Gov. Christie, President Saatkamp, Secretary Hendricks Break Ground for $28.6 Million Expansion of Unified Science Center

From the left, Carl Archut Jr, Student Senate president, the Honorable Rochelle Hendricks, Secretary of Higher Education, Gov. Chris Christie, President Herman Saatkamp, and Curtis Bashaw, chair of the Board of Trustees, break ground at the site where the Unified Science Center expansion will be built.

Gov. Chris Christie joined President Herman Saatkamp, New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education Rochelle Hendricks, Student Senate President Carl Archut Jr. and Stockton’s Board of Trustees in breaking ground on June 5 for a $28.62 million expansion that will nearly double the size of Stockton’s Unified Science Center.

Gov. Christie noted that his administration had prioritized investing in higher education, and said a total of $1.2 billion, including $750 million from the Building Our Future Bond Act approved by voters in 2012, will be used for public colleges and independent institutions.

He said it was “very unfortunate that the state had waited 25 years to contribute” funding for higher education construction, but added: “The most important thing is we’re actually doing things…to be able to give (students) a world-class education.”

He called Stockton’s new building “an investment in our young men and women” and in the state’s economy.

Gov. Christie said he knew Stockton would staff the facility with “top-notch faculty” and ensure that students get an excellent education “to help our state to create a lasting legacy.”

The 54,000-square-foot expansion project, referred to as the Unified Science Center² (“Unified Science Center Squared”) to acknowledge its emphasis on science and math, will be supported by $21.465 million in funding from the Building Our Future Bond Act. The bond act requires that the college pay 25 percent, or $7.155 million of the total $28.62 million cost.

The three-story expansion on the college's main campus will include labs for teaching and research, a greenhouse, computer labs, faculty offices and a vivarium.

“This state-of-the-art facility will better prepare our students for exciting careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and help meet the growing demand of industries in the region and throughout the state seeking highly educated and skilled graduates,” said President Saatkamp.

Secretary of Higher Education Hendricks said, “I am inspired by the new building for the Unified Science Center. It will establish Stockton as a center of excellence for science education. Whether they study Physics, Environmental Science, Marine Science, or Anatomy and Physiology, students at Stockton receive a world-class preparation for the high-demand science fields that are so important to the state and national economy.”

U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-2nd, Ambassador William J. Hughes, former congressman and ambassador to Panama, former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, Richard Dovey, president of the Atlantic County Utilities Authority and a Stockton alumnus, Keith Davis, chair of the Atlantic County Republican Committee, Mayor Don Purdy of Galloway Township, Howard Kyle, chief of staff for Atlantic County government and Dr. Edward H. Salmon, chair of the Stockton Aviation Research and Technology Park board, joined members of the college Foundation Board, and college officials including Dr. Harvey Kesselman, provost and executive vice president, Faculty Senate President Rodger Jackson and Dean Dennis Weiss of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at the ceremony.

Members of the public toured the Unified Science Center, a $39.5 million, three-story facility which opened in September 2013.

The building’s second phase will include energy-efficient systems in line with the college’s commitment to sustainability and green initiatives. The new facility is expected to open in spring 2017.

To view photos from the groundbreaking ceremony, click here.

HESIG Poll Finds New Jersey Residents Say College Is Worth the Cost

Stockton Polling Institute’s survey of more than 800 New Jersey adults found 33 percent believe colleges can provide more practical experience, such as internships, to increase college value.

The Stockton Polling Institute surveyed over 800 New Jersey adults for the Higher Education Strategic Information and Governance (HESIG) project and found 90 percent of the participants who have attended college say that higher education is worth the cost. Residents link college opportunity directly to the ability to find jobs, develop careers, and to improve the quality of life for families.

“New Jerseyans see the state’s colleges and universities as having high quality, as well as high value, even with their consistent concerns about college affordability,” stated Darryl G. Greer, Ph.D., Senior Fellow for Higher Education Strategic Information and Governance.

The study confirmed advice from two executive roundtables held earlier this year at Stockton and New Jersey City University.

Seventy-seven percent of respondents said New Jersey colleges are good or excellent, and 86 percent said four-year colleges are seen as having the highest quality, contrasted to two-year and online colleges. The top answers for the best way to increase college value were for colleges to provide more practical experiences, such as internships (33 percent); and for students to find more work and internship experiences (29 percent).

