ and the UCNJ County community to officially reopen the building. Attendees included UCNJ Board of Trustees Chair Victor M. Richel, UCNJ Board of Governors Chair Mary M. Zimmermann, Foundation donor Jimmy Kellogg, Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage, Chief of Staff for Assemblywoman Michele Matsikoudis (LD-21) Kean MacLelland, Dean of the Elizabeth Campus Dr. Elizabeth Ramos, Vice President of Finance & Operations Dr. Lori A. Wilkin, and Dean of the Trinitas School of Nursing Dr. Roseminda Santee.

“We are proud of the effort and commitment to reopen the Kellogg Building and are here to celebrate that accomplishment,” stated UCNJ’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin. “We thank the City of Elizabeth and Mayor Bollwage for their assistance in this process. The Kellogg family’s donation and legacy lives on in this building, and it helps secure UCNJ’s presence in Elizabeth for many years to come.”

Speakers included Mr. Kellogg, Chairman Richel, and Mayor Bollwage. Following remarks, the ribbon was cut, officially reopening the Kellogg Building. The event concluded with a tour of the Kellogg Building.

The Kellogg Building is one of two buildings on UCNJ’s Elizabeth Campus. The College also has Campuses in Cranford, Plainfield, and Scotch Plains. In addition to physical campuses, the College offers more than 20 programs that can also be completed online as part of our emerging Virtual Campus. 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’s Elizabeth Campus, go to https://www.ucc.edu/admissions/visit-campus/elizabeth-new-jersey-college-courses/.

Cranford, NJ – UCNJ UCNJ UCNJ of UCNJ County, NJ has been selected as a 2022 PATH Scholarship recipient through the Ellucian Foundation. The PATH (Progress, Accomplishment, Thriving, Hope) Scholarship provides grants to higher education institutions to support students facing economic hardship. UCNJ received $10,000, which was distributed to over 40 students for housing costs, tuition expenses, and food.

This is the first time UCNJ has received the PATH Scholarship from Ellucian. The PATH Scholarship is provided by the Ellucian Foundation and was established in 2020. UCNJ is one of 65 higher education institutions to receive funding from Ellucian.

“Education has the power to transform lives. This year we are focused on support for students facing financial hardships at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and all Minority Serving Institutions in the U.S. as more focus is needed to ensure higher retention and graduation rates, and address the critical issues of growing food insecurity,” said Laura Ipsen, President and CEO, Ellucian. “HBCUs and all MSIs represent an incredible cross-section of colleges and universities committed to providing access to higher education. We are pleased to support these institutions in their efforts to ensure all students can achieve their dreams without interruption.”  

In order to receive the scholarship, students had to apply and disclose what type of assistance was needed. The scholarship was based on need and distributed at the beginning of the Fall 2022 semester.

“The UCNJ community is grateful for the support Ellucian is providing to our students in need,” stated UCNJ’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin. “With this scholarship support, we are hopeful that students can focus more on their academics and be able to spend less time worrying about costs.”

“The Ellucian Foundation supports student success and increased access to higher education globally,” said Jennifer Welding, Executive Director of the Ellucian Foundation. “No student should ever be denied an education due to lack of funding.  The PATH Scholarship helps students navigate through financial challenges to reach their educational goals.” 

The UCNJ County College Foundation has given out more than one million dollars in scholarships to UCNJ students this past year. For more information, go to https://www.ucc.edu/union-county-college-foundation/. For more information on the Ellucian PATH Scholarship, go to https://stayonpath.org/.    

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. The College operates campuses in Cranford, Elizabeth, Plainfield, and Scotch Plains. In addition to physical campuses, the College offers more than 20 programs that can also be completed online as part of our emerging Virtual Campus. UCNJ enrolls almost 20,000 credit, non-credit, and continuing education students and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. For more information, visit www.ucc.edu.  

Cranford – UCNJ UCNJ UCNJ of UCNJ County, NJ has entered into a transformative education partnership with Amazon to join the Amazon Career Choice Program. Beginning this fall semester, Amazon will provide its workers pre-paid tuition to attend UCNJ and learn new skills for career success. Amazon employees can enroll in all UCNJ courses and degrees for this partnership. The company now employs approximately 58,000 people in the state, making it the largest private-sector employer in New Jersey.

Amazon’s Career Choice program is an education benefit that empowers employees to learn new skills for career success at Amazon or elsewhere. The program meets individual learners who are on their journey through a variety of education and upskilling opportunities including pre-paid college tuition, industry certifications designed to lead to in-demand jobs, and foundational skills such as English language proficiency, high school diplomas, and GEDs.

