RCSJ Unveils Virtual Campus in Partnership With Rowan University
New Jersey’s best community college and one of the nation’s top universities have joined forces yet again to announce Rowan Partnerships Online (RPO) – a new, virtual campus that makes earning a bachelor’s degree online more affordable and accessible than ever before.
RPO was launched by Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ) and Rowan University on July 1, 2020, and is available to incoming freshmen eager to start pursuing their degree online this September. In its inaugural year, the virtual campus will offer bachelor’s degrees in Computing Informatics, Construction Management, Entrepreneurship, Human Resource Management, Management Information Systems and Psychology. Unlike many other online degree programs, RPO allows students to lock in their tuition rate for four years upon registration. For incoming students in the 2020-2021 academic year, that means earning both an RCSJ associate degree and a Rowan University bachelor’s degree for a grand total of $36,000.
“On July 1, 2019, Rowan College of South Jersey was established – the first regional, dual-campus community college in the state – born from the merger of Cumberland County College and Rowan College at Gloucester County, and strengthened by a remarkable partnership with Rowan University,” stated RCSJ President, Frederick Keating, Ed.D. “Now, one eventful and unprecedented year later, RCSJ is proud to unveil its third campus in Rowan Partnerships Online. We have considered the interests of our students, the needs of the business community and the possibilities offered by technology, and we have responded with a more affordable and convenient online degree pathway that addresses all concerns.”
Students registered in RPO will complete their first two years of online education through RCSJ at the community college tuition rate and their final two years of online education through Rowan University at the university rate. Courses are offered in the traditional online format, providing students with the flexibility to proceed through course work on their own schedule while meeting assignment deadlines. All student support services are also provided in a virtual setting – from registration, financial aid and scholarship application to academic advising, technical support and counseling services – allowing individuals to receive all the benefits of higher education without sacrificing the safety and convenience of home.
“Our partnership with Rowan University has been instrumental in providing affordable, accessible and quality education to students in the region over the last six years,” remarked RCSJ’s Special Assistant to the President in matters of University Relations, Michael Plagianakos, Ed.D. “Now, with Rowan Partnerships Online, we will be able to provide that education to a much wider audience in a safe and flexible format.”
Growth has been structured into the design of RPO, with plans in place to add a minimum of two additional degrees each year. Industry-valued, stackable credentials will be incorporated at both the community college and the university levels, providing students with resume-strengthening certifications to enhance workforce value.
“Rowan College of South Jersey is redefining the role of community colleges, introducing and developing pathways to an education rarely seen at community colleges,” said Jeff Hand, senior vice president for Enrollment Management, Rowan University. “Students will benefit greatly from the flexibility, quality and value these programs offer.”
To learn more about Rowan Partnerships Online, visit RowanPartnerships.Online.
