Transfer Pathways Agreement with Ocean County College Expanded
Stockton University President Joe Bertolino, left, and Ocean County College President Pamela Monaco signs a memorandum of understanding on Sept. 26 that will make it easier for OCC students interested in business and social work to transfer to Stockton.
Toms River, N.J. —Students in four majors at Ocean County College can now seamlessly transfer to Stockton University’s four-year programs as part of a new memorandum of understanding signed Thursday by the schools.
“We are very excited to build on the strong partnership between Stockton and Ocean County College, said Stockton President Joe Bertolino. “Today we are expanding on our Transfer Pathways agreement that has been in place for more than five years by adding new program-to-program articulations in several high-demand majors.”
“Ocean County College is extremely proud to expand our partnership with Stockton University,” said OCC President Pamela Monaco. “Working together, we will provide exciting new opportunities for our students, encouraging them to pursue their goals and helping to remove the barriers that prevent them from finding success. I am greatly looking forward to our continued collaboration and excited for the future of our students.”
From left top, Stockton Provost and Vice President for Student Affairs Michael Palladino and Stockton President Joe Bertolino with Ocean County College Vice President of Academic Affairs Eileen Garcia and OCC President Pamela Monaco. Bertolino and Monaco signed an expanded agreement between the schools to make it easier for OCC students to transfer to Stockton.
The agreement calls for a 3+1 pathway partnership agreement for OCC majors in Accounting, Marketing and Business Administration to Stockton’s School of Business and a 2+2 pathway for OCC’s Social Work major to Stockton’s School of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
“This 3+1 program with Ocean County College helps to further reduce transfer credit loss and provides a clear pathway for students to capture credits while further reducing their financial burden,” said Warren Kleinsmith, the dean of Stockton’s School of Business.
Kleinsmith said the model will allow students to earn their associate’s degree, earn up to 90 Ocean County College credits and complete an extra year at Ocean County taking Stockton-level courses at the county college tuition rate. Then they would transfer their three years of coursework and complete their final year at Stockton at the four-year university’s tuition rate and earn a baccalaureate degree.
“This collaborative model minimizes transfer risk, financial costs, and sets our learners up for success,” Kleinsmith said.
The social work pathway partnership will allow Ocean County College students to earn an associate’s degree, then transfer to Stockton and after two years of coursework earn a Bachelor of Science in Social Work degree from Stockton.
“In social work, we believe in meeting people where they are,” said Stockton Social Work Professor Merydawilda Colon. “This seamless transition should also make social work students’ bachelor's degree completion cost-effective.”
Ocean County College students in the program will receive conditional dual admission to Stockton beginning their first year of an associated degree program. The benefits of that arrangement include joint advising with both Stockton and Ocean County College and availability to apply for designated scholarships.
For more information, contact Stockton University Admissions at 609-652-4261 or admissions@stockton.edu, or Ocean County College Admissions at 732-255-0482 or hub@ocean.edu.
-- Story by Mark Melhorn, photos by Michael Leon/Ocean County College
