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New Jersey City University and Mercer County Community College Sign Dual Admission Transfer Agreement
JERSEY CITY, N.J. | New Jersey City University (NJCU) and Mercer County Community College (MCCC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the MCCC | NJCU Transfer Program — a transfer program to enable a seamless transfer experience from MCCC to NJCU to facilitate the attainment of a bachelor’s degree.
The MOU, signed by NJCU Interim President Andrés Acebo and MCCC president Deborah E. Preston, Ph.D., and each school’s provost and other academic leaders, is effective this month and valid for at least the next five years.
Under the terms of the articulation agreement, which builds off other successful agreements signed by the university this year, Mercer County Community College students in good academic standing who have earned an Associate degree at MCC, will be granted joint admission into NJCU with junior academic status, in the same or similar academic program of study.
“NJCU continues to develop pathways with like-minded institutions to ensure our state’s students have an expeditious process to fulfill their academic promise without the burdensome obstacles that some students have historically and inequitably faced,” said President Acebo. “This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to academic excellence and ensures that students can pursue their educational goals with greater flexibility and support. While the MCCC | NJCU Transfer Program also strengthens the ties between our institutions, at the same time it embodies our dedication to student success and academic collaboration. By creating seamless pathways for our students, we are not only furthering the missions and reach of both institutions but also empowering individuals to achieve their dreams and contribute meaningfully to society."
MCCC President, Dr. Deborah E. Preston, added: “We are always happy for students to have seamless pathways to continue their education.”
NJCU and MCCC will adopt specific program-to-program pathways under the dual admissions to facilitate the transfer of credits. Many pathways have already been developed and can be found at www.njcu.edu/Mercer. Additional pathways will be developed over time and added to that page. Both schools will also work to develop joint admission standards, provide academic advising and support programs and staff for students enrolled in the program, and collaborate to market the opportunity to current and prospective students.
Additionally, the schools will conduct regular and joint data-driven evaluations of the program to assess its effectiveness and make adjustments when necessary. All application fees for transfer students into NJCU will be waived.
The schools will also establish procedures for the sharing of campus resources and student support services and dedicate staff to administering the program.
Students transferring from MCCC to NJCU as part of the joint program will be eligible for transfer scholarships.
Donna Adair Breault, Ph.D., Interim Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs, said: “We are so excited about this partnership with Mercer County Community College. Our institutions cherish the same values regarding student success and civic engagement. Creating seamless pathways that let students see their futures in very real ways helps Central and Northern New Jersey’s communities thrive.”
Dr. Scott O’Connor, Assistant Provost of Academic Programming noted: “Both NJCU and Mercer share a common goal: giving more students access to higher education and making their path forward as simple and clear as possible. This dual admission agreement furthers that goal. Students will transfer easily and seamlessly on established pathways without the burden of extra credits or delays. We thank our colleagues at both institutions for the hard work they’ve put into creating this first wave of pathways, and we look forward to building even more so that more Mercer students have opportunities at NJCU."
Michael Arbitblit, Ed.D., the Assistant Registrar for Transfer and Manager of the NJCU Transfer Resource Center added: “We are excited to announce the signing of the MOU for this seamless transfer pathway program with Mercer County Community College. The students of MCCC will gain in-depth knowledge of their entire academic journey on day one with guaranteed dual admission to a wide array of our online and in-person programs. The transfer pathways that have been fully approved for this initial launch, along with the ones currently in development, represent a wide variety of programs available across NJCU’s four colleges. These opportunities reflect the next step in New Jersey City University’s overall commitment to being the state's most transfer friendly institution. We look forward to collaborating with staff and faculty of Mercer and also welcoming students onto our campus who are seeking an excellent and affordable education.”
A critical element of the partnership will allow every credit earned at Mercer County Community College to transfer to NJCU. In April 2023, NJCU announced the most significant overhaul of its general education curriculum in decades — reform which makes NJCU a statewide leader as the most transfer-friendly public university in the state. NJCU is the only four-year institution in New Jersey to do this.
The MCCC | NJCU Transfer Program is the third major transfer initiative NJCU has signed with a community college partner in the last 12 months. In July, NJCU launched the Essex|NJCU Express program with Essex County College. Meanwhile, HCCC|NJCU Connect — known as the Hudson Connect Program — which was signed in December, 2023 and launched in January, 2024.
NJCU continues seeking partnership opportunities that expand higher education access and equity to students in New Jersey as part of the university’s mission, which includes making the pursuit of a college degree as unburdened of a journey as possible. NJCU continues to be committed to dismantling traditional obstacles and systemic barriers that students face throughout higher education.
About NJCU
New Jersey City University is a comprehensive public regional institution of higher learning located in Jersey City, N.J., dedicated to the development of our students, our city, our communities, and our state. We are a game-changing force for our students and have been recognized as one of the top colleges in the nation improving their upward economic mobility. In fact, NJCU has been ranked No. 1 in New Jersey and Top 10 in the nation in the CollegeNET Social Mobility Index for 2023. Whether enrolled in one of our undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs at our three locations, NJCU students have access to an affordable, diverse environment, and an exceptionally supportive faculty. This prepares them to go on to become the next generation of workers and leaders who improve their communities and the State of New Jersey.
Contact:
Ira Thor, Associate Vice President for University Communications and Marketing | ithor@njcu.edu | 201-200-3301