July 19, 2024

New Jersey City University and Essex County College Sign Essex|NJCU Express Transfer Agreement

JERSEY CITY, N.J. | New Jersey City University (NJCU) and Essex County College (ECC) have signed the Essex|NJCU Express — a transfer program Memorandum of Understandings to enable a seamless transfer experience from ECC to NJCU. The two schools gathered at a signing ceremony on July 18, 2024 between NJCU Interim President Andrés Acebo and Essex President Augustine A. Boakye, Ph.D.

Under the terms of the articulation agreement, which is effective September 1, 2024 for a period of at least five years, Essex County College students in good academic standing who have earned an Associate of Arts or Science degree at Essex, will be granted joint admission into NJCU with junior academic status, in the same or similar academic program of study.

“The American Dream for many in our communities finds its foothold on campuses like Essex County College, and we are creating an expeditious process where students complete those pursuits on our campus at NJCU,” said Interim President Andrés Acebo. “Both of our institutions serve some of the most diverse communities and socioeconomically diverse students in our state. Higher education stands on the precipice of opportunity on our respective campuses. Both of our institutions, throughout our histories, have been a vehicle and modality for social mobility and prosperity. Our students pursue and persist through systemic and societal challenges with radical resilience worthy of emulation. Our work manifests in real time when we come together to launch bold initiatives like Essex|NJCU Express to anchor purpose and mission around people. What we are doing here today through our joint admission matriculation partnership is anchoring ourselves around the people we are privileged to lift, champion and amplify through our dedicated and concerted efforts. Today, we honor where our student’s academic journeys begin and recommit to help shepherd them through its timely conclusion and the professional pursuits that follow.”

Essex and NJCU will adopt specific program-to-program articulation agreements for all 39 bachelor’s degrees and distinct degree and certification pathways offered under the joint admissions program as part of the seamless transfer experience. The two schools will collaborate to identify program maps to facilitate the transfer of credits to limit excess credit accumulation, develop joint admission standards, academic advising and support programs and staff, and establish a timeline for the automatic transfer of credits.

Additionally, the schools will conduct regular data-driven evaluations of the program to assess its effectiveness and make adjustments when necessary. All application fees for transfer students into NJCU will be waived.

Donna Adair Breault, Ph.D., Interim Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs, said: “We are thrilled to make this vital partnership with Essex County College official. We recognize how important our shared mission is to serve members of our communities and we look forward to nurturing this pathway from Essex to NJCU. In doing so, we will play a vital role in the persistence of students so they can build upon what they learn at Essex and earn a degree from NJCU that will help transform their life — and the lives of their family and their community.”

Michael Arbitblit, Ed.D., the Assistant Registrar for Transfer and Manager of the NJCU Transfer Resource Center added: “This MOU, and the numerous transfer pathways that were developed for it, are an exciting, pivotal next step in furthering New Jersey City University’s commitment to being the state’s most transfer friendly institution. Essex County College and NJCU’s partnership will not only provide seamless transferability for students, but also help to eliminate systemic barriers and provide access to an excellent and affordable education that will in turn open doors to a better future. We look forward to collaborating closely with the staff and faculty of Essex on this program that will create new opportunities for the communities we are proud to serve.”

The event was attended by academic leaders from both institutions, and local leaders, including Assemblywoman Carmen T. Morales of legislative district 34 and long-time Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., a 1976 NJCU alumnus and a member of the institution’s athletics Hall of Fame.

Morales praised the collaboration, saying: “As a proud Assemblywoman representing Essex County and the 34th legislative district, I was grateful to witness the articulation agreement between Essex County College and New Jersey City University. This agreement ensures that the hard-earned credits our students receive are honored, making the journey to a bachelor’s degree more accessible and affordable. Thank you, ECC and NJCU for your commitment to our students. By investing in education, we are strengthening our communities and building a stronger New Jersey.”

DiVincenzo ‘76 added: “As the Essex County Executive and a proud alum of Jersey City State College, I am happy to stand with Essex County College President Dr. Augustine A. Boakye and NJCU President Andrés Acebo on this momentous occasion—the signing of the Essex|NJCU Express transfer agreement. Significant improvements have been made to the NJCU campus and academic programs since I was a student and we have also enhanced the infrastructure and academics at Essex County College as well to ensure that students receive a quality education in state-of-the art facilities.”

“This collaboration between the two institutions is a win-win for all our students,” he added. “Giving students who graduate from ECC an opportunity to easily continue their studies and earn bachelor’s degrees at NJCU is what it’s all about. Opportunities like this will change the trajectory of people’s lives and open doors for future academic and employment growth. We look forward to the many positive outcomes this partnership will bring.”

A critical element of the partnership will allow every credit earned at Essex to transfer to NJCU. In April 2023, NJCU announced the most significant overhaul of its general education curriculum in decades — reform which makes NJCU a statewide leader as the most transfer-friendly public university in the state. NJCU is the only four-year institution in New Jersey to do this.

The Essex|NJCU Express program builds off other successful agreements NJCU has engaged in, including the HCCC|NJCU Connect — known as the Hudson Connect Program — which was signed in December, 2023 and launched in January, 2024.

NJCU continues seeking partnership opportunities that expand higher education access and equity to students in New Jersey as part of the university’s mission, which includes making the pursuit of a college degree as unburdened of a journey as possible. NJCU continues to be committed to dismantling traditional obstacles and systemic barriers that students face throughout higher education.

About NJCU
New Jersey City University is a comprehensive public regional institution of higher learning located in Jersey City, N.J., dedicated to the development of our students, our city, our communities, and our state. We are a game-changing force for our students and have been recognized as one of the top colleges in the nation improving their upward economic mobility. In fact, NJCU has been ranked No. 1 in New Jersey and Top 10 in the nation in the CollegeNET Social Mobility Index for 2023. Whether enrolled in one of our undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs at our three locations, NJCU students have access to an affordable, diverse environment, and an exceptionally supportive faculty. This prepares them to go on to become the next generation of workers and leaders who improve their communities and the State of New Jersey.
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