Camden County College is one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in New Jersey and the surrounding region and is a vital resource for transfer education, workforce training and cultural event. Its three distinct campuses in Blackwood, Camden and Cherry Hill – along with its satellite locations in Lakeland, Sicklerville and elsewhere throughout the County – share the common mission of providing accessible, affordable higher education and occupational study to all who can benefit.
Recent studies of federal Department of Education data have shown that in addition to ranking among the nation's top 100 community colleges for overall associate's degree completