NJIT and Mercer County Community College establish academic partnership

Newark, N.J. — New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) in Newark, N.J., and Mercer County Community College (MCCC) in West Windsor Township, N.J., have signed a joint agreement designed to improve student access across the two higher-education institutions. The 2+2 Connect Articulation Agreement will enable MCCC students to earn a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from NJIT while studying almost entirely at MCCC’s campus.

Under the terms of 2+2 Connect, MCCC students who earn an associate degree in engineering science may transfer up to 67 common-course credits toward a B.S. in civil engineering from NJIT. They will then have the opportunity to pursue the additional 66 credits required for the bachelor’s, primarily through face-to-face courses on the MCCC campus; some courses will be offered online or at NJIT’s main campus. Transferring MCCC students must go through NJIT’s customary transfer process and meet all applicable admission requirements and deadlines.

“It is important for us to create pathways to success and eliminate as many barriers as possible for community college transfer students,” noted NJIT President Joel S. Bloom. “With this collaboration, we are expanding access and creating exciting professional opportunities for academically successful students enrolled at Mercer County Community College while introducing them to NJIT’s outstanding undergraduate programs. As New Jersey’s public polytechnic university, it is incumbent upon NJIT to articulate well with the STEM programs at our state’s community colleges.”

NJIT instructors will teach the NJIT courses in classrooms and laboratory space licensed to the university by MCCC. Additionally, they will be responsible for grading, classroom rules and student conduct and disciplinary matters.

“This partnership is all about building on the strengths of both institutions,” said Jianping Wang, president of Mercer County Community College. “NJIT has a top quality engineering program, and now we are bringing their quality programs to our campus.”

Officials from both NJIT and MCCC gathered at MCCC May 10 for a signing ceremony to enact the five-year agreement, which, subject to Middle States Commission on Higher Education approval, will begin fall semester 2017 and be reviewed annually by both parties. Basil Baltzis, vice provost for academic affairs at NJIT, and Taha Marhaba, professor and chairman of civil and environment engineering at the university, were instrumental in drafting the agreement.