The council to which all 19 county community colleges belong is the focal point for leadership of the educational programs of those colleges. Through it, the colleges have a mission "to provide high quality transfer programs, occupational programs, continuing education courses, business support services, and community service programs at a reasonably low cost in response to local and statewide needs."
Each of the colleges developed independently throughout the 20th century. Established in 1933 and serving three campuses in its county, Union County College is the oldest college on the council. Warren County Community College, established in 1981, is one of the youngest. The college achieved degree-granting status in 1987 and accreditation in 1992.
The New Jersey Council of County Colleges formed in 1989 as "An independent, trustee-headed organization that joins the leadership of trustees and presidents." The Council represents the community college sector before government bodies.
The 19 community colleges of the New Jersey Council offer more than 1,700 college credit, non-credit and professional certification programs. These include associate degrees in arts, science, applied sciences and fine arts, as well as credit and professional certificate programs, and non-credit training programs. The associate degrees are designed to transfer as college credit for further education.
A range of courses is available, grouped by category, depending on your field of study and the specific college you attend:
-Accounting, banking finance
-Aeronautics/aviation
-Agriculture, horticulture and aquaculture
-Architectural/building construction technology/interior design
-Automotive technology
-Business general
-Business specialized
-Communications and public relations
-Computers and related technologies
-Education/continuing education
-Electronics and electrical engineering
-Engineering
-Hospitality and culinary arts
-Human services
-Law enforcement and criminal justice
-Liberal arts and sciences/pre-professional
-Manufacturing
-Nursing and allied health
-Office skills and systems
-Science career programs
-Visual and performing arts
The New Jersey Council of County Colleges offers several opportunities for potential students to get the most from their community college experience.
The New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Rewards Scholarship (NJ STARS) is a state-sponsored scholarship program, targeted at community college students, that covers tuition and approved fee costs at any of the 19 Council colleges.
The Council offers transfer scholarships in conjunction with 20 colleges and universities, with varying requirements for application and award.
New Pathways to Teaching in New Jersey is a non-traditional preparatory program offering teacher certification for qualified individuals.
The apprenticeship program allows students in qualified apprenticeship training programs to gain college credit.
Small business owners and entrepreneurs can take a 33-hour entrepreneur certificate program to further their business education.
The 12th-Grade Initiative allows qualified high school seniors who have passed their High School Proficiency Assessment to take college-credit courses while still in high school.
Top community college students and their families are recognized at the All-New Jersey Academic Team's Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Day Celebration, where scholarships are also awarded.