College Catalog: 2015-2016

As the state’s premier public liberal arts college, Ramapo College of New Jersey is dedicated to providing students a strong foundation for a lifetime of achievement. Established in 1969, the College is committed to academic excellence through interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and international and intercultural understanding. Ramapo College emphasizes teaching and individual attention to all students. We promote diversity, inclusiveness, sustainability, student engagement and community involvement.

Ramapo College, which was named among CondeNast Traveler’s 50 most beautiful campuses in the country, offers bachelor’s degrees in the arts, business, humanities, social sciences and the sciences, as well as in professional studies, which include business, elementary education, nursing and social work. The College offers articulated programs, including dental, optometry, pharmacy, chiropractic and health professions, as well as visual arts therapy, in conjunction with colleges and institutions in New Jersey and New York. Additionally, Ramapo has established innovative partnerships with several community colleges in New Jersey, including an innovative 3+1 program with Passaic County and Sussex County Community Colleges to allow students a more affordable path to a bachelor’s degree.

Undergraduate students may choose to concentrate their studies in one of five schools with more than 40 academic programs. Ramapo College boasts an average student/faculty ratio of 15:1 and an average class size of 21, affording students the opportunity to develop close ties to the College’s exceptional faculty. New course offerings are continuously being updated including recent additions of Climate Change, Policy & Action and a major in Neuroscience.

The College offers graduate programs leading to master’s degrees in Accounting, Applied Mathematics, Business Administration, Computer Science, Creative Music Technology, Data Science, Educational Technology, Educational Leadership, Nursing, Social Work, and Special Education.

In Spring 2023, the College graduated its inaugural cohort from the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), the first doctoral program at Ramapo College, and most recent addition to our widely-acclaimed nursing program.

Ramapo College prepares students to be successful leaders for a changing world through its commitments to hands-on learning and faculty-student mentoring. Ramapo’s mission also encompasses the core values of developing the whole person and respecting each other and our environment. The international mission is further accomplished through a wide range of study abroad and student exchange links with institutions all over the world. Additional experiential programs include internships, co-op and service learning.

The Peter P. Mercer Learning Commons is the most recent addition to our 300+ acre campus, and is home to the George T. Potter Library. The facility includes the Library collection, ample meeting spaces, study space, classrooms, state-of-the-art research capabilities, and can refuel at Common Grounds, which serves Starbucks coffee. Students also engage in new experiences that build and grow their whole being through programming offered at the College’s Sharp Sustainability Education Center and the Padovano Commons.

The quality and value of a Ramapo College education is consistently acknowledged through numerous rankings, awards and accolades. Ramapo has been named among the top three (after Princeton and Stevens Institute of Technology) and #1 among the public institutions in New Jersey in College Choice’s ranking. This is the 15th consecutive year Ramapo College is listed in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine as among the “100 Best Values in Public Colleges.” The College also is ranked annually by U.S. News & World Report as one of the Best Regional Public Universities North category, is a Top College for the value by Money magazine

Ramapo is recognized as a “Military Friendly School” by Viqtory Media, in the Guide to Military Friendly Schools and ranked as one of the nation’s Best Bachelor’s in Social Work by College Choice. And, Ramapo is featured on CollegesofDistinction.com, a website dedicated to honoring schools nationwide for their excellence in student-focused higher education. Ramapo also is recognized as a Top 10 ranked college for highest return on investment by Affordable Colleges Online. Niche.com has again named Ramapo’s campus housing Number One in New Jersey and ranked the College campus third best in the state. Housing at Ramapo College offers students convenient, modern amenities that include high-speed internet and cable television, comfortable lounge areas and complimentary laundry facilities, all in a safe, smoke-free environment. The College also provides students access to the Roadrunner Express, an off-campus shuttle service, to local businesses, the train station and runs a daily shuttle to Garden State Plaza, a major transportation hub in Northern New Jersey.

