Rowan College at Gloucester County (RCGC) Assistant Professor of Biology Emily Allen likes to give her equine science class an up close and personal look at the anatomy of horses and how they move so where better to hold class than at the Dream Park in Logan Township.

Thirteen students participated in this semester’s equine science lab on March 29, applying an artistic flair by using washable, non-toxic paints to draw muscles and bones on a four-legged canvas— a unique approach to observing a horse’s gait and movement.

“This class is a perfect fit for our equine science and veterinary students, but we also get a lot of students who take the class as a science elective because they have always really loved horses or they ride actively and just want to increase their knowledge about horses,” said Allen, who also breeds and raises horses on her 10-acre farm in Woodstown. “In the Equine Science program, students get a lot of hands-on experience working with horses. We have students who have never handled horses before who are coming to this class to learn the basics. We also have students who own multiple horses, ride competitively on a regular basis and have quite a bit of experience. There’s really something for everyone.”

RCGC Assistant Professor of Biology Emily Allen, with help from Magic, demonstrates the skeletal and muscular anatomy of horses during an equine science lab at Dream Park in Logan Township.

Joanne Bradley, a volunteer at Oasis Animal Sanctuary in Franklinville, has a bachelor’s degree in biology but took the class to expand her knowledge of horses. “I’m a big believer in RCGC. I’ve taken other classes here and enjoyed them, but my experience in the Equine Science class has been phenomenal. Emily is excellent in her field — I’ve learned so much, especially when it comes to animal nutrition.”

The College’s Equine Science program provides instruction and practical experience in the management, nutrition, physiology and care of horses with a strong foundation in biology, chemistry and business principles. After graduating from RCGC with an associate degree, students are prepared for immediate employment in the equine industry or for transfer into an animal science or equine science major at a four-year institution. The College currently has program partnerships with Rutgers University, Ross University, Cornell University and Delaware Valley College.

To read more stories about RCGC, scroll down:

Nursing Program Rated Top in State
Hosts 16th Annual Women in STEM Fair
Real Time Crime Center – South Opens on RCGC Campus

“Equine Science is an overall great program. It’s so interactive,” added equine science major Taylor Davis. Currently apprenticing under several horse trainers, she has been working on a ranch since she was 14. “There’s always a lot to do, but it’s fun, hands-on work.”

RCGC Nursing Program Rated Top in State

Rowan College at Gloucester County’s (RCGC) Associate in Nursing Program was recently ranked the number one nursing program in the state of New Jersey, after a state-wide study.

The study conducted by RegisteredNursing.org examined 40 N.J. Nursing programs, which included Associate in Nursing, Bachelors in Nursing and Direct-Entry Masters in nursing programs. Programs were rated based on the number of graduates produced who are able to pass the NCLEX-RN exam, which is the licensure exam used by all state boards of nursing across the United States to help assess a student’s competency. RCGC was awarded the highest score, with 98 percent of graduating students able to pass the licensure exam on their first attempt – a pass rate considerably higher than the national pass rate of 83 percent.

“The success of the RCGC Nursing program is due to many components,” remarked Dean of Nursing and Allied Health Dr. Susan Hall. “The ongoing support from the College Board of Trustees, the College administration and the dedicated faculty, staff and students here demonstrate that there is no single factor that leads to the success of our graduates. We look forward to maintaining the high standards that have been set in place to educate safe, effective and competent caregivers.”

Health-care providers across the region rely on RCGC to prepare exemplary practitioners for employment in the nursing and allied-health fields. An aging population coupled with a rise in obesity and chronic disease have increased the demand for nurses and health-care professionals. According to the American Nurses Association website, there is a “nursing shortage” with registered nurses near the top of the list when it comes to employment growth.

RCGC’s Division of Nursing and Allied Health offers programs in nursing, diagnostic medical sonography (ultrasound), nuclear medicine technology, exercise science, health science, certified clinical medical assistant and health, physical education and recreation. The College’s exemplary faculty and staff, 41,672 square-foot, state-of-the-art Nursing & Allied Health building and dedicated skills and tutoring center along with their strong relationship with clinical partners including Inspira, Kennedy, Cooper and Virtua produce graduates as comfortable in a health-care environment as they are in the classroom.

Partnership opportunities with four-year universities offer RCGC students even more career options. RNs can earn a Rowan University Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree on the RCGC campus thanks to a seamless “pathway” with the College’s premier partner.

RCGC Hosts 16th Annual Women in STEM Fair

Ninth- and tenth-grade women from Gloucester County public and private school districts visited the Rowan College at Gloucester County (RCGC) campus on March 13 to explore opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) — careers predominately filled by males. The young women, accompanied by their teachers and counselors, had the opportunity to participate in three of the 13 hands-on workshops offered. RCGC’s Women in STEM Fair brings professional female mentors onto the campus to share their history, knowledge and experiences.

