Ocean County College’s 2018 commencement ceremony. (Photo: Daniel Nee)
Ocean County College officials on Thursday announced a new dual admission and transfer partnership that will help students make a smooth transition from the two-year college in Toms River to Stockton’s bachelor’s degree programs.
The five-year Transfer Pathways agreement “strengthens the relationship between Stockton and Ocean County College by offering multiple opportunities for students to seamlessly pursue associate and bachelor’s degrees at the two institutions of higher education,” a statement from the two colleges said.
Specifically, the agreement states:
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- Students who are denied direct admission to Stockton as a freshman applicant can receive conditional dual admission in partnership with Ocean County College. Students will attend classes at OCC but have access to campus activities and student groups at Stockton and receive a special Stockton Identification card through Stockton’s Transfer Pathways program.
- Students already enrolled at OCC can apply for conditional acceptance to Stockton while continuing to work towards their associate’s degree, and be assured of acceptance prior to the term in which they are ready to transfer.
- Students who successfully complete their associate degree at Ocean County College can automatically transfer to Stockton with junior standing to complete their bachelor’s degree. Application fees to Stockton will be waived for eligible students.
- Students who complete at least 36 credits at OCC, and a total of 64 credits between the county college and the four-year institution, are eligible to receive a retroactive associate degree from OCC. Stockton and OCC will co-host “reverse transfer” information sessions for students.
- Stockton and OCC will develop specific program-to-program articulation agreements for high-demand majors to facilitate the quality and ease of transfer.
- Students will receive joint advising from Stockton and OCC and a Stockton advisor will have office space and a regular schedule at OCC.
- Students will be eligible for financial aid from whichever institution they are attending. Stockton will provide five one-year scholarships of $2,000 per year to OCC graduates whose admission to Stockton is covered by the agreement.
- Stockton and OCC will establish an advisory committee to ensure best practices in recruitment, enrollment management, academic and student services, information technology, marketing and facilities use.
“The number of transfer students coming to Stockton from Ocean County continues to grow, with more than 250 enrolled in the Fall 2018 semester,” said Stockton President Dr. Harvey Kesselman. “This agreement will provide increased support to students while they are at Ocean County College as well as provide assurance that they can have a smooth pathway to a bachelor’s degree at Stockton.”
Stockton already has similar agreements with Atlantic Cape Community College, Brookdale Community College, Cumberland County College and Camden County College.