In 2021, the educator preparation provider (EPP) at Ramapo received full accreditation by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Programs fully accredited by CAEP include: Teacher Education (initial-level), Master of Arts in Special Education (MASE; advanced-level), and Master of Arts in Educational Leadership (MAEL; advanced-level).

In 2020, a team from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) visited campus. After reviewing the College’s self-study and its corresponding evidence, the MSCHE visiting team determined that Ramapo College met all of the Commission’s Standards for Accreditation. In addition, the team did not give the College any recommendations or requirements. The Board of Trustees issued a statement noting the valued work of the entire campus leading to this uncommon and most positive result.

The College joins an elite group of institutions with less than five percent of business schools worldwide earning the accreditation distinction of its business degree program by the Board of Directors of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International). In 2023, the Council on Social Work Education reaffirmed accreditation, with no recommendations for change, for both the undergraduate and graduate programs in Social Work. Additional accreditations include: the Chemistry Program (American Chemical Society), the Nursing Program (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing), and the Teacher Certification Program, approved by the State of New Jersey.

Dr. Cindy R. Jebb became the College’s fifth president on July 6, 2021. Dr. Jebb joined Ramapo after a long and distinguished career with the U.S. Army.

A Board of Trustees appointed by the Governor of the State governs the College. The chair of the board is Susan A. Vallario.

• Vincent Colman
• William F. Dator, Vice Chair
• Gary L. Montroy
• George C. Ruotolo, Jr., Chair
• A.J. Sabath ’93, Immediate Past Chair
• David G. Schlussel, Secretary
• Charles H. Shotmeyer
• Bartholomew J. Talamini
• Susan A. Vallario
• Sharlene S. Vichness
• Thomas A. Zelante, Esq.
• Student Trustee Josef Weikl
• Alternate Student Trustee Stephen Geerlof

• Peter Philip Mercer, L.L.B., Ph.D., President
• Beth E. Barnett, Ed.D., Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs
• Cathleen Davey, M.A., Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Executive Director of the Ramapo College Foundation
• Kirsten DaSilva, C.P.A., Vice President for Administration and Finance
• Christopher Romano, Ed.D., Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs
• Michael Tripodi, Esq., Vice President and General Counsel

Mission

Ramapo College is New Jersey’s Public Liberal Arts College, dedicated to providing students a strong foundation for a lifetime of achievement.  The College is committed to academic excellence through interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and international and intercultural understanding. Ramapo College emphasizes teaching and individual attention to all students. We promote diversity, inclusiveness, sustainability, student engagement, and community involvement.

Vision

As the region’s premier public liberal arts college, Ramapo College of New Jersey prepares students to be successful leaders for a changing world through its distinctive commitments to hands-on learning and faculty-student mentoring.

Accreditation

The College – Established in 1969 as a state-supported, co-educational, four-year College of liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies. Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in 1975. Reaccredited in 1981, 1990, 2000 and 2010.

Memberships

• The Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC) founding member, a national alliance of leading liberal arts colleges in the public sector
• Association of Governing Boards (AGB)
• The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), a participant in the AASCU/ New York Times American Democracy Project.
• Association of American College and Universities (AACU)
• National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO)
• Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)
• Society for College and University Planning (SCUP)
• The New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities (NJASCU).

Main Number – (201) 684 – 0000
Closing Information – (201) 684 – 0000
Public Safety – (201) 684 – 0000

