Atlantic Cape Receives $75,000 for “Some College, No Degree” Statewide Program that Helps Students Return to College & Complete Degree

MAYS LANDING — Atlantic Cape Community College received a $75,000 grant from the State of New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education’s (OSHE) multifaceted statewide ‘Some College, No Degree’ initiative on November 12. For a third year, this initiative strategically integrates partnerships and grants to build clear pathways and tailored supports for adult learners to return to higher education and persist to completion.

Eighteen colleges and universities from throughout the State of New Jersey, including Atlantic Cape, received awards ranging from $65,625 to $125,000 for use in Fiscal Year 2025. The cumulative $1.6 million award is aimed at helping the 18 colleges and universities re-engage students who have left college and not completed their degree. The program’s mission is to help these students finish their degree, while also reducing equity gaps and boosting the state workforce.

"By focusing on the unique needs of returning adult students, Atlantic Cape aims to create a more inclusive and supportive environment that encourages lifelong learning,” said Dr. Vanessa O’Brien-McMasters, vice president, Institutional Effectiveness and chief strategy officer. “Funding from this grant will enable us to significantly increase student re-enrollment rates, promote degree completion, and foster a supportive environment for student success at the College, ensuring that this is a welcoming place for all students seeking to continue their education and is equipped to effectively serve their diverse needs.”

The ‘Some College, No Degree’ (SCND) project will support Atlantic Cape’s commitment to increase retention and completion rates, narrow equity and achievement gaps for underserved populations, and build upon the successes and lessons learned from the College’s previously-funded SCND project. Atlantic Cape will aim to increase the number of SCND students who return to the College and complete their associate degree by focusing on nontraditional age students (25 and older) and addressing the underlying barriers that may prevent this population from succeeding in college.

Atlantic Cape plans to also accomplish this goal by conducting a targeted outreach campaign to adult learners who have left the College within the past five years and have earned 45 or more credits. This campaign will offer incentives, such as assistance for textbooks, transportation and other basic needs, for re-enrollment, as well as engagement activities to boost retention and completion rates.

As of this month, through the partnership between OSHE, ReUp Education (ReUp) and 22 institutions of higher education alone, outreach and personalized coaching has empowered over 8,600 residents to re-enroll and over 350 of them to graduate. Graduates with an associate degree could earn approximately $3,700 per year in increased wages, while those with a bachelor’s degree could earn approximately $25,000 more. It is estimated that in the first year after earning their degree or credential, these graduates could contribute an added $81 million to the state economy through taxes and consumer spending.

“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.”

The grants will provide direct benefits to students, helping them to cover the costs of things like basic needs, unexpected expenses, application fees and credit for prior learning assessments. Additionally, institutions of higher education will be using funds to develop digital resources, in-person events, specialized advising, and more that help to foster success and belonging among returning adult learners.

“I’m a firm believer in finishing what you started, despite roadblocks and other issues that can sometimes entangle us or make us lose our way,” said Joel Cintron, a student at Passaic County Community College who reenrolled with the support of a ReUp coach after stopping out twice before in 2011 and 2016. Now back on the path to complete a radiography credential, his advice is to “Prepare yourself, seek help, and don’t be afraid to be vulnerable.”

Since its inception, New Jersey’s ‘Some College, No Degree’ initiative has established a scaffolded approach to meet the needs of adult learners. In the first year of the initiative, OSHE partnered with ReUp and 17 institutions, launched a targeted marketing campaign and assessed the credit for prior learning landscape to develop a technical assistance platform. In the second year, the ReUp partnership network expanded to 22 institutions and OSHE introduced its first grant opportunity to support returning learners. As it enters year three, the initiative remains committed to enhancing support for the population of residents with some college but no degree which roughly translates to one-in-seven adults in New Jersey.

To learn more about the state initiative, visit nj.gov/highereducation/somecollegenodegree.shtml.

About Atlantic Cape Community College

Atlantic Cape Community College is a Middle States accredited, 2022 Achieving the Dream Leader College and Hispanic Serving Institution proudly serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. As a comprehensive, two-year community college, Atlantic Cape offers 47 undergraduate degree programs, and 33 certificate and professional series programs at its Mays Landing, Atlantic City and Cape May campuses. Atlantic Cape is home to the renowned Academy of Culinary Arts, rated the top culinary school in New Jersey, and for more than 50 years, our highly-acclaimed Nursing program. Atlantic Cape also partners with more than 30 colleges and four-year universities to offer students the opportunity to seamlessly earn a bachelor’s degree upon graduation.