(PDF) (DOC) (JPG)November 14, 2024

This is the second year the college has earned funding by the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education to build upon the success of 2023-2024 efforts

Mahwah, N.J.- Ramapo College remains committed to making access to college easier for New Jersey’s adult learners with continued participation in the statewide initiative Some College, No Degree. The Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) awarded $100,000 to support the college’s ongoing efforts to help residents fulfill their dreams of earning a college degree.

According to state data, more than 790,000 New Jersey residents have some college credit, but did not complete the academic requirements and graduate. The SCND program provides personalized support to help adults re-enroll and earn their undergraduate degree. Ramapo aims to deliver a transformative education in a diverse community dedicated to welcoming and mentoring students who bring with them a range of lived experiences.

Earlier this year, Ramapo was additionally awarded $2.2 Million to help SCND and First Generation Students. Mission-critical to Ramapo College is an unwavering commitment to supporting both the academic and non-academic needs of its students. The award, also provided by the OSHE, affords Ramapo the opportunity to provide grants for persistence, educational supplies, and emergency funds. 

“This grant builds on the successes of the work supported by the first OSHE SCND grant, which awarded more than $100K in enrollment grants, bookstore gift cards, and emergency funding to more than 80 former Ramapo students who resumed their studies at the college in 2024,” said Patricia Laprey, Director of the Degree Completion Program. “The grant continues those financial supports, demonstrating Ramapo’s commitment to welcoming back our stop-out students, and our desire to help all Ramapo College Roadrunners find a path to earning their college degree.”

The Degree Completion Program (DCP) at Ramapo College provides pathways for adult students to finish their undergraduate degrees in a format that recognizes the complexities of their lives and acknowledges the increasing necessity of post-secondary credentialing. As an advocate for returning students, the DCP aims to increase the number of adults earning an undergraduate degree at Ramapo and, by extension, to improve access to higher education in Northern New Jersey. 

“With roughly three quarters of a million New Jersey residents identified as having some college credit but no degree, we recognize that each student’s reasons for not completing their education are diverse and deeply personal,” said New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education Brian K. Bridges. “By collaborating closely with our institutions and providing personalized support, we are addressing these unique motivations and challenges. This tailored approach has been particularly successful in re-enrolling adult learners from underrepresented communities, especially those from Black and Latinx backgrounds, ensuring that every learner can achieve their educational goals and access the life-changing credentials that will empower them to thrive.”

To learn more about the Ramapo College Degree Completion Program, visit ramapo.edu/dcp/. Students with credits from any institution interested in crossing the finish line at Ramapo can visit ramapo.edu/undergraduate/returning-student/ for more information on resuming their studies. Returning Ramapo students are welcome to come back and finish what you started with us.You can also contact DCP Director Patricia Laprey at plaprey@ramapo.edu or 201-684-7388.

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About Ramapo College

Ramapo College of New Jersey is the state’s premier public liberal arts college and is committed to academic excellence through interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and international and intercultural understanding. The comprehensive college is situated among the beautiful Ramapo Mountains, is within commuting distance to New York City, was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America by CondeNast Traveler, and boasts the best on-campus housing in New Jersey per Niche.com. Established in 1969, Ramapo College offers bachelor’s degrees in the arts, business, data science, humanities, social sciences and the sciences, as well as in professional studies, which include business, education, nursing and social work. In addition, the College offers courses leading to teacher certification at the elementary and secondary levels, and offers graduate programs leading to master’s degrees in Accounting, Applied Mathematics, Business Administration, Contemporary Instructional Design, Computer Science, Creative Music Technology, Data Science, Educational Leadership, Nursing, Social Work and Special Education, as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

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