Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg held a ceremony earlier this fall to mark the opening of the 23,500 square-foot expansion to the Christine Todd Whitman Science Center.

The addition, which nearly doubles the size of the existing building, includes four chemistry labs, a physics lab, a hybrid room that can function as both a physics lab and a lecture room, and two additional classrooms to accommodate the growing number of students interested in majoring in science-related fields.

Since the Christine Todd Whitman Science Center first opened in 2002, there has been an explosion in the number of students studying science at the College. Since 2007, the number of students enrolled in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) programs has increased more than 250 percent, from approximately 270 to 700 students, and the number of STEM degrees awarded has increased 500 percent.

RVCC Earns National Recognition for Community Service

In recognition of Raritan Valley Community College’s leadership role in serving the local community, the College has been named to the 2015 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll “With Distinction.” The College was honored in both the General Community Service and Education categories.

RVCC was the only community college in the country to be recognized “With Distinction” in the Education category. In total, only 36 institutions were recognized nationally in this category.

In addition, RVCC was one of only two colleges in the state, and the only community college in NJ, to be recognized “With Distinction” in the General Community Service category. Nationally, 120 higher education institutions were recognized “With Distinction” in this area.

Rider, RVCC Sign Transfer Agreement Focusing on 18 Majors

Raritan Valley Community College and Rider University have signed a new agreement that will allow students in 18 different majors to seamlessly transfer to the university to complete their bachelor’s degree.

The Program to Program Guaranteed Transfer Agreement, which was signed September 23 at RVCC’s Branchburg campus, covers majors that focus on such areas as Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Nursing, Education, Criminal Justice, Exercise Science, Business Administration, English, Communication Studies, Mathematics, Liberal Arts and Social Science.

According to the agreement, RVCC students graduating with the appropriate majors may transfer to Rider with full junior status, as long as they fulfill certain requirements such as maintaining the requisite grade point average.