For Immediate Release

Contact:         Maryjane Briant
                        News and Media Relations Director     
                        Galloway, N.J. 08205  
                        Maryjane.Briant@stockton.edu 
                        (609) 652-4593   
                        www.stockton.edu/media

Galloway, N.J. - Stockton University President Harvey Kesselman, Executive Vice President Susan Davenport and Dean Robert Gregg of the School of General Studies recently presented at national higher education conferences held by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) in Denver.

Kesselman, a former provost, gave a presentation on “Building a Leadership Team” to the Class of 2016-17 at “Becoming a Provost Academy,” a program the AASCU provides for individuals who aspire to become the chief academic officers at any of  its over 400 member institutions. He also gave a program on risk management to the academy’s graduating Class of 2015-2016.

Davenport, who is also chief of staff and a former interim provost at Stockton, gave a presentation on accreditation to the incoming class, and served as a panelist to discuss: “What Does a Provost Do, and How Can You Prepare to Do It Well,” and “How to Make the Professional Experience Plan Work for You.”

At the AASCU's 2016 Academic Affairs Summer Meeting, also in Denver in July, Davenport and Gregg presented on “Dual Credit – Pitfalls and Possibilities.”

Stockton University implemented dual credit courses with area high schools in the field of Mathematics over 10 years ago. With a New Jersey state mandate now in place requiring all public colleges and universities to provide dual credit opportunities, Stockton has expanded these offerings to the Sciences, Languages, Media Production, and, most recently, to Holocaust & Genocide Studies, they explained.

In conjunction with Assistant Provost, Michelle McDonald, Gregg also presented on “Re-Imagining the First Year of College,” focusing on the successes Stockton has had in its first year programming contributing to the university’s excellent retention rate of 87 percent, and its improving record for time to graduation.

This first-year programming includes the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) program, the Student Outdoor Adventure Retreat (SOAR), the First Year Experience, Freshman Seminars, and other work of the First-Year Studies program. The FRST program, within the School of General Studies, provides first-year students with coordinated experiences in academic reading, writing and mathematics. The program serves as an introduction to university work by offering small class sections taught by select faculty who are committed to helping students improve their academic skills.

Stockton was selected by the AASCU to participate in the three-year “Re-Imagining the First Year” project, a sweeping initiative aimed at transforming the first year of college to enhance students’ success in their undergraduate years and in the 21st century workplace.

For more information about Stockton University, visit Stockton.edu.