Hundreds of Warren County Community College students recently vowed to obtain their associate degrees during a week-long—and statewide—initiative, the fourth annual New Jersey Community College Completion Challenge (NJC4).

This program, which included all 19 community colleges in the state, was intended to increase awareness about the importance of completing associate degrees and certificates. The program is part of a nationwide effort.

Over the course of a week in late October, Warren County Community College held a series informational and social activities around the theme of college completion, including emphasizing tools available for students to help reach their goals.

Activities included instant advising, information on transferring to 4-year colleges and Distance Education, and other important aspects of WCCC. Everything centered around students signing one of the College Completion banners on hand. Faculty and staff were encouraged to sign banners of support.

Student leaders in Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the international community college honor society, organized these events. 

Members of PTK attended the Middle States Regional Honors in Action & Completion Conference recently, which included a College Completion kick-off rally. Pictured, l-r, are WCCC PTK members Elizabeth Touaboy-Gounkofe and Ashley Charleus, 2016 NJ State President Becca Sulla, WCCC PTK member Yaseen Mahmoud, and WCCC PTK President Ben Volk.

“It was a great week,” said Jean Vasko, Advisor for PTK. “The students were very enthusiastic about signing up and becoming a part of the big picture. It was also great to see faculty and staff, and members of the Board of Trustees, who also showed their support by attending some of the events.”

The week prior to the initiative, members of the WCCC PTK chapter, Alpha Upsilon Rho, attended the Middle States Regional Honors in Action & Completion Conference in Wilmington, Del. The conference included a kick-off rally for the Completion Initiatives, as well as motivational speakers and in-action project.

The College Completion Challenge at WCCC is one that builds on an already impressive graduation rate.

“We are very proud of our track record when it comes to graduation,” offered Dr. Will Austin, President of WCCC. “It’s a tribute to our staff, faculty and the students themselves who clearly have the drive to make it all happen.” 

WCCC is routinely among the top N.J. community colleges in graduation rate.

The New Jersey Education Association, Kean University, and Rutgers University-Newark provided grants to each Phi Theta Kappa chapter at the 19 community colleges to help offset the cost of NJC4 events and activities. The New Jersey Council of County Colleges‘ (NJCCC) Center for Student Success was also a partner to the events.