2018-2019 Annual Report IT TAKES A COMMUNITY EXECUTIVE OFFICERS LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Jianping Wang, Ed.D. It takes a village to raise a child. We have all heard this and at Mercer County President Community College we live it every day. We see each student as an individual Robert Schreyer, DPT with the potential to achieve great success. It is the extra caring and support MCCC MISSION Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs that students receive from Mercer’s dedicated faculty and staff that nurtures STATEMENT Sue Perkins that potential and helps them achieve – and often exceed – the goals they Interim Vice President for Finance and Administration Mercer County Community have set for themselves. Joe Claffey College is a comprehensive, Vice President for College Advancement publicly supported two-year We are fortunate that many in our community embrace the belief that institution focused on learning L. Diane Campbell, Ed.D. education provides betterment for all of Mercer County. Starting at the and student success. The Vice President for Student Affairs county level, we receive ongoing financial support from our County Executive college welcomes students of and the Board of Chosen Freeholders. Our Board of Trustees is composed of all ages from a wide variety of 2018/2019 community leaders who are committed to the community college mission. backgrounds, abilities, interests, Our Foundation Board not only leads major fundraising events for student levels of education, and economic BOARD OF TRUSTEES circumstances to a challenging Mark Matzen, Chair scholarships, but serve as ambassadors of the college. and supportive environment Kevin Drennan, Vice Chair We are indeed a village. We are deeply grateful to all of you for making Mercer dedicated to meeting the Walt MacDonald, Ph.D., Treasurer educational needs of 21st century Jianping Wang, Ed.D., Secretary and MCCC President County Community College a life-changing institution for our students and an global citizens and lifelong Reverend William E. Coleman, Jr. enriching resource for lifelong learning for all county residents. learners. Mercer responds to a David Fried Sincerely, broad array of community needs, Yasmin E. Hernandez-Manno offering programs and services for Pamela Hersh employers, continuing education Anthony Inverso and training for the workforce, Lawrence A. Nespoli, D. Ed. enrichment for youth, and cultural Angela Delli Santi opportunities for people in Blanca Berrios-Ohler Dr. Jianping Wang the region. Caitlin Clarke, Alumni Trustee President Mercer County Community College ANNUAL REPORT COUNTY OFFICIALS AVAILABLE ONLINE Hon. Brian M. Hughes, Mercer County Executive MCCC’s Annual Report is available online in an interactive 2018/2019 format. Sections are linked to BOARD OF CHOSEN additional information on FREEHOLDERS the college website. Visit www.mccc.edu/annual-reports. Hon. John A. Cimino, Chair Hon. Andrew Koontz, Vice Chair Hon. Ann Cannon Hon. Pasquale Colavita, Jr. Hon. Samuel Frisby Hon. Nina D. Melker Hon. Lucylle Walter RAIN DOESN’T DAMPEN JOY AT NURSING PROGRAM ADDS 74 NIGHTINGALES 52ND ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT TO THE HEALTHCARE FIELD MCCC’s Commencement Ceremony on May 17 was MCCC’s most popular major had a stellar year, as the college briefly interrupted by a sudden thunderstorm. But a little graduated 74 students from the Nursing program. Supporting rain could not diminish the milestone moment for the students throughout this rigorous curriculum were peer tutors in graduates of the Class of 2019. The guest speaker for the the Nursing Learning Center, plus instructors in Science Learning big day was Mercer County Undersheriff Pedro Medina, Centers on both campuses. Additionally, Nursing students were an MCCC alumnus. Student speaker was Samantha Costa, able to reach out to a success coach dedicated to the program. In a Paralegal graduate who is already on the job for the recent years, the pass rate on the national licensure exam (NCLEX) New Jersey Office of the Public Guardian. Professor of for MCCC graduates has topped 90 percent on the first try. (The Biology Dr. Ron Smith was the recipient of the annual national average is around 85 percent.) Nursing alumni are Distinguished Teaching Award. employed by healthcare facilities throughout the region, many in managerial roles. THANK YOU, PHI THETA KAPPA! BUSINESS STUDENTS TAKE FIRST AT RU When student leaders work alongside staff members, COMPETITION, SECOND AT DATAFEST good things happen. Mercer’s five-star Phi Theta Kappa chapter helped the college reach out to students about In the college’s second most popular major, Business Gov. Murphy’s new free tuition program for community Administration, students proved they could get the job done. college students, the Community College Opportunity Utilizing a shared leadership strategy that allowed for both Grant program. Chapter officers recruited volunteers to creativity and practical solutions, a team of six students took distribute flyers, post to social media, share their message first place out of six community colleges at the 2019 New Jersey at faculty meetings and in their classes, and staff a table County College Case Competition at Rutgers Business School. In in the Student Center. They were similarly active in the a second competition, Business students computed, analyzed community. Thanks in part to their efforts, 204 students and collaborated their way to second place during DataFest received CCOG to cover tuition costs for spring semester. 