PCCC → RCNJ: The Spring Ramapo College Tour by Jadelyn Villa
- Visions
- Apr 18
- 4 min read
Tucked into the northeastern corner of the state, Mahwah Township provides a vast wooded home to the residents of Bergen County. Within miles of lakes and forest reservations lies Ramapo College of New Jersey, a public institution for the liberal arts nestled atop 300 acres of mountain ranges.
Among blossoming cherry trees and winding creek bridges, students of Passaic County Community College eagerly prepare for an afternoon full of rich campus life and intellectual discussion; and it all starts once they step foot off the bus and into the flourishing environment of RCNJ.
On Friday, April 4th, PCCC’s Reconnect Program facilitated a tour of Ramapo’s campus from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. The event served interested students looking to pursue further education after their Associate’s through the two colleges’ partnership and consisted of a presentation, a scenic walk through the RCNJ grounds, a questionnaire with the deans of various departments, and a buffet-style lunch in the Student Center.
The tour began in a lecture hall at the Anisfield School of Business, where Coordinator of Campus Visits Jose Vallejo presented the various partnership programs Ramapo maintains with Passaic County Community College. Among these are the 3+1, 4+1, and 2+2 tracks.
3+1 Program:
After a student receives their 2-year associate degree, they take RCNJ classes in their third year 0n PCCC’s campuses (with PCCC tuition). During this year, the student reaps benefits from both institutions. In their fourth and final year, they fully transfer to the RCNJ campus with discounted Ramapo tuition and complete their bachelor’s degree.
4+1 Program:
Post undergraduate achievement, a student takes one additional year of courses to complete their graduate degree in either data science, applied mathematics, or computer science. On top of the traditional DMC programs, students can also earn a 4+1 master’s degree in business administration, accounting, music technology, elementary education, and special education.
2+2 Program:
PCCC graduates who attained an associate degree in human services take another two years of courses for RCNJ’s Social Work program at PCCC, leading to a bachelor’s degree upon completion.
Once the presentation finished, Brielle, a Ramapo Admission Student Ambassador and sophomore marketing major, began conducting the walking tour portion of the event. Leaving the Anisfield School of Business, the trek to the north side of campus featured a scenic stroll across Kameron Pond, with visits from furry friends and freshwater critters alike.
Just over the bridge was the Overlook, the main transfer housing building where PCCC students would be staying after their commitment to Ramapo. The living quarters include suite-style rooms containing a common area and two double bedrooms, each with a full bathroom.
After leaving the Overlook, the group wrapped around to the east, where the Student Center waited for them– the main hub for campus life.
Here, the main highlight was the dining facilities. Inside was an atrium food court, with small cafeteria restaurants and all-you-can-eat hot food sections. Brielle took this opportunity to discuss the three main meal plans students can register for.
Each plan holds two types of currency at various amounts, where one meal swipe equals one dining hall entrance and 1 Flex dollar equals one U.S. dollar.
Furthermore, the Student Center is home to countless clubs and organizations, serving Ramapo students for their various needs. The Center for Student Involvement is the heart of over 100 clubs and all Greek life on campus, as well as Roadrunner Central; a “one-stop shop” for field trips, movie tickets, Broadway shows, and more. Likewise, Brielle mentioned the NYC shuttle service Ramapo provides for their students, where a roundtrip ticket costs only $16, a price well below the average cost of commuting to the city.
The building also holds the Civic and Community Engagement Center (CCEC). This organization promotes social and political awareness on campus, offering community service openings, and sources for volunteer work, and informing students on their rights and how to exercise them. Other services at this center consist of the campus bookstore, wellness room, counseling, and student health services.
Leaving the Student Center, the tour wrapped back around toward the Anisfield building for the final presentation of the day, passing the Peter P. Mercer Learning Commons, the Berrie Center for the Arts, and The Grove along the way. Upon arrival, the tour group met with Dean Ed Petkus of the Anisfield School of Business, Dean Aaron Lorenz of the School of Social Science & Human Services, and Dean Eddie Saiff of the School of Theoretical & Applied Science.
After a productive open discussion involving internships, research opportunities, and additional RCNJ programs, the tour concluded in the Student Center for a free bottomless lunch. PCCC students chose among rows upon rows of fried foods, sandwich and salad bars, Italian meals, and hibachi-style bowls while conversing about the morning.
With the shuttle bus back to Paterson boarding at 1:00 pm, the sneak peek at Ramapo College life had come to an end– but the doors for prospective transfer students aren’t closed yet. All interested students are encouraged to attend their next Open House on Sunday, April 27th!
Special thanks to Dr. Susan Gaulden and Dr. Yelena Lyudmilova for organizing and managing the event!
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