Jacqueline (Jacki) Tarum and Kiera Stokes, GCIT Seniors and Biological Science majors, spoke at the event, sharing their pathway experiences and opportunities, thanking GCIT faculty and staff for their knowledge and guidance.
(Back row, left to right): Kiera Stokes, GCIT senior; Jacqueline (Jacki) Tarum, GCIT senior; Frank DiMarco, director, Gloucester County Commissioners; Joann Gattinelli, education liaison, Gloucester County Commissioners; Warren Wallace, Ed.D., RCSJ Board of Trustee member; Tony Loman, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, Rowan University.
(Front row, left to right): Fred Keating, Ed.D., president, Rowan College of South Jersey; Susan Heiken, Ed.D., interim superintendent, GCIT; Ali Houshmand, Ph.D., President, Rowan University; and Chad Bruner, Administrator, Gloucester County & Chairman, Rowan University Board of Trustees.
On Friday, March 28, 2025, Gloucester County Institute of Technology (GCIT), Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ), the County of Gloucester, and Rowan University leadership announced the Rowan College Prep partnership with a ceremonial signing at GCIT. This partnership will provide GCIT students with a seamless pathway to degree attainment.
“I am so proud to be a part of this strategic investment and aligned academic curriculum that has made this next bold step towards designating this school, Rowan College Prep at GCIT," stated Chad Bruner, administrator, Gloucester County, and chairman, Rowan University Board of Trustees.
GCIT, already a RCSJ Collegiate High School participant, will now bear the distinction of being a Rowan College Preparatory School. The Prep is officially recognized by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education as a RCSJ teaching location. This allows students to take more RCSJ credits on site, up to a full associate degree. GCIT students who choose to do so, will be able to follow an academic pathway to a bachelor's degree or higher, as early as their freshman year, saving time and money. This is being accomplished through seamless curriculum alignment between the high school, college, and university.
“Together, we are opening new doors of opportunity for students providing them with access to higher education like never before," stated Frank DiMarco, director, Gloucester County Commissioners. “GCIT has been a longtime leader in career and technical education, and as an RCSJ Collegiate High School participant, students already benefit from the early college experience, but now as Rowan College Preparatory school, GCIT students will have the ability to take more RCSJ courses on site, potentially earning up to a full associate degree before even graduating high school."
“I sat in a room with President Houshmand, President Keating, and Chairman Bruner and they mapped out. . . how a student could get a trade degree, an associate degree, they could get a construction management degree, they could go to the medical school. . .and never leave this footprint and start in high school and finish as a doctor," described Tony Loman, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Rowan University. “That's incredible, that's unheard of. I'm excited to be a part of it . . .and continue to work with GCIT and RCSJ to build the pipeline and bring more of our students into our pathway programs."
Being designated as Rowan College Prep will provide GCIT access to Rowan branding and affiliation with RCSJ and Rowan University, a concurrent enrollment model, shared facilities, advisement support, and qualified GCIT faculty will be recognized as RCSJ adjuncts.
“Today is a win-win for our students, their families, and the community," expressed Joann Gattinelli, education liaison, Gloucester County Commissioners. “One phrase continues to stand out after many conversations with our partners. . . Return On Investment or ROI. Families and students are buying into their futures here at Rowan College Prep at GCIT by following the pathways that have already been mapped out and are very cost effective. The commitment to learning we have here in Gloucester County should be the model for all other schools, colleges, and universities."
As part of the extended Rowan family, GCIT will join the academic pathway model plan to present a clear picture of education attainment to students and their families. (See Pathway Model graphic for more details).
Susan Heiken, interim superintendent of GCIT, shared her thoughts on this partnership, “We are, for the first time, creating educational pathways for our students enrolled in our traditional career programs. Our Pathway Model graphic highlights crosswalks from our programs at GCIT through RCSJ and on to Rowan University. Our programs lead seamlessly to earning industry and academic certificates and degrees. The beauty of our pathway models is that students can choose to enter and exit and reenter whenever and wherever they choose to . . .at any point in their career or lifetime and further advance their educational opportunities."
Jacqueline (Jacki) Tarum, GCIT senior, Biological Sciences and attending Rowan University in the fall with the goal of becoming a student in the Veterinary Medicine program, spoke at the event supporting this pathway partnership. “I would not be where I am today, quite literally, if it were not for all the amazing staff and professors here [GCIT] and RCSJ, who have helped me along the way and my wonderful guidance counselors who helped me plan my schedule."
Kiera Stokes, GCIT senior, Biological Sciences who has been accepted to 10 schools with her goal to pursue a career in scientific research in Biological Science with a concentration in genetics or wildlife conservation, also spoke about her pathway opportunities. “I've always had a dream ...to work with animals someday, but I always thought it was a lofty goal and I would never get there, but through GCIT and the ability to take some of these college [RCSJ] classes early, I've been exposed to many advanced concepts in science that have really allowed me to dive deeper into what I specifically might want to do."
During a time when our communities are questioning the value of education, higher education institutions need to provide a united front of clear opportunities to degree attainment that holds value for students' future lives.
“We want to be a university that fits the economy of the 21st century and by that, I mean, a university that is welcoming to every single student irrespective of SAT scores or GPAs, stated Ali Houshmand, president, Rowan University. “Our responsibility is to discover every single person . . . and to train the future workforce of this country so that we can keep this economy the strongest and this country the greatest in the world. I'm very proud to say that in all the institutions in the state of New Jersey, Rowan [University] admits every single applicant who applies. We will find a pathway for them, and we will make it available for them so they can be successful."
Together, RCSJ and Rowan University can make degree attainment an easy, seamless path that is also affordable in an environment rife with rising costs.
“The bottom line is Rowan University is open. You heard all the buzzwords words here today – affordable, accessible, pathway-driven, and a relevant education. All roads lead to Rowan. The end game is one pathway a person can understand, GCIT to RCSJ, and at the end of that path is a research university, Rowan University, that can make you anything or everything, no matter who you are, no matter what you're doing," stated Fred Keating, president, Rowan College of South Jersey.
Heiken summarized the pathway partnership best when stating, “Leaders bear the responsibility for honoring the traditions of their organizations while positioning them at the forefront of industry standards, innovation, and sustainability. Our pathway models with RCSJ and Rowan University does this by maximizing academic opportunities for all our students."
For more information about RCSJ High School Programs, visit RCSJ.edu/designyourfuture.
