Dream. Learn. Prosper.
Prof. Ellen Hernandez, Academic Skills English, published a book of poetry, In Morocco: rihlat amra’at ‘amrikia
that portrays her experiences as an American woman living alone in the country of Morocco. The book is available through Finishing Line Press.
Hanson Recognized for Impact on Local Economy
Camden County College Board of Trustees Chair John T. Hanson was presented with an Eagle Award by the New Jersey Alliance for Action during the 45th Annual Eagle Awards Dinner on October 29, 2019, at the Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick, NJ. Hanson serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) and PATCO President. He accepted the 2019 Walter Rand South Jersey Award on behalf of the men and women who work at DRPA and PATCO, Chairman Ryan Boyer, Vice-Chairman Jeffrey Nash, DRPA and PATCO’s Board, and the contractors and consultants who support the Authority. An Eagle Award symbolizes the ability to rise above obstacles and to achieve levels of success beyond the common grasp that make the recipient of this award a leader. Hanson was the recipient of the Walter Rand South Jersey Award which is an Eagle Award category given to an individual who is recognized as making a difference in the local economy.
Mavis Amegah-Dorr was sworn in as the newest member of the Board of Trustees on September 3. She graduated from Camden County College in May 2019. Throughout her stay at the College, she was an active member of the student community. She was a member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society, served as the chapter’s VP of fellowship, the vice president and president of the Women Empowered Club, and was an active member of the Addictions Counseling club, the World Cultures Club, and the Diversity Council. Ms. Amegah-Dorr was a member of the honors program, made the President’s list twice, and made the 2019 New Jersey All-State Academic Team. She participated in various volunteer work activities including the Child Placement Review Board of the Camden County Court House to help review the cases of children placed outside their homes by the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P) and AmeriCorps as a Summer VISTA Associate with the CFS Head Start Program in Camden, New Jersey. Ms. Amegah-Dorr is currently working toward her bachelor’s degree in Global Studies and Political Science at Rutgers University.
By President Donald A. Borden
It’s been said that no institution can be all things for all people. Community colleges offer a stark contrast to that opinion. In addition to providing transfer options to four-year colleges and universities through Associate Degree programs, community colleges offer a myriad of work and occupational training options that lead to careers in almost any field one can imagine.
That is why the recognition by both Governor Phil Murphy and the State Legislature of the value of community colleges is so critically important to the most at-risk students in our state. The Community College Opportunity Grant pilot effort put in place this spring has opened the door for many students who otherwise would find a college education to be unaffordable.
There are many students at Camden County College who either remained or re-enrolled because they qualified for the Community College Opportunity Grant. If not for the funding provided through this program, many of these students would not be in a position to continue their educations. At Camden County College, 286 students took advantage of this program and attended tuition-free. With this support they remain on track to complete their academic programs and find gainful employment, which can only benefit New Jersey’s economy.
The Community College Opportunity Grant pilot effort is an important start. Governor Murphy’s current proposed budget includes resources to expand this program to all community colleges for the entire academic year.
New Jersey should build on this pilot effort and the Governor’s proposed budget to expand this opportunity to more students. Currently, the program is limited to students in households earning less than $45,000 per year. Many more students who have similar needs do not have access to this opportunity due to the fact that they do not fall below the $45,000 income threshold. In addition, six of the state’s 19 community colleges were not chosen to participate in the initial phase of this program. This resulted in many extremely needy students across the state being left out of the equation. As the Governor’s proposal is being presented for the upcoming year, dependent part-time students living in a home making $45,000 or less annually will no longer qualify for this program. These students are often in greater need than an independent student who qualifies under the same economic limit. The first round of this grant also provided $250,000 for all nineteen community colleges to conduct outreach, onboard students, counsel and provide support to those who are most at-risk. These dollars are not included in the current proposal and are critically important to providing the vital protections to help students stay on track for successful completion. They also allow each of the community colleges to expand this assistance to students who may not receive fiscal benefits from the grant, but still require support, advisement and mentoring. If completion is a primary concern, resources to help students along the way are critically important to this process.
New Jersey needs a highly skilled workforce. The Secretary of Higher Education has set a goal of 65 percent of residents holding a post-secondary credential by 2025. The expansion of the Community College Opportunity Grant to raise the limit of median household income levels, continue to support part-time students and maintain the funding to support these students is critically important to reaching this goal. The investment of these dollars will make the dream of achieving a post-high school credential, leading to a living-wage job, without being burdened by crushing student debt a reality for thousands of students from middle-class, working families.
To quote from a recent article in the New York Times, “It is astonishing that no rigorous research has established the minimum amount of money required to make community colleges successful, given their critical potential to increase social mobility for millions of students. Higher education, which is, after all, in the business of research, needs to figure out what it will take to support community college students, who have so much to contribute to our society, if only we would let them.”
It’s time for us to recognize the long-term benefits for all of the residents of the State of New Jersey by supporting the success of our most economically challenged students.
Dr. Jacqueline Galbiati, Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness, Advancement and Strategic Initiatives, has been named a “Woman to Watch” in the current issue of SJ Biz Magazine. Dr. Galbiati’s goals have always been to work hard and serve others. She wants to support Camden County and the College to maintain success and develop future leaders. She has a passion to help underserved populations succeed and wants to continue to help others complete their goals in life.
The Camden County College Foundation Gala held on March 1 raised $87,000 for the student scholarship fund. More than 275 attendees enjoyed the sights, sounds and flavors of Mardi Gras as the Connector Building Atrium was transformed into New Orleans by our talented staff and partner vendors. In addition to recognizing CCC employees that achieved career milestones, we presented the former Mayor of the City of Camden Dana Redd and Freeholder Jeff Nash with the Presidential Impact Award. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, Foundation and College community, we thank you for your attendance, donations and support that made the gala a tremendous success.
The Marlin Gallery is proud to present Eclectic Environs, an exhibition of the works of Phil Rychert an artist who has served as the Art Technician at Camden County College for twenty years. He will retire this coming June. The exhibition is open Monday through Thursday, 12:30 to 4 p.m. through April 4.
