Burlington County Freeholder Linda Hughes and Rowan College at Burlington County (RCBC) Acting President Michael Cioce announced today that the college’s enrollment increased 5 percent this fall, compared to the fall of 2016, as the Mount Laurel Campus transformation and innovative 3+1 program continue to resonate with students and parents throughout the county and region.

RCBC has achieved growth in the spring 2017 and fall 2017 terms.

“As Freeholder liaison to Rowan College at Burlington County, and a former RCBC trustee, it is extremely exciting to see the continued growth of the college. RCBC’s sustained enrollment increase is yet another opportunity to celebrate the successful partnership of the Burlington County Freeholder Board and the College,” said Freeholder Hughes. “RCBC is a national example of how a college can transform itself and grow at a time when most colleges in the country are experiencing declines.”

RCBC’s enrollment increase is particularly telling of the impact the college’s groundbreaking 3+1 path to a four-year degree is having in Burlington County, in which students remain at RCBC for their junior-year credits toward a Rowan University bachelor’s degree. The college’s growth this fall is fueled largely by increases in new students (3%), transfer students (6.1%), full-time students (7%), and students who remain at RCBC from the spring term (6.7%).

To read more stories about RCBC, scroll down:

RCBC Workforce Development Institute’s Programs Connect Students with Jobs
RCBC Partners with Lyft to Offer Students a 50 Percent Discount to or from Class

There are more than 200 students taking junior-year courses as 3+1 students this term, with another 220 students who are committed to begin their courses in a future term. More than 400 additional students have expressed interest in the program. RCBC is the only community college in this region of the country offering junior-year courses.

“Our innovative 3+1 program at RCBC that we established last year is clearly having an immediate impact in our county and region; students can now earn a high-quality, four-year degree for $25,000, less than what many colleges charge for a single year. In a time when college is becoming less and less affordable for middle-class families, our 3+1 program is literally putting higher education within the reach of thousands of more Burlington County students and their families,” added Freeholder Hughes.

In less than two years from design to completion, the Freeholder Board and RCBC have transformed the Mount Laurel Campus from a satellite facility to a full-service campus. The newly opened, state-of-the-art Student Success Center and Health Sciences Center will give every student the tools and resources they need to succeed in the classroom and be successful after graduation in the workforce.

“We want to earn the reputation for being a student’s top choice, and these enrollment data show we have become the best option for many students, thanks to initiatives such as 3+1 and the improved campus experience in Mount Laurel,” Cioce said.

“We are very humbled by every student who chooses Rowan College at Burlington County. We’re so thrilled that so many believe in the direction of our college and I congratulate them on their pursuit of high-quality and affordable education,” Cioce added.

Maria Davis enrolled in Rowan College at Burlington County’s Transportation, Logistics and Distribution program and now works for an H&M distribution center.

RCBC Workforce Development Institute’s Programs Connect Students with Jobs

For most people, a career path is no longer a straight line, but a series of twists and turns that requires workers to use education to keep their skills in line with the modern workforce.

Rowan College at Burlington County is the perfect vehicle for people to transform themselves into a new career.

“The nature of the world is changing, so the nature of higher education must as well,” said Rowan College at Burlington County Acting President Michael Cioce. “We have partnered with Rowan University to offer students a more affordable route to a bachelor’s degree, but higher education is not a one-size-fits-all model. Our Workforce Development Institute provides comprehensive training and skills to help people find good, stable jobs, or to advance their careers.”

Described by Freeholder Linda Hughes as “innovative” at the college’s commencement ceremony in May, RCBC’s Workforce Development Institute combines county and college resources, offering professional development programs to companies, partnerships with more than 75 companies and education programs.

Seven new education programs have been developed, including the new Transportation, Logistics and Distribution program, which has a 57 percent job placement rate. Most impressive to program student Maria Davis, the program offers a certification by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.

“That’s a nationally-recognized certification,” Davis, 49, said, adding, “Usually only top-level managers have those types of certifications, so having it is really a positive.”

“We connect with employers to learn about their needs for skills, and develop our programs accordingly,” said Anna Payanzo Cotton, Vice President of Workforce Development and Lifelong Learning at the college. “Our students have the skills, training and certifications necessary to be successful in their industries.”

Davis, of Palmyra, worked in supply chain management for around 15 years before being laid off due to downsizing. She found a job while enrolled in the program and now works for an H&M distribution center that supports around 500 stores.

“Supply chain management involves keeping goods moving from start to finish, so there are a lot of different facets and levels,” she explained. “For example, I wasn’t as well-versed in imports/exports. There was a lot of really good information in the program: it added to what I already knew.

“Overall, I was extremely impressed with the whole program,” Davis said. “I wish I could have finished it, but I’m very satisfied with my current job.”

Tiffany Wilcox, 43, of Willingboro, also enrolled in the Transportation, Logistics and Distribution program. Like Davis, she had prior experience in the industry and found the program after being laid off.

“The Customer Service module really stood out to me,” Wilcox said about the program. “It was the last module, and I almost didn’t take it. I’m so glad I did because it really extended beyond the title. It went over skills like resume writing, identifying communication styles and how to connect with others who communicate differently. You can take those skills with you anywhere, regardless of the industry.

“The instructors were exceptional. They had years of experience in the field, which took the program beyond learning out of a book and gave us an overview of real day-to-day operations, and what it’s really like to work in the industry,” she said.

“Nobody does Classroom to Career better than RCBC,” said Cioce. “Our programs are tailored to industry requirements, thanks to our many partnerships with businesses like Virtua, Wawa and Bayada, and our faculty are dedicated and experienced. With all of these factors, it’s no surprise that our graduates earn 6.1 percent more than their peers.”

The other education programs include Women in Sustainable Employment, 911 Dispatch, Advanced Manufacturing, Cisco CNNET and CCNA certifications, Solar Ready and Pharmacy Technician.

RCBC Partners with Lyft to Offer Students a 50 Percent Discount to or from Class

Lyft, the fastest growing on-demand transportation service in the United States, has partnered with Rowan College at Burlington County (RCBC) to offer a Lyft Line program for students who will receive discounted rates for rides to or from RCBC’s facilities and designated pick up and drop off locations in the area.

“Through our partnership with Rowan College at Burlington County, Lyft is offering students a new option for increased mobility, access and convenience. Lyft Line provides a reliable resource for students who need a solution to transportation issues,” said Ann Ferracane, General Manager of Lyft New Jersey.

Students who are new and existing users of Lyft are eligible for a 50 percent discount up to $25, courtesy of RCBC. All trips must start or end at one of the college’s campuses in Mount Laurel, Mount Holly, Willingboro or Pemberton or at one of the following off-campus locations as long as a college facility is part of the trip:
•Moorestown Mall
•Cherry Hill Mall
•Riverline Stations in Beverly and Riverside
•Cinnaminson Library
•Lumberton Crossroads Plaza
•Centerton Square (Mount Laurel)

“Our students are constantly on the go as they make their way to classes, work and throughout the community,” RCBC Acting President Michael Cioce said. “Our partnership with Lyft gives our students a way to get to their destination quickly and efficiently. Transportation issues should never prevent a student from attending the top-ranked community college in New Jersey.”

Burlington County Freeholder Linda Hughes, who serves as education liaison to the college and is a former RCBC trustee, said the partnership will help more students access RCBC.

“This is an innovative solution to help students access the region’s premier college in the New Jersey’s largest geographic county,” Hughes said. “This will help more students to take advantage of the tremendous opportunities available to them at Rowan College at Burlington County.”