“We’re excited to be partnering with UCNJ to give our tens-of-thousands of New Jersey employees access to pursue the education path that fits their passions,” said Colin Newman, Director of Economic Development for Amazon. “Whether employees are looking to finish their degree at UCNJ or build on their foundational skills, we’re prepared to meet our employees wherever they are on their educational journey.”

 “We’re committed to empowering our employees by providing them access to the education and training they need to grow their careers, whether that’s with us or elsewhere.” Tammy Thieman, Global Program Lead of Amazon’s Career Choice program. “We have intentionally created a partner network of third-party educators committed to providing excellent education, job placement resources, and continuous improvements to the experience. Today, over 90,000 Amazon employees around the world have already participated in Career Choice and we’ve seen first-hand how it can transform their lives.”

Amazon’s Career Choice program has a rigorous selection process for third-party educators. UCNJ is one of more than 140 colleges and universities strategically selected for the educational partnership.

“UCNJ is grateful for the opportunity to partner with Amazon and provide their employees with a first-rate education at a premiere community college which is focused on social justice,” states UCNJ President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin.” This partnership can greatly impact lives and communities by providing Amazon employees the opportunity to work part-time or full-time and receive a degree at the same time. We are also making a positive difference for our state and economy.” Dr. McMenamin noted that Amazon was presented with the 2022 Fiat Lux Award at the College’s 30^th Annual Gala. They generously donated $50,000 to support UCNJ students with scholarships to help ensure that their economic status is not a roadblock to their academic success.

The New Jersey State Senate President Nicholas P. Scutari, UCNJ County Manager Ed Oatman, and the UCNJ County Commissioners were instrumental in forging the partnership between UCNJ and Amazon. According to Senate President Scutari, “I’m happy to have helped facilitate this important partnership between UCNJ and Amazon. With Amazon being the largest private-sector employer in the State, the opportunity for a college education, funded by Amazon, is one that I hope many Amazon employees in UCNJ County will pursue. They will receive a high-quality education from UCNJ that will open doors to more career and professional opportunities.” Senate President Scutari is a lifelong Linden resident who attended UCNJ before transferring for more advanced degrees.

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. The College operates campuses in Cranford, Elizabeth, Plainfield, and Scotch Plains. In addition to physical campuses, the College offers more than 20 programs that can also be completed online as part of our emerging Virtual Campus. UCNJ enrolls almost 20,000 credit, non-credit, and continuing education students and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. For more information, visit www.ucc.edu.  

Cranford, NJ – Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin, President of UCNJ UCNJ UCNJ of UCNJ County, NJ, has been selected to serve on the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Governing Board (HACU) for a two-year term. President McMenamin joins more than 15 higher education leaders throughout the country on the HACU Governing Board. UCNJ is one of only five HACU Member Hispanic-Serving Community Colleges that are in New Jersey. This fall, 45% of UCNJ’s enrolled students and over 55% first-time full-time students identified themselves as Hispanic, the largest in the College’s history.

Based on the College’s Hispanic student enrollment, UCNJ is identified as a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). HACU was founded in 1986 and represents more than 500 colleges and universities in the United States, Latin America, and Europe. According to their site, HACU is the only national association representing existing and emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions.

From the time Dr. McMenamin became UCNJ’s President, she has fully committed to the College’s Mission of “Transforming Our Community… One Student at a Time.” During her time at UCNJ, she has intently focused on student success campaigns, one of which is Inspire the Future which provides scholarships from the UCNJ County College Foundation to support Hispanic students who are on track to graduate. UCNJ has also made connections with outside organizations to create learning and career pathways to further support its Hispanic population. The Progresando initiative at UCNJ is supported by a Bank of America grant that aims to increase retention, course completion rates, and licensure pass rates for the adult Hispanic students in targeted healthcare programs.

“We are proud to have Dr. McMenamin represent UCNJ on HACU’s Governing Board” states UCNJ Board Chairman Victor M. Richel. “As a state with over one million Hispanic residents, we recognize the tremendous value that HACU brings to advance college access and quality for our students.”

Dr. McMenamin recently attended HACU’s 36th Annual Conference in San Diego, California. She was joined by six UCNJ students and the College’s Dean of the Elizabeth Campus & Institute for Intensive English, Dr. Elizabeth Ramos, at the October Conference. The HACU Conference provided students with distinctive networking opportunities with peers, educators, and employers.

