Whether you were among the first to step foot on Stockton’s Galloway campus in the ’70s, saw the addition of N Wing and Housing 2 & 3 in the ’80s, sat in a physics class with Professor Yitzhak Sharon or felt the shower of confetti when celebrating becoming a university, Stockton has grown, adapted and evolved over five decades.

Here’s a look back at what once was — and where we are today.

An Osprey’s-Eye View

In the mid-1970s, the Academic Spine stood as the heart of campus, with the Housing 1 Courts located across Lake Fred. Over the years, Stockton expanded to add spaces that reflect the changing needs of students and the region.

Atlantic City

Stockton’s first classes were held in September 1971, at the site of the former Mayflower Hotel in Atlantic City while construction of the Galloway campus continued. The college opened with 1,000 students, 97 staff and 60 full-time faculty who transferred to the Galloway campus by the end of the year.

Stockton continued to have a strong presence in Atlantic City, operating an institutional site at the historic Carnegie Library from 2002 to 2022, and supporting artistic and cultural endeavors at Dante Hall Theatre from 2009 through 2020, and the Noyes Arts Garage, beginning in 2013. Hundreds of Stockton students, faculty and staff engage with the city through internships, service-learning opportunities and community initiatives.

In 2018, the University opened the John F. Scarpa Academic Center at the site of the former Atlantic City High School, and the Kesselman Hall residential complex along the Boardwalk. In 2023, Stockton opened Parkview Hall, a second residence hall with views of the beach and O’Donnell Memorial Park.

Combined, Stockton Atlantic City houses 900 students and offers a variety of undergraduate classes. It is home to several academic programs, including Hospitality, Tourism & Event Management, the Master of Social Work and a doctoral program in Organizational Leadership.