We are thrilled to bring you the latest campus updates and news from 猫咪社区. We invite you to join us in celebrating our recent developments, innovative programs, and the achievements of our vibrant community.
Academics
- The College announced that Christopher Land from Sussex County Technical School won the concurrent faculty member of the year award. Superintendent Gus Modla added, 鈥淐hris is not only a talented educator but also a dedicated mentor who has poured his heart into building an incredible Engineering program for our students.鈥�
- SCCC and Optics Technology Supervisor, Jack Stafford, were featured in
- Deborah Lanza, Associate Professor of Psychology, completed her Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative Research Training Certificate. Professor Lanza is involved in research exploring how self-compassion may relate to self-sabotaging behaviors, habits that can interfere with academic performance and personal growth, that many students experience.
- Allison Ognibene, lead faculty of Theater Arts, wrote an original play called "Mile 59" that will be featured in the renowned New York Theater Festival, "NY Summerfest" in June at the Hudson Guild Theater. She also just defended her thesis to earn her MFA in Performing Arts Management.
- SCCC has partnered with Sussex County Technical School (SCTS) to offer programming for current SCTS students, allowing them to earn college credits toward an Associate of Fine Arts degree in their senior year. There are over 25 qualifying seniors from SCTS who will be enrolled in classes full-time at SCCC next year.
- SCCC Instructor Christina Winters and adjunct Mercedes Lippert led chemistry students on a trip to the Sterling Hill Mining Museum in Ogdensburg, home to rare fluorescent minerals. Students used the experience to inform research projects, which they presented as part of their final grade.
- Instructor Jumana Hablawi presented on the concept of internationalization and its importance. Internationalization can enhance the quality of education and prepare students to succeed in the global labor market, while fostering open-minded individuals who actively care for the world and one another.
- The Visual & Performing Arts Dept. collaborated with the Sussex County Arts and Heritage Council through a grant made possible by SCAHC. A theater workshop entitled "I Can! We Can!" was offered, which was innovative and interactive for the children.
- SCCC is supporting the Bihn Collection Project, housed at the Sterling Hill Mining Museum, which features over 4,000 stone artifacts from over 30 sites in Sussex County. Dr. Tony Balzano, Professor of Anthropology & Sociology, is helping to bring the two organizations together for the betterment of the region from an educational and understanding perspective.
- Dr. Homer attended the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce Business and Education Roundtable. Educators and businesses discussed obstacles and opportunities from their areas as they related to providing a skilled workforce for Sussex County.
- Drs. Okay and Homer visited the New Jersey School of Conservation to discuss partnerships regarding research and educational opportunities. Members from the NJSOC will visit SCCC for further planning.
- SCCC's Arbor Bakeshop hosted pop-up Bakeshops featuring recent graduate Ruxt Rodriguez, who will open Fratelli Bakery in Newton.
Finance and Facilities
- Facilities Updates:
- PSTA basement renovation is ongoing. The outdoor gun range sound study is completed; site design being prepared
- Nursing simulation lab renovation continues
- Optics Center 鈥� construction has begun and is on schedule
- Library renovation to begin 6/25
- Administration Bldg. 鈥� bids due 6/9/25
- ATC renovation 鈥� exterior completed; interior goes for bid 7/25
- Health Sciences/Performing Arts Bldg. 鈥� Allied Health in design phase
- Administration Bldg. 鈥� ADA ramp designs in review
- The College created a webpage to follow the being done this year. SCCC will post updated content to the page.
- The revised Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) is complete and will be posted to the website soon. Newton PD and NJSP collaborated with Marc Ponce, Director of Security, in the development of the new and improved EOP. The NJSP also provided guidance for future training and professional development.
- The College is collaborating with the Newton Police Department to conduct walk-throughs of buildings on Fridays throughout the summer, allowing officers to become more familiar with the buildings and grounds.
Enrollment & Marketing
- Enrollment over the summer sessions continues to look strong into FY26. Application counts for summer are up approximately 2%, and enrollment is up approximately 7% across all sessions.
- Enrollment for Fall 2025 looks solid, thanks in part to the College鈥檚 Strategic Enrollment Group, which meets weekly to analyze data to make informed decisions regarding course fill rates, applicant conversion rates, FAFSA completions, and more.听
Information Technology
- The IT Dept. is occupied daily with training and data conversion to the new cloud-hosted Jenzabar One, with go-live on the new system planned for October 2025.
- SCCC is collaborating with Planet Networks on a new fiber connection that will enable the PSTA to integrate into the College network fully.
- IT has installed 30 additional grant-funded All-In-One workstations for faculty and staff that were not upgraded with the last AIO group purchase.
- The IT Dept. is moving equipment to and from storage and network connection additions for the renovation of the C building, the cafeteria, and the Learning Commons project. They are also working with Dr. Homer for network services on other building projects, including the R building, the B building at McGuire, and the Chapel/ATC.
Student Affairs and Campus Life
- Thank you to everyone who came together to celebrate our students during this year's 2025 Commencement. It was a memorable event for everyone involved!
- The College was awarded an $18,846 grant from the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education. These funds will be used to address hygiene, food, and housing insecurity for students on campus.
- New Student Orientation Registration is now live for our incoming Fall 2025 students.
- The Skylanders Wrestling program is running the Skylander Wrestling Club over the summer on Tuesday nights. The Club is a free clinic open to College and High School wrestlers.
- Congratulations to Student-Veteran Joseph Pascua on earning the 2025 Sparta VFW Ralph Rojas Scholarship through the Sparta VFW.
- SCCC is partnering with the Sussex County Sheriff鈥檚 Junior Academy at the PSTA, open to rising 6th鈥搕hrough 8th鈥揼rade students interested in law enforcement and public safety. Applications are available at the Sheriff鈥檚 Office or online at .
Foundation
- The Foundation awarded recognition cords to the graduates who received Foundation Scholarships. A photo was taken featuring 26 of the scholarship recipients, representing the 64 graduates who were able to achieve their dreams thanks to the generosity of our Scholarship donors.
- The Foundation hosted three thank-you events at Arbor Restaurant for our most generous donors, who contributed $1,000 or more to SCCC this year. The 61 members of the President鈥檚 Society contributed $760,000 to support the mission of the College during the 2024-2025 academic year.
- The Foundation submitted additional grants totaling $85,000 to support the purchase of equipment for Allied Health programs.
- The Foundation continues to collaborate with faculty and staff and submit grant opportunities with funding requests for the Adult Transition Center, Student Center Theater, and Anthropology Dept.
- The Foundation's online Scholarship application portal is open for new and current students until June 30th. To date, 266 students have started applications. Students can visit sussex.edu/scholarships for more information.
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