2019, held at Rider University. The mighty Mercer team faced off against nine four-year colleges in the weekend-long event. STUDENT GOVERNMENT LEADS THE WAY RADIO STUDENTS ARE VOICE OF MERCER MCCC’s Student Government Association (SGA) is the best proof that Radio listeners, especially those who tune in to WPST (94.5 life at MCCC is all about community. This year, 7,500 students dedicated FM), may have heard commercials with this sign-off: “This themselves to enhancing life for the entire student body through their commercial was produced by Mercer students.” Two years ago, participation in SGA, Student Life, and college club activities. They the MCCC Marketing Department teamed up with the college’s hosted 224 events, including a fundraiser for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Radio program to give students an opportunity to work on a for childhood cancer research, raising nearly $1,500 – bringing the six- real-world assignment – to give the college a more authentic year total to nearly $9,500 for this worthwhile charity. Students also message for student recruitment. Since the initiative began, hosted a “Blingo Bingo” event, drawing 71 participants and raising $895 the college has used more than a dozen commercials written, for Womanspace in honor of Women’s History Month, with a matching produced and voiced by Mercer students. donation of $895 to the Lymphoma Foundation. 2 Mercer County Community College Annual Report Mercer County Community College Annual Report 3 GLOBAL VIEWS: STUDY TOURS TO IRELAND AND POLAND MCCC WELCOMES STUDENTS UNDER The Global Opportunities (GO) Center hosted two Study Tours this year for more NEW JERSEY GRANT PROGRAM than 50 students and their instructors. Health Professions students traveled Following the passage of New Jersey’s Community College to Ireland, where they learned about history, culture and healthcare. A trip to Opportunity Grant (CCOG) program, MCCC focused on getting Poland focused on the Holocaust; students returned with powerful insights. the word out last fall about this groundbreaking initiative. CCOG’s pilot semester was a resounding success, providing THE COLLEGE VOICE’S AWARD-WINNING YEAR free tuition to approximately 200 eligible students, many of It was an outstanding year in journalism at MCCC, as the college’s student whom could not have attended college otherwise. newspaper, The College VOICE, delivered once again with seven issues from September through May, available in print and archived online. After receiving three finalist awards from the Society of Professional Journalists in early March, VOICE staffers won 18 awards from the New Jersey Collegiate START AT MERCER, GO ANYWHERE! Press Association, including General Excellence and Best Overall Website. For students intent on transfer after MCCC, the possibilities continued to grow this year. In the fall, the college signed CERAMICS AND SOUP FOR TASK an agreement with Rider University that added 15 majors to The Visual Arts Club and Hospitality Club teamed up for a delicious the guaranteed transfer list. In January, the college signed a lunchtime fundraiser for the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) in December. Transfer Pathways agreement for dual admission with Stockton Approximately 20 ceramicists worked throughout the fall to produce 150 University and, in April, signed with Drexel University Online to bowls and mugs in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. On the day of the provide discounts of up to 40 percent for Drexel’s online courses. fundraiser, culinary students joined in, preparing soup to fill the bowls and These discounts can be applied toward bachelor’s, master’s, hot chocolate to fill the mugs. More than $500 was raised. and doctorate degrees, as well as certificate programs on the graduate and undergraduate levels and are open to Mercer HORTICULTURE STUDENTS BLOSSOM students, alumni and staff. AT PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW A display themed “The Power of a Rooftop Oasis” was MCCC’s 2019 entry for the Philadelphia Flower Show. Boasting an impressive facsimile of BUILDING FOR STUDENT SUCCESS the Trenton Makes Bridge, the rooftop garden display was set against a downtown Trenton backdrop, earning the exhibit a Silver Award in the Two major construction projects began this year. The college broke prestigious show’s Educational Category. ground on a building for the University Center at Mercer, which will serve as the headquarters for all five of the college’s four-year partners. VIKINGS TEAMS CONTINUE TO ADD TO RICH SPORTS LEGACY (The expected completion date is late Spring 2020.) Another project For the first time in college history, MCCC fielded a men’s lacrosse team.