Stockton Advances 10 Places in U.S. News Report Rankings

 

U.S. News and World Report has given the College high marks in the 2012 “America’s Best Colleges” edition. Stockton has been ranked in the top tier of “Best Regional Universities” for five straight years now, and the College is climbing to even greater heights within the elite tier, improving by 10 places in this year's edition.

In the listing, Stockton was named among the Top 50 in its category, placing 47th, a jump of 10 places. Stockton also moved up the list of Top 15 Public Colleges and Universities and is 11th on that list. The College is ranked with universities offering both undergraduate and master’s programs in the northern region of the U.S.

“This is wonderful news,” President Saatkamp said. “Faculty and staff played a large role in this accomplishment. We have a dedicated team of staff members and an accomplished faculty that is second to none. Our students reap the benefits of this fine work each day.”

The ranking comes on the heels of the recent reaffirmation of Stockton’s accreditation with two commendations by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

“The U.S. News rankings are nice, but what is truly important is that we have been progressing so well,” Dr. Saatkamp said. “As recently as 2003 we were in the fourth tier. We moved into the third tier for a year, skipped the second tier altogether and have gone up consistently within the first tier. That is something we can all be proud of.”

Support Stockton's Future and Learn More About Ballot Question No. 1

NJ State Senator Steve Sweeney tours Stockton with President Herman J. Saatkamp.

The Building Our Future Bond Act is the first question on this November's ballot, and it is a very important consideration for all residents of our state.

The act, if approved, would authorize the state to issue facilities improvement bonds to state colleges and universities.  The funds can only be used for much needed new academic and research buildings and upgrades to existing ones.  The last time a statewide bond was approved for higher education facilities in New Jersey was in 1988.

If approved, the state would issue bonds totaling $750 million.  With interest rates so low, a true opportunity exists.  The institutions receiving funds would in turn match each award by 25 percent.  Thus, a $1 billion infusion into New Jersey’s economy would occur, providing jobs for many and sorely needed academic facilities for our students.  Another consideration is the immediate impact of providing numerous jobs in the planning and construction of the new facilities. 

Stockton students would be direct beneficiaries.  We currently graduate nearly 20 percent of all math and science majors within the state’s public colleges and universities. However, our laboratories are outdated.  We took action and are self-financing a new science building to better meet the needs of math and science majors.  Due to budget constraints and lack of public funding, we are able to construct a building only two-thirds as large as what is needed.

If the bond act is approved and we receive funding, a top priority would be to expand this building to full size (it was designed to be expandable) at a cost of just under $70 million.  A state-of-the-art science building large enough to meet our capacity needs would provide a tremendous boost in keeping our math and science majors right here in-state.

Math and science is only part of the story.  Our thriving schools of business and education are also in need of facilities upgrades. We are not alone.  Our sister institutions all have similar needs to stay competitive with surrounding states which are making significant investment in higher education. New Jersey is currently one of only five states in the nation that has spent zero dollars on education capital improvements over the last five years.  Other states such as Connecticut and New York, recognizing an investement in higher education pays dividends, are putting hundreds of millions of dollars annually into their higher education facilities.

The opportunity comes at a time when our institutions are struggling with capacity issues.  As a result, tens of thousands of our students go out of state because there simply are not enough seats for them at home.  Many of these students find jobs in the state where they attend college and do not return to New Jersey.  This robs our state of precious human resources and families from being able to stay close.

The Building Our Future Bond Act deserves voter attention on Tuesday, November 6, and serious consideration. Please give it yours.

For more information on the bond act, please visit www.stockton.edu/future.

Stockton Introduces New “S” Branding Element

 

New Jersey’s distinctive public college has a new branding element that promises to build awareness and inspire Stockton pride – all in one alphabet character.

The new design incorporates the letter “S” with our osprey mascot, using the primary Stockton colors of black and white and incorporating the Columbia blue and gold secondary colors that appear in Stockton’s official seal.

The design was created entirely in-house with input from everyone in the Graphics Production Department. Variations of the “S” were shown around campus for the campus community to participate in choosing the final design. It is currently depicted on a window cling and magnet available at the Stockton College Bookstore.

There is a larger role in mind for the “S” beyond the window cling in which it is currently available. It will eventually turn up in printed materials, on Stockton clothing and accessories and possibly athletic team uniforms.

The new element is a versatile piece that can be incorporated into the institutional branding effort and in many other uses. 

Stockton Professor Working to Uncover Local Art History

 Professor Kate Ogden .

Associate Professor of Art History Kate Ogden is working with the Vineland Historical and Antiquarian Society to research and learn additional information about the town’s School of Art and local artists.

“The Vineland School of Art existed in the 19th century, and not much is actually known about it,” Ogden said. “We are hoping local residents may be able to shed more light on an important aspect of art history in southern New Jersey.”

Several interesting artists have already surfaced from the research, including Beatrice Braidwood and her father, Thomas Braidwood, the former principal of the School of Design for Women, which was located in Philadelphia. Braidwood and his family moved to Vineland in 1870 where he founded the Vineland School of Art. Other notable artists include Louis Mounier and Philip Stockbridge Nutt.

Ogden’s students in her “Nineteenth Century Art” class are currently researching and writing about works of art owned by the Society and will create a catalog of its many paintings, works of sculpture and other objects.

Results of Stockton’s 2011 Economic Impact Report demonstrate the enormous economic contribution of Stockton to New Jersey. The combination of direct spending, community service and alumni earnings, along with the creation of new jobs, produced a one-year impact in the New Jersey economy to the tune of $442,176,989.18.

To read the full Economic Impact Report, click here.

Source: Stockton Economic Impact Report.