November 17, 2022

Residence life agreement between Centenary University and Sussex County Community College is part of broader national partnership trend between small colleges to share resources

 

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ, Nov. 17, 2022—When students moved into Centenary University’s residence halls to begin the fall semester, approximately 70 were current enrollees of Sussex County Community College—extending a partnership between the two educational institutions in northwestern New Jersey. Now in its second year, the agreement fills underutilized space in Centenary’s residence halls, while allowing  the community college students to experience life on a four-year campus.

The pact represents a broader trend in higher education among small colleges and universities forging partnerships, in everything from academics to student life, to enrich the college experience and create smoother pathways for associate degree recipients to enroll at four-year institutions to finish their bachelor’s degrees. For the partnering institutions, these unique agreements also make a positive impact through increased efficiencies, greater diversity, and the potential to boost enrollment.

Only 25 percent of community colleges across the nation offer student housing, according to a recent survey by the American Association of Community Colleges. Yet, community colleges today attract students from a much broader geographic area as they seek to introduce new academic and athletic offerings and increase diversity on campus. SCCC now offers several athletic programs, including football and soccer, and as a result, recruits student-athletes from outside the region. Many of those student-athletes chose to live on campus at Centenary during the 2021-22 academic year.

The partnership between Centenary and SCCC began two years ago with a formal path to transfer agreement, which simplifies the process for the county college graduates to transfer to Centenary for a bachelor’s degree. The housing arrangement further strengthens the relationship between the two institutions, said Kerry Mullins, vice president for student life and dean of students at Centenary University.

The residence life partnership is so distinctive that Centenary and SCCC officials were invited to deliver a presentation on its rollout at a recent conference sponsored by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. “Relationships like this are crucial to two- and four-year institutions with limited resources,” Mullins explained. “In looking at an institution’s strategic plan, you need to be both intentional and innovative to form a mutually beneficial partnership. In this case, providing housing to SCCC students who are far from home, while at the same time maximizing the vacancies in Centenary’s residence halls, is a win-win.”

In the first year of the agreement, more than 70 SCCC students lived on Centenary’s campus while attending classes at the county college, which is located in Newton, NJ, less than 17 miles north of Hackettstown. The students predominantly hailed from New Jersey, along with other states along the east coast and central portion of the United States. This fall, two international students from SCCC are also living on Centenary’s campus.

Matthew Lavery, Ed.D., director of residence life and community standards at Centenary, noted that students from both institutions mingled well last year, with SCCC students attending extracurricular and sporting events at Centenary. “This has allowed Centenary University to become more diverse in the make-up of our student body,” Dr. Lavery said. “While there are benefits for the SCCC students to start a collegiate career and live on campus before they transfer, Centenary University students are learning from them, as well.”

Centenary has a strong track record for forming alliances with other educational organizations to strengthen its mission to be the intellectual, economic, and cultural heart of the Skylands Region. Through a partnership with the Lower Cost Models for Independent Colleges Consortium (LCMC), the University has tapped the expertise of more than 70 educational institutions to introduce new academic programs, such as supply chain management, certified financial planning, project management, and computer science. Last spring, Centenary partnered with internationally renowned expert and author Tal Ben-Shahar, Ph.D., and the Happiness Studies Academy to announce the world’s first Master of Arts in Happiness Studies, which began this fall. The academic program has received international media coverage and more than 200 applications for admission.

Mullins said innovative partnerships such as the housing agreement between Centenary and SCCC are ultimately about better serving students: “Getting to know the students from Sussex County Community College helps us to truly understand their educational journey much better. Meeting them at the beginning of their college career, rather than waiting two years or more for them to transfer to Centenary, ensures that we can anticipate their needs and expectations for a traditional undergraduate college experience.”

 

ABOUT CENTENARY UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1867 by the Newark Conference of the United Methodist Church, Centenary University’s academic program integrates a solid liberal arts foundation with a strong career orientation. This mix provides an educational experience that prepares students to succeed in the increasingly global and interdependent world. The University’s main campus is located in Hackettstown, N.J., with its equestrian facility in Washington Township.