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. The College operates campuses in Cranford, Elizabeth, Plainfield, and Scotch Plains. In addition to physical campuses, the College offers more than 20 programs that can also be completed online as part of our emerging Virtual Campus. UCNJ enrolls almost 20,000 credit, non-credit, and continuing education students and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. For more information, visit www.ucc.edu.

For more information on Dr. McMenamin’s role on the Governing Board of HACU, please visit: https://www.hacu.net/hacu/Governing_Board.asp.

Cranford, NJ – UCNJ UCNJ UCNJ of UCNJ County, NJ is celebrating its history and looking forward to the future! On October 18, the UCNJ community celebrated the 89^th Founder’s Day at the College’s Cranford Campus, complete with a name change celebration and a new logo reveal! Established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933, the College was then known as UCNJ County Junior College. Effective this year, July 1, 2022, the College changed its name from UCNJ County College to UCNJ UCNJ UCNJ of UCNJ County, NJ.

UCNJ’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin welcomed attendees to the celebration and UCNJ’s Vice President of Student Development Dr. Demond T. Hargrove served as the Master of Ceremonies.

Attendees included UCNJ’s Board of Trustees Chair Victor M. Richel; UCNJ’s Board of Governors Chair Mary M. Zimmermann (UCNJ ’01); Trustee Daryl Palmieri; Board of Governors members Melinda Ayala (UCNJ ’11), Nancy J. Benz (UCNJ ’73), Ryan J. Greco (UCNJ ’97), and Francis Raudelunas; Foundation Board Chair Maksim Sheyn (UCNJ ’01); New Jersey Deputy Commissioner of Higher Education Kathleen Comanto; UCNJ County Commissioners Lourdes M. Leon and Alexander Mirabella; Mayor of Plainfield Adrian Mapp (UCNJ ’86) and Mayor of Cranford Kathleen Miller Prunty; representatives from the Offices of Congressman Donald Payne Jr. (NJ-10), Assemblyman Reginald Atkins (LD-20), Assemblywoman Linda Carter (LD-22), and Assemblywoman Michele Matsikoudis (LD-21); and Superintendent of the Westfield Public Schools, Dr. Raymond A. González, Acting Superintendent of Plainfield Public Schools, Rashon Hasan, Superintendent of the UCNJ County Vocational Technical Schools in Scotch Plains, Gwen Ryan, and Superintendent of Cranford Public Schools, Dr. Scott Rubin.

The lively, well-attended event included a sparkling cider toast before the grand logo reveal. UCNJ’s new logo incorporates the traditional red and white that the College has used in the past, in addition to a new, darker red to complete the design. The logo features a flame, for UCNJ’s seal, “Fiat Lux,” in the shape of the letter “U,” representing UCNJ. The logo was well received by our students, staff, and friends of the College. Following the formal event, attendees were invited to sign a commemorative banner, get a free t-shirt with the new logo, and enjoy a cupcake while the deejay (a UCNJ ’15 alum), kept the crowd entertained.

“This is an exciting time at the College. We are delighted to be celebrating 89 years of positive economic and social impact on our diverse community, resuming the use of a former name, and the launch our new logo. However, regardless of the name or logo, we will continue our mission to transform our community, one student at a time,” stated UCNJ President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin.

UCNJ is a public, comprehensive community college which will continue to provide quality, affordable, accessible educational programs to the greater UCNJ County region. As the first of New Jersey’s 18 two-year colleges, serving both career-minded and transfer-oriented students, UCNJ has a rich history and decades of impact on the community. The College operates campuses in Cranford, Elizabeth, Plainfield, and Scotch Plains. In addition to physical campuses, the College offers more than 20 programs that can also be completed online as part of our emerging Virtual Campus. UCNJ was named a Semifinalist for the 2023 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. For more information about UCNJ, visit www.ucc.edu.  

UCNJ UCNJ UCNJ of UCNJ County, NJ, an American Management Association university partner, will be offering a certificate in Human Resource Management this fall. If you are new to the human resource profession or a newly promoted professional, this course will provide you with the skills you need to efficiently and effectively do your job and make a positive impact in your organization.

This semester, the Office of Continuing Education will be offering the Fundamentals of Human Resources beginning on Saturday, October 8 through December 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Immediately following this class, a second offering on Coaching for High Performance will be held from 11:30 am – 1:30 p.m. The remaining courses in the Human Resources certificate program will be offered in spring 2023. The cost of each course is $329.

For more information on this certification and to register online, visit www.ucc.edu/ce.

