Cumberland County College

Cumberland County College

Student Center
Type	Public, two-year college
Established	1966
Location	Vineland
Colors	Navy
Sports	Baseball, Softball, Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
Mascot	Duke
Website	www.cccnj.edu

Cumberland County College is a community college in Vineland, Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. The college enrolls approximately 4,000 students and offers 87 programs leading to Associate in Arts, Associate in Fine Arts, Associate in Science, and Associate in Applied Science degrees, in addition to academic, career and short-term training programs.

Overview

Founded in 1966, Cumberland County College was the first community college in the state to open its own campus.

Designations

• Cumberland County College was one of 19 institutions in the U.S. to be named an “Achieving the Dream Leader College^[1]” in 2015. This national designation is awarded to community colleges that commit to improving student success and closing achievement gaps.
• Hispanic Serving Institution: Federal Title V grant funding assists with strengthening institutional programs, facilities and services to expand the educational opportunities for first generation Hispanic Americans and other underrepresented populations.

University Center

In May 2006, Bernard Brown and his wife Shirlee donated $1 million to establish an endowment to assist with the operating costs of a facility that would enable students to earn a bachelor’s or master's degree on Cumberland County College’s campus. The $6 million Shirlee and Bernard Brown University Center opened in February 2008. The modern 17,423-square-foot facility features 12 classrooms, study areas and offices.

Eighty percent of Cumberland’s graduates are the first in their families to earn a college degree. Following graduation, many Cumberland County College students continue their education at the University Center in bachelor's and master's degree programs offered through partnerships with prominent universities. The college’s on-campus university partners are: Fairleigh Dickinson University, Georgian Court University, Montclair State University, and Wilmington University.

History

The State of New Jersey, in 1962, passed the New Jersey County College Act, after which the Cumberland County Board of Chosen Freeholders authorized the founding of a community college. A groundbreaking ceremony took place on December 10, 1965. The original campus, which cost $2.7 million to construct, consisted of three buildings. Today, the 100-acre main campus consists of 12 buildings, including: Phillip Alampi Science Center, Frank Guaracini Jr. Fine and Performing Arts Center, George P. Luciano Family Center for Public Service and Leadership, Shirlee and Bernard Brown University Center, and Paul Navone Healthcare Education Center. On October 17, 1966, the college opened its doors to offer nine associate degree programs to approximately 350 enrolled students. The college’s first class of graduates, in 1968, numbered 151. The Class of 2017, the largest in Cumberland County College’s history, numbered 758.

College leadership

Shelly O. Schneider, Ed.D. is currently the Interim President of Cumberland County College.

Notable achievements

• The New Jersey Association of Community Theaters honored Cumberland County College’s production of “Les Misérables” with two 2014 Perry Awards: Outstanding Production of a Musical, and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical. The show was also named one of BroadwayWorld.com’s 2013 Best of Philly/South Jersey picks. The lavish production was the centerpiece of the Luciano Theatre’s 20th anniversary season and featured a 30-foot rotating stage, elaborate costumes and a full orchestra.
• The college launched its First2Go/Primer-a-Ir^[2] program in 2017 to educate prospective students and their families about the financial value associated with earning a college degree at Cumberland County College, as it guides first-time students and their families through the process—from admission through graduation.
• A 2017 report by CNN Money ranked Cumberland County College as having the highest rate of student success of 18 community colleges in New Jersey.^[3] Cumberland tied for second place among community colleges in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Notable campus events

• In place since 2004, the college’s One Book-One College reading initiative encourages reading for pleasure, critical thinking, global awareness, and multicultural understanding. The program is highlighted each year with a visit to the campus by a featured author. Cumberland has hosted these acclaimed authors: James McBride, Jodi Picoult, David Guterson, Erin Gruwell, Jeannette Walls, Amy Hill Hearth, Steve M. Lopez, Sonia Nazario, Joyce Carol Oates, Carlotta Walls LaNier, Luis Carlos Montalvan, Christina Baker Kline, Bret Anthony Johnston and Kathleen Grissom.
• The college’s first Business Leaders Summit, in 2017, was highlighted by Google’s Executive Leadership Coach Steve Vinter and Michelle Drolet, CEO and co-founder of Towerwall, an information security company. The event brought together the region’s business and industry leaders for meetings, interactive seminars, discussion groups and networking opportunities.
• The Criminal Justice Society has hosted several nationally-recognized experts, who discuss current issues and challenges, as part of its Distinguished Speaker Program. Guests have included: Michael Smerconish, New Jersey State Police Superintendent Carson Dunbar, the late Miami Police Chief John Timoney, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and Philadelphia Police First Deputy Commissioner Christine Coulter.
• The Justice Studies program coordinates informal “Coffee with the Cops and Careers” events which bring law enforcement representatives and students together to discuss career requirements. Participating agencies have included, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Homeland Security, New Jersey State Parole Board, New Jersey State Police, and local police and sheriff departments.

Student life and athletics

• Cumberland County College offers its students the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of clubs, organizations and activities, social and civic programs, student government, and leadership experiences.
• Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society of two-year colleges, has a chapter on Cumberland’s campus, as does Alpha Beta Gamma (business), Kappa Delta Pi (education), Lambda Alpha Epsilon (criminal justice studies), Lambda Nu (radiologic and imaging sciences), and Mu Alpha Theta (mathematics).
• Athletic teams for men’s and women’s soccer and basketball, and men’s baseball and women’s softball are offered. The teams compete in the National College Athletic Association Division III Region XIX, and the Garden State Athletic Conference.
• In 2014, the Dukes baseball team claimed their first regional championship to earn a trip to the World Series as the No. 1 ranked team in the country. This was the first time any Dukes athletic team had been to a national championship tournament. They played in the national championship game and ultimately finished as the National Runner-Up.
• In 2017, Dukes Baseball was again ranked the top seed going into the Division III World Series. The Dukes finished 3rd in the tournament. The Dukes finished with a season record of 55-8. The 55 wins is a single season record for any college at any level in the state of New Jersey. The Dukes also had an incredible 33 game winning streak. That was the longest collegiate winning streak at any level in 2017.
• The Dukes women’s basketball team, in 2015, captured its first Region XIX Conference Championship. The team, which became known as the “Super Six” because the squad was made up of just six players, posted a 22-1 season record going into that year’s nationals.
• The 2015 women’s softball team climbed within the top 10 of the national rankings to win its first Region XIX championship, finishing sixth at the national championship tournament.

Satellite locations

Besides the 100-acre main campus in Vineland, the college maintains off-site education and training facilities. The Paula J. Ring Education Center in Millville, which opened in 2013, houses the Workforce and Community Education division; and 2017 saw the opening of the Arts and Innovation Center in Millville, containing the Clay College studio and gallery, educational and training classrooms, and entrepreneurial space.

Notable alumni

• Nicholas Asselta, politician who served in the New Jersey State Senate from 2004 to 2008, where he represented the 1st Legislative District.
• R. Bruce Land, politician and former corrections officer who has represented the 1st Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2016^[4]

See also

• New Jersey County Colleges

References

Coordinates: 39°26′28″N 75°03′25″W / 39.441°N 75.057°W / 39.441; -75.057