Galloway, N.J. — Stockton University and four regional community colleges launched a transformative partnership Monday designed to make college transfer more seamless, affordable and centered for students 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. 

“We are replacing roadblocks with roadmaps. We are making it easier for students to move forward with confidence and clarity. And that matters. It matters because someone in South Jersey right now is questioning whether degree attainment is possible,” Pugh-Bassett said. “Today we are reinforcing that it is, and together we will help you get there. Together we can create opportunities that are larger than any one campus. We can strengthen the educational pipeline across our region and show our students that collaboration is truly what moves communities forward.” 

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. 

“This alliance signals to the broader public the importance of removing barriers as we learn collectively from one another about how to make transfer easy and supportive,” 
Monaco said. 

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 Alliance emphasizes student-centered planning designed to help students save time, reduce unnecessary duplication of coursework and complete degrees more efficiently. 

“One of our commitments to our students is to break down barriers. We identify barriers for our students, and we work relentlessly to break those barriers down so that our students have the opportunity to move beyond Brookdale to Stockton and into their graduate degree programs and their careers,” said Stout, a 1996 Stockton University graduate. 

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 healthcare, STEM, business, education, public safety and the arts. 

“It’s about ensuring that more students, especially from underrepresented communities, can earn degrees, pursue careers, continue to graduate and go on to be successful right here in South Jersey,” Gaba said. 

“At Stockton, we often say we are a community of opportunity,” Bertolino said. “This Alliance extends that idea across the region.” 

About the South Jersey Higher Education Alliance 

The South Jersey Higher Education Alliance is a collaborative partnership among Atlantic Cape Community College, Brookdale Community College, Camden County College, Ocean County College and Stockton University. The Alliance is focused on expanding educational opportunities, supporting student success and creating seamless pathways from associate degrees to bachelor’s and graduate degree programs. Through stronger transfer pathways, coordinated advising, shared resources and cross-institutional collaboration, the Alliance is designed to help students complete degrees more efficiently while strengthening workforce development and economic opportunity across southern and central New Jersey. 

-- Story by Stacey Clapp, photos by Abbigail Erbacher