Nontraditional College Student Programs

Rutgers University Breaks Ground for State-of-the-Art Academic Center on ...

MAYS LANDING, N.J. – Fulfilling a rapidly growing demand for four-year college degrees along the south Jersey Shore, Rutgers University broke ground today for a comprehensive academic and administrative center on the campus of Atlantic Cape Community College.

The two-story, 22,000-square-foot facility, scheduled to open in fall 2012, will allow Rutgers to expand academic opportunities for students from Atlantic, Cape May and surrounding counties in such popular disciplines as psychology and criminal justice. The $7.5 million facility will house all Rutgers academic and administrative units at Atlantic Cape – including a new undergraduate degree program in social work beginning in the fall 2012 semester. 

 Rutgers has offered courses, taught by Rutgers professors, on the Atlantic Cape campus for the past five years. Since this partnership began, the number of students enrolled in Rutgers courses on the Atlantic Cape campus has jumped significantly – from 38 students in the 2006-07 academic year to a projected enrollment of 325 students this fall.

Once completed, the university’s new center at Atlantic Cape will be able to accommodate 2,000 students. It will feature 11 classrooms, a 20-seat computer lab and a student lounge.

“This state-of-the-art academic center clearly demonstrates Rutgers University’s commitment to a long and increasingly successful collaboration with Atlantic Cape Community College,” said Rutgers President Richard L. McCormick. “We are proud to be able to offer students from Atlantic, Cape May and neighboring counties the opportunity to obtain a world-class education from Rutgers University while remaining close to home.”

“For Atlantic Cape, this partnership will transform forever the role of this institution in enhancing the higher education environment for residents of our service area and our region,” said Atlantic Cape President Peter L. Mora.

Rutgers University currently offers eight undergraduate programs as part of its partnership with Atlantic Cape – ranging from nursing and political science to business administration and labor and employment relations. Rutgers also offers graduate courses in education, business administration, social work and liberal studies, as well as a certificate program in Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace.

Rutgers has established similar partnerships with Brookdale Community College in Monmouth County and Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg. This off-campus concept grew out of a state Commission of Higher Education study in 1998 that identified underserved regions for four-year degree opportunities in New Jersey.

Nontraditional College Student Programs | Back 2 School Moms

More College Students Use Non-traditional Methods, Such As CLEP Exams, To Complete College Degrees

Author: Speedyprep

The face of today’s college student is quickly changing. Fewer and fewer college students are “traditional” college students, those who are between the ages of 18-22 and complete their degree at a brick and mortar university in about four years. More students are taking advantage of non-traditional ways of completing college degrees, such as distance learning programs, independent studies, online degree programs, credits earned through prior learning assessment, PLA, (also known as Recognition of Prior Learning, RPL), and credits earned through CLEP exams. Although many students are eager to learn about the multiple options they have for earning credits toward their college degree, they can be unsure of how to go about earning credits through non-traditional ways or intimidated by the multiple options for earning college credits. Often, college students hear about non-traditional ways to earn credits through their peers. Hearing of others’ positive experiences using non-traditional means of obtaining college credits can be both enlightening and encouraging to students.

One college graduate who obtained over half of his degree requirements using non-traditional methods is Dave from San Jose, California. Dave summarized his approach toward college when he stated, “Because I chose a career where seniority is everything, I decided to complete job training I needed to enter my desired career and then work on completing my college degree after I began my career. Because my rigorous work schedule did not give me time to attend a traditional brick and mortar university, I opted to obtain my degree through a reputable university that allowed me to earn credits using PLA, CLEP, and online classes.” Taking advantage of skills and proficiencies earned through job training and career experience, Dave earned some credits through PLA. Online classes lent flexibility to Dave’s busy schedule. In addition, after finding out about CLEP (College Level Examination Program), Dave was able to achieve almost half of his degree requirements through CLEP exams.

CLEP is a program that allows students to earn college credits by demonstrating college-level proficiency on a standardized test. These exams cover material that is usually taught in lower-level college courses. There are 34 different tests for students to take in subjects such science, history, and business. CLEP tests, which cost to take, generally contain approximately 80-140 multiple choice questions, and are 90 minutes long, are administered at over 1,400 CLEP testing centers located throughout the U.S. and abroad. Dave found a testing center about 30 minutes away from his home and was able to prepare for and take CLEP tests as his schedule allowed.

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