Cranford, NJ – Join the UCNJ County College Foundation on October 13 for the 30^th Annual Scholarship Gala. The event will be held at the Westwood in Garwood beginning at 6 PM and the theme is “Lights, Camera, Take Action.” This year, the Foundation will be honoring New Jersey Senate President Nicholas P. Scutari, Phillips 66 -Bayway Refinery, and Amazon.

The Gala is a crucial fundraising event providing financial support for UCNJ students and ensures that their economic status is not a roadblock to their academic success. The Foundation allocates resources for scholarships, housing, emergency funding, and more. This is the first in-person Gala the Foundation has hosted since 2019 due to COVID-19. 

At this year’s Gala, New Jersey Senate President Nicholas P. Scutari will be honored as the 2022 Man of the Year. Scutari, a lifelong Linden resident, is receiving this award for his years of service to the UCNJ County community as well as his support of the College’s mission to “transform our community, one student at a time.”

The Foundation will present Phillips 66 -Bayway Refinery with the Corporate Partner of the Year award. Bayway Refinery is located in Linden and is a key asset to the region and the state of New Jersey.

The 2022 Fiat Lux Award will be presented to Amazon, a new partner of the College. Amazon is providing its employees the chance to attend UCNJ for free as part of their new partnership.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support and commitment Senate President Scutari has for the College and our UCNJ County community. His leadership in Trenton is critical to the College’s success,” states UCNJ President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin. “We are also very excited to partner with Amazon and provide new opportunities for our students. We appreciate and thank the corporate and individual donors who support our students with their generosity.”

The UCNJ County College Foundation Gala is still selling tickets and has sponsorship opportunities available. For more information on the UCNJ County College Foundation Gala, please contact the Foundation office at (908)709-7505 or email foundation@ucc.edu.

CRANFORD, NJ – UCNJ UCNJ of UCNJ County, NJ is announcing it has received a grant from Bank of America to elevate and accelerate the path for Hispanic students in targeted healthcare programs.

The two-year, $220,000 grant will support Hispanic-Latino students pursuing careers in healthcare through its Progresando Initiative. The program was created to help Hispanic-Latinos achieve upward economic mobility through careers in healthcare, while also helping to increase representation and address the shortage of culturally sensitive, Spanish-speaking health providers.

As part of the initiative, education firm EAB will provide research, technology, marketing, and advisory services to the participating institutions. Over the next two years, the initiative is projected to help more than 6,200 Hispanic-Latino students nationwide commit to healthcare related programs, doubling the current student rate.

The Progresando Initiative at UCNJ aims to increase retention, course completion rates, and licensure pass rates for the Hispanic adult students in targeted healthcare programs such as Nursing, Physical Therapist Assistant, and Social Services. Progresando supports UCNJ County’s growing Hispanic population and the College’s continued commitment to advancing non-traditional students toward high-demand careers. While nearly 40% of all UCNJ students are Hispanic, only 27% of students enrolled in the targeted healthcare programs are Hispanic. Moreover, despite high proportions of Hispanic residents within UCNJ County and enrolled at the College, Hispanics represent approximately 20 percent of the county’s healthcare workforce. The initiative will provide these students space to collaborate, receive resources, and access to various support networks to promote academic and career success. The initiative will focus on providing students with the following:

• Intensive cohort-based tutoring and test preparation;
• Emergency financial assistance in the form of stipends;
• A bilingual student services specialist who will serve as an advisor and mentor;
• Cultural events and activities at the UCNJ campuses.

“At UCNJ, we are proud to be a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution based on our enrollment of Hispanic students. Almost half of our students are Hispanic,” states College President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin. “This is a valuable opportunity to help a large, underserved group in our community, specifically in the healthcare field, a field more necessary than ever. This will be a successful partnership and of great value to our community.”

“By focusing on high-demand programs in the healthcare sector, Progresando helps create a pathway for UCNJ County’s Hispanic student population toward fulfilling careers,” said Alberto Garofalo, President of Bank of America New Jersey. “Demand for healthcare services will only increase in the years ahead, and through this program, we are able to help Hispanic students be part of the solution and create brighter futures for themselves and future generations.”

Beginning in the fall 2022 semester, Progresando will provide students with career pathways and opportunities in the healthcare industry. Thanks to the support of Bank of America, UCNJ’s Hispanic students in these programs will receive the help they need to continue their education and get the resources and support for their continued success.

The Progresando initiative is available for current and potential students. For more information about Progresando eligibility, please contact Dr. Elizabeth Ramos, Dean of the Elizabeth Campus and Institute for Intensive English at Ramos@ucc.edu.

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.