• Academic Affairs (ACAF) – 7529
• Administration and Finance – 0000
• Admissions (ADM) – 7300
• Advising (Center for Student Success) – 7441
• Alumni Relations – 7627
• Anisfield School of Business (ASB) – 0000
• Annual Giving – 7627
• Athletics (ATH) – 7674
• Berrie Center Box Office – 7888, 7844
• Bookstore (BKS) – 7800, 825-8770
• Office of Student Accounts (BUS) – 7495
• Cahill Center for Experiential Learning and Career Services (ELCS) – 7444
• Center for Health and Counseling Services – Counseling Services – 7522
• Center for Health and Counseling Services – Health Services – 7536
• Center for Student Involvement (CSI) – 0000
• Communications and Public Relations – 0000
• EMERGENCY SNOW CLOSING – 201-236-2902
• Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) – 7541
• Events and Conferences – 7590
• Financial Aid (FA) – 7549
• Foundation (FCF/IA) – 7611
• Graduate Programs – 0000
• Help Desk – ITS –  6666
• Institutional Advancement (IA) – 7611
• International Education (IIE) – 0000
• Library (LIB) – 7575
• Marketing and Communications – 0000
• President’s Office (PRES) – 7607
• Public Affairs– 0000
• Public Safety – 7432
• Registrar (REG) – 7695
• Residence Life (RL) – 7461
• Salameno School of Humanities and Global Studies – 0000
• School of Contemporary Arts – 0000
• Social Science and Human Services (SSHS) – 7625
• School of Theoretical and Applied Science (TAS) – 0000
• Specialized Services (SS) – 7514
• Student Affairs (SA) – 7456
• Student Center – 0000
• Student Development (SD) – 7593
• Study Abroad Office (SAO) – 7463
• Switchboard – 0
• TEC Trailer – 7103
• Teacher Education – 7627
• Veterans Affairs (VA) – 7548
• York Room – 7901

• Angelica and Russ Berrie Center for the Performing and Visual Arts
• Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies
• Center for Reading and Writing
• Center for Learning and Instruction
• Faculty Resource Center
• Institute for Environmental Studies
• Instructional Design Center
• Roukema Center for International Education
• Sabrin Center for Free Enterprise
• Salameno Center for British Studies
• Sharp Sustainability Education Center
• The Ramapo Art Galleries
• The Ramapo News
• WRPR-FM Radio Station

From the South

Using Route 17

Follow Route 17 North to Mahwah to exit sign “202 Suffern/Morristown” on right. At the end of the short exit ramp turn left (Route 202 South). Continue on Route 202 to light. Campus entrance is on left.

Using Garden State Parkway

Leave Parkway at exit 163 (left lane exit). Follow Route 17 North, using instructions above.

Using Route 208

Follow Route 208 North until Route 202 in Oakland. Continue north on 202 until first light in Mahwah. Campus entrance is on right.

Using Route 287

Take Route 287 North to exit 66 (Mahwah); follow Route 17 South to Route 202 exit. At the end of the exit ramp make left turn (202 South). Continue on Route 202 to light. Campus entrance is on left.

Using New Jersey Turnpike

Take N.J. Turnpike (I-95 North) to end (exit 18W or 18E). Continue North to Route 80 West to Route 17 North. Follow directions above using Route 17.

From the North

Using Route 17

Follow Route 17 South (approximately 1.5 miles from Suffern exit on N.Y. State Thruway). Turn right at Route 202 exit. At end of exit ramp, turn left (Route 202 South). Continue on Route 202 approximately one mile to light. Campus entrance is on left.

Using NY State Thruway

Take N.Y. State Thruway (I-87) South to Route 287 South (New Jersey), exit 15 (Suffern) onto Route 17 South. Follow directions for “From the North Using Route 17.”

From Orange County Using Route 17

Follow directions “From the North” using Route 17 (above).

From Westchester and Rockland Counties

Follow Route 287 West over the Tappan Zee Bridge to Route 17 South. Follow directions above “From the North Using Route 17.’

From the East

Follow Route 80 or Route 4 to Route 17 North. Follow Route 17 North. Follow directions above “From the South Using Route 17 North.”

From the West

Follow Route 80 East to Route 287 North to Mahwah exit 66 (south on Route 17 to 202 South).

From New York City

Take the George Washington Bridge, Route 4 West to Route 17 North to 202 South.

From Connecticut

Follow I-95 to Route 287 West over the Tappan Zee Bridge, continue to exit 15 (Suffern) onto Route 17 South. Follow directions “From the North Using Route 17.”