Stockton University and four regional community colleges launched a transformative partnership designed to make college transfer more seamless, affordable, and student-centered across Southern and Central New Jersey.
Presidents from Stockton University, Atlantic Cape Community College, Brookdale Community College, Camden County College and Ocean County College signed a Memorandum of Agreement establishing the new South Jersey Higher Education Alliance.
The agreement creates a collaborative framework focused on expanding educational opportunities, strengthening transfer pathways and improving student success throughout the region.
The Alliance is designed to help students move more efficiently from associate degree programs to bachelor’s and graduate degree opportunities through stronger coordination among participating institutions.
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to reducing barriers that can delay graduation, increase student costs and create confusion during the transfer process.
“Today is not simply the signing of an agreement,” said Stockton University President Joe Bertolino. “It is a commitment to build a more connected, student-centered higher education ecosystem for our region.
“This Alliance helps students start strong, transfer with confidence, complete degrees with fewer obstacles and build lives and careers here in New Jersey.”
The presidents of all five institutions signed the agreement, including Bertolino, Barbara Gaba from Atlantic Cape Community College, David Stout of Brookdale Community College, Lovell Pugh-Bassett at Camden County College and Pamela Monaco at Ocean County College.
The Alliance will focus on creating clearer and more seamless pathways for students by expanding transfer agreements, developing dual admission opportunities, enhancing academic advising, improving reverse transfer practices and strengthening student support services related to financial aid, scholarships, counseling, internships and career preparation.
The Memorandum of Agreement also supports collaborative initiatives, including:
- Expanded community college-to-university pathways such as 2+2, 3+1 and 3+2 programs, which allow students to save time and money
- Shared course offerings and cross-registration opportunities
- Program-to-program articulation agreements in high-demand academic and workforce fields
- Coordinated student support services and transfer advising
- Opportunities for guaranteed admission, transfer scholarships and accelerated completion models
The initiative also represents a broader investment in the workforce and long-term economic vitality of Southern and Central New Jersey.
Participating institutions aim to increase the number of students earning bachelor’s, graduate and professional degrees while improving career placement and graduate school admission in high-demand fields including health care, STEM, business, education, and the arts.