For Immediate Release; with photos on flickr

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

Galloway, N.J. - Stockton University’s School of Health Sciences will be expanding into new, larger facilities in Ocean County, providing more students from central and south New Jersey with a convenient location to earn degrees in several fast-growing fields of health care.

The university will be opening a 7,915-square-foot expansion adjacent to the existing Manahawkin Instructional Site at 712 E. Bay Avenue in 2018, with classroom space, teaching labs and a student lounge. The site has been occupied by Rothman Institute Orthopaedics, which will be moving to the new AtlantiCare Health Park, Manahawkin Campus on Route 72 West.

“There is a great need for additional health care services in the region, and a strong demand from employers and prospective students for these programs,” said President Harvey Kesselman. “Stockton’s mission is to provide access to a distinctive higher education and develop programs that ultimately improve the quality of life for New Jersey’s residents.”

The accelerated Nursing program, in which students holding baccalaureate degrees can complete all of the courses to earn a second bachelor’s degree in nursing in just four semesters, will be expanded. Students are eligible for this program if they have a bachelor’s degree in any field and have completed all of the prerequisites. For more information, please visit stockton.edu/health-sciences/nursing-accelerated.html.  

Students are admitted in the fall and finish at the end of the following fall term.  All classes and labs are expected to be held in the expanded Manahawkin location as of spring 2018. Clinical rotations will be offered in Ocean, Monmouth and Atlantic counties.                             

Stockton's Nursing Program was ranked #43 out of 450 schools considered in the MidAtlantic Region by NursingSchoolsAlmanac.com. The Nursing Program is approved by the New Jersey Board of Nursing and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

The Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences - the university’s largest undergraduate major with over 1,100 students - also will be expanding into the new facilities in Manahawkin.

“We plan to make it more convenient for undergraduates living in central New Jersey to take advantage of this innovative degree in health care,” said Dean Theresa Bartolotta of the School of Health Sciences. “It provides a gateway for graduate school or prepares students for beginning positions in health care, such as health administration.

“Stockton partners with AtlantiCare and Rothman to offer innovative, cutting-edge academic and clinical experiences so our students are well-prepared to meet the demands of the competitive health care marketplace,” Bartolotta said. “This expansion and our partnerships will offer additional opportunities for clinical placements of Nursing, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Communication Disorders students in Ocean and Monmouth counties.”

Stockton’s Physical Therapy Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). The Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).  The Communication Disorders program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.

Michael West, CEO of Rothman Institute, spoke about its partnerships with Stockton and the benefits of the expansion: “We are extremely excited about the expansion of the School of Health Sciences and the many programs that Stockton University offers. We have had an outstanding relationship with their Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, and participate in a number of continuing education conferences.

“We believe that the expansion of the School of Health Sciences will significantly benefit the residents in the southern Ocean County area,” West continued. “We share the progressive and innovative vision of the health science expansion and look forward to continuing our collaboration with Stockton University and AtlantiCare Health System in providing and improving health care in the surrounding communities and beyond. We are so proud and honored to work with these two great organizations in helping to educate and develop the next generation of health care providers.”

Bartolotta said the expansion will enable the school to expand its speech and hearing services, and eventually to offer an inter-professional clinic where students will serve patients with various health care needs.

“We have other plans to expand our educational offerings in Ocean County as time goes on,” she added.  

Students are encouraged to apply now for next fall by visiting stockton.edu/apply.

For more information about Stockton University’s School of Health Sciences, visit stockton.edu/health-sciences.

Stockton’s Manahawkin Instructional Site also offers courses in general studies, mathematics and science, business, arts and humanities, social sciences and education.