“With ever expanding technological opportunities available to the young women of the upcoming generation, introducing them to careers in STEM early is a vital step in advancing society,” said Dr. Brenden Rickards, RCGC’s Dean of STEM. “The Women in STEM Fair has been very successful in exposing young women to potential careers early in their academic studies. Students not only experience hands-on STEM workshops, they also meet many highly successful women in the STEM fields who run the workshops. The event is an amazing opportunity for young women in Gloucester County.”

Students are selected by their school district and the STEM Fair is by invitation only. This year’s STEM workshops included: Nursing; UV Light and You; Nuclear Medicine is Hot, Hot, Hot; See What You’re Made of: DNA Extraction; Where is My Heartbeat?; Healthy Dating in Teens; Fun and Fashion in Technology; Mixing It Up; Color, Candy and Chemistry; There are 10 Types of People in the World …; Fun with Electromagnetism; Nutrition in Space: The Role of Food Technology; and The Physics of Angry Birds.

The workshops are supported by local businesses that include the American Association for Women in Community Colleges, Engineered Arresting Systems Corp. (ESCO), ExxonMobil Research & Engineering, Gloucester County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Rowan College at Gloucester County, Johnson Matthey – Catalysts, Chemicals, and Refining, Paulsboro Refining Company and Rowan University.

Real Time Crime Center – South Opens on RCGC Campus

Criminals in New Jersey’s six southern counties are being put on notice— on Friday, Feb. 24, the New Jersey State Police Regional Operations & Intelligence Center (ROIC) opened their second Real Time Crime Center on the Rowan College at Gloucester County (RCGC) campus.

The Real Time Crime Center—South, located in the College’s Law & Justice Education Center, is the latest regional information and intelligence sharing center to provide state and local law enforcement agencies access to a network of technology and tactical information. Law enforcement now have a central southern command center designated for the exchange of crime and threat-related data where information can be shared in order to create a “real time” picture focused on establishing patterns of criminal activity.

“The cooperation and vision of RCGC leaders and the newly expanded Law and Justice Center is a key reason why this real time crime fighting center will operate here,” said Senate President Steve Sweeney. “Fighting crime is a 24-7 job and our law enforcement agencies need all of the advantages they can get. By creating a single location where local and state law enforcement agencies can utilize technology, intelligence and resources, they can help keep our communities safer. It is a testament of the modern facilities here, much in part funded by the higher education bonds that were issued by the state, that the New Jersey State Police chose Gloucester County as their location for this center.”

The securing of a “fully Customizable” centralized location with a task force environment and connection to the ROIC will assist with disseminating intelligence data statewide. Law enforcement executives credit an information sharing environment with helping to disrupt crime patterns to better serve the citizens of New Jersey.

“This new state-of-the-art facility is driven by data collection, analysis, and information sharing, which will help law enforcement become more efficient in solving crimes and enhance our ability to develop and implement crime-prevention strategies that will make our communities safer,” said Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “Troopers, law enforcement partners and college personnel assigned to the Real Time Crime Center will have a suite of powerful, cutting-edge technologies that will provide meaningful support to our regional law enforcement agencies.”

Coordinated by the State Police in cooperation with other policing agencies, the new command center contains 16 workstations manned by approximately eight officers. Based on the success of the first Real Time Crime Center in northern New Jersey, research has shown an improvement to the quality of life in surrounding communities.

“The Real Time Crime Center is all about information flow and intelligence sharing among our partnering law enforcement agencies in the region,” said Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino. “This revolutionary crime fighting center will serve as a force-multiplier for police agencies in their quest to keep our residents safe.”

As law enforcement agencies and investigators enhance skills and intelligence work to support state, county and municipalities within the tristate area, RCGC students will also benefit from this new partnership. Gloucester County Police Academy recruits, as well as students enrolled in the College’s Law and Justice program, will have the opportunity to learn about state-of-the-art technologies that analyze data, along with the potential for future internships.

“The addition of the Real Time Crime Center to the campus serves to further enhance the collaborative partnership already existing between the College and law enforcement,” stated RCGC President Frederick Keating. “The Sheriff’s Department has an office on our campus and provides support 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. This new alliance with the New Jersey State Police will continue to assist in the effort to keep people safe and protect the community while also exposing RCGC students to current investigative tools and trends.”

Gloucester County Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger added, “This is a wonderful collaboration between RCGC and the law enforcement community. It really says something positive about Gloucester County that the New Jersey State Police chose to locate the Real Time Crime Center—South here. They could have chosen any of the other five counties this center will serve as their base, but because of the beautiful facilities we will have the benefit of this center right on our campus.”