Rowan College’s President Keating Offers Welcome

Welcome to Rowan College of South Jersey. On behalf of thefaculty and staff, it is my pleasure to introduce a new regional college, academicallydesigned to transform higher education in New Jersey. This pioneering, hybridinstitution provides students with more choices, including the option to pursueadvanced degrees at Rowan University and other four-year universities, withoutever leaving the Rowan College of South Jersey campuses.

For more than five decades, Rowan College at GloucesterCounty and Cumberland County College have provided students with affordable andaccessible options to prepare them for careers within their chosen field. OnJuly 1, 2019, these two colleges merged to mark an important milestone in thehistory of community colleges — the creation of a regional college in southernNew Jersey. Together these two campuses offer more than 120 unique degrees andcertificates, combining 100 years of experience to provide a variety of degreeselections, cost-saving initiatives, and scholarship and internshipopportunities, at one of the lowest tuition rates in the state.

The merger of these two community colleges, in conjunctionwith an expanded 10-year premier partnership agreement with Rowan University,leads the way to a future filled with diverse and one-of-a-kind educational opportunities.Ambitious teenage students seeking a head start on their college studies cantake classes and save money with high school dual enrollment programs,including “Rowan High School Start” and the High School Option Program (HSOP);two successful collaborations between Rowan College of South Jersey and localhigh schools. Through exclusive programs like Rowan Choice and “3+1″ degreeofferings, the education cost savings are substantial and students can easilytransition to Rowan University for a bachelor’s degree. Academic andworkforce-training programs ensure the availability of skilled employees,answering both professional and community needs.

Thanks to close-working relationships and affiliations withlocal chambers of commerce, businesses and workforce development, students and employeeshave the chance to further enrich their educational goals. Academically, studentslearn experientially through internships and cooperative education. Workforceprofessionals have the flexibility to earn industry-valued stacking credentials,allowing them to become marketable faster while providing “stop out” pointsdepending on the certificate or degree desired.

The exciting connection between education, business andlabor also extends into the medical field. The 27 miles along Route 55 betweenRowan College of South Jersey’s Gloucester and Cumberland campuses integrateseducation, medical services and commerce to establish South Jersey’s first EDs,MEDs & Commerce Corridor. Our premier partnership with Rowan University — aresearch university with two medical schools — and future campus construction intendedto house both public and private medical, labor and business entities, will continueto increase the academic advantages for our students while benefitting economicdevelopment in the South Jersey region.

I am extremely honored to have the privilege to serve asRowan College of South Jersey’s first president and encourage you to explorethe wide range of educational alternatives accessible to everyone. No matterwhat your goals and no matter where you are in your education and life, RowanCollege of South Jersey is prepared to meet the needs of South Jersey students.