For just over half a century, Stockton University has been providing South Jersey with ever-expanding educational opportunities in an idyllic setting nestled in the pines.
The sprawling main campus in the Pomona section of Galloway Township is the largest by area in the state, sitting on over 1,600 acres.
The school has seen steady growth over the years, and now serves over 8,500 students on multiple campuses, including those in Hammonton and Atlantic City.
“We work hard to provide our community opportunities throughout the region,” said university spokesperson Brian Jackson. “It’s really important to us that we focus on our ability to contribute to the educational efforts of our students to become committed and engaged citizens.”
Jackson said that in 2016 Stockton was designated by the state as an anchor institution in South Jersey, meaning it’s deemed to be an organization deeply tied to the sense of community and economic health of a region.
“We take quite seriously our role as an anchor institution here in South Jersey,” Jackson said.
Like at Rowan University, Jackson said Stockton has entered into partnerships with area community colleges to create simpler and more affordable ways for students to earn a degree. Jackson said they’ve also created a program that seeks to help students get a head start on their education even sooner, earning college credits while still in high school.
“Juniors and seniors can take college courses taught by Stockton faculty,” Jackson said. “When you graduate from high school you are leaving with credits under your belt so that if you enter Stockton you are ahead of the game in terms of degree completion. It’s a really affordable way to enter Stockton.”
Jackson said they’ve recently seen around 2,000 students from 50 different high schools participating in the program.
Once enrolled at Stockton, the particulars of its environment can lend to the direction of a student’s educational choices.
For instance, its proximity to the ocean and the expansive wild space of the Pine Barrens can serve as a perfect opportunity for someone seeking to study something like Marine Science or Environmental Studies. Conversely, the closeness of Atlantic City’s gaming industry could provide the perfect backdrop for someone interested in Business Studies or Hospitality Management.
One newer program the school is proud of, Jackson said, is the Atlantic City summer experience, a live-work-learn program, targeting the school’s Hospitality program students. Students receive jobs from local businesses in Atlantic City and live in student housing for the summer. The employer also pays for the cost of that housing. Jackson said this summer the program saw 200 students hired by 13 different employers.
“Ultimately, we want to expose students to opportunities and industries that maybe they didn’t think existed or maybe weren’t on their radar,” Jackson said.” We want our students to stay in the area and thrive here and recognize that they can build really good careers here in South Jersey.”
Employment in Atlantic City, and expansion of the school’s operations in the city have been a big part of Stockton’s plans for growth in recent years.
The school and the city have formed a University District around Stockton’s facilities in Atlantic City, in hopes of creating a sense of place and identity around the university.
“It generates a level of excitement and interest for residents who live here, for people who may want to move to the neighborhood because it’s a university district, and for small businesses that are existing and those that are interested in coming into the area,” Jackson said.
He said he’s personally already seen positive changes in Atlantic City due to Stockton’s presence and said he’s looking forward to see where the relationship between the school and the community can go in the future.
“It’s been such a privilege to be a part of this new wave of change that is happening in Atlantic City,” Jackson said. “We are not the be all and end all of Atlantic City, but we do understand and recognize that we have a role to play in helping to change the perceptions of Atlantic City, and that doesn’t happen overnight.
“There’s a change that’s happening here and I think for young people having a presence here in Atlantic City in some regards gives them hope because they can see themselves in Stockton.”