The poll reinforced the importance of higher order skills and abilities, as valued outcomes of a college experience. Stockton faculty has gained national attention in defining 10 “College Essential Learning Outcomes (ELO's),” including communications, critical thinking, ethical and quantitative reasoning, global awareness, and teamwork/collaboration.

Dr. Greer indicated that next steps will include making specific policy recommendations to colleges, Trenton policy makers, and business leaders about achieving the goals of greater college access, affordability, and completion, especially for New Jersey’s emerging population; as well as increasing the state’s participation in the national discussion of these issues.

“This study gives our citizens, and policy makers, significant positive feedback and hope for the future of college opportunity in the Garden State. It confirms prior Stockton research, and recent national studies by Pew, Gallup and others, that citizens view college opportunity as key to individual prosperity. And it gives us a deeper understanding of what needs to be done to make college more valuable in serving individual and state needs,” explained Dr. Greer.

Dr. Greer published an opinion piece in The Times of Trenton (nj.com) which elaborated on the Stockton Polling Institute’s survey. The op-ed garnered multiple media reports and requests for interviews. The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) posted the article on its website.

The Educational Testing Service (ETS) Center for Advocacy and Philanthropy provided grant support of the roundtables and the poll, as part of “Finding Solutions, Building Public Trust in An Era of Change.”

Stockton Production Services Earns Two Telly Awards

Stockton Production Services Video Producers Kent Green and Edward Cornell.

Stockton Production Services (SPS), the in-house media production department at Stockton College, received two prestigious Telly awards for two separate works produced by staff members. SPS won a Silver Telly for “Hannah Price: City of Brotherly Love,” by Video Producer Kent Green, and a Bronze Telly for the marketing piece, “Ask Stockton,” by Video Producer Edward Cornell.

Stockton was selected as a Telly Award Winner out of nearly 12,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents. A judging panel of over 500 accomplished industry professionals, each a past winner of a Silver Telly and a member of The Silver Telly Council, judged the competition.

Green’s piece featured Hannah Price, a photographer whose work was exhibited at the Stockton Art Gallery.

The Telly Awards was founded in 1979 and is the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, the finest video and film productions, and online commercials, video and films. Winners represent the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, and corporate video departments in the world.

Stockton Center for Public Safety and Security Hosts Inaugural Conference on Character & Ethics

From left to right: Vance Mattis, a program developer for the Center for Public Safety and Security at Stockton, Vincent Bove, the author of “Listen to Their Cries,” Michael Rodgers, Michele Hewitt, administrative assistant for the Center for Public Safety and Security, Lt. General Robert Caslen, who was the keynote speaker, Frank Rodgers, lead program developer for the Center for Public Safety and Security, and Tom Souchek, a program developer for the Center for Public Safety and Security at Stockton.

The Stockton Center for Public Safety and Security (CPSS), a center housed in Continuing Studies under Director Robert McNeill, recently hosted the inaugural New Jersey Conference: Character, Ethics, Leadership in the Campus Center Theatre. Over 250 law enforcement personnel attended the event, including local, county, state, and federal officials. Various agencies, as well as senior-level executives from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and FBI, filled the auditorium to capacity.

The event aimed to begin the process of inspiring New Jersey to a shared vision of the “Business of Ethical Leadership,” and covered topics including individual character, a personal ethics code, and leadership characteristics.

Lieut. General Robert L. Caslen, Jr., superintendent, United States Military Academy at West Point, gave the keynote address, highlighting the necessity of ethical leaders to embody honor, respect, servant leadership, and integrity.

 “The presentations were thought provoking and generated a considerable amount of discussion among the attendees that is likely to continue into the future,” McNeill said.

The conference will be followed-up by a series of certification courses offered by the CPSS beginning Fall 2014.

Stockton employees raised a total of $40,846 for the 2013-2014 New Jersey State Employees Charitable Campaign (NJSECC) to be donated to various charities. Stockton exceeded its $36,000 goal by $4,846.

Stockton was awarded a certificate of recognition at a June 3 ceremony held at Drumthwacket for having the highest increase in participants in the NJSECC throughout the state - over 37 percent.

Since 2010, Stockton faculty and staff have donated a total of $144,823 to the campaign.

The New Jersey State Employees Charitable Campaign was created in 1985 so that New Jersey State workers can make a charitable gift through their workplace. Donations help support hundreds of programs and services of charities across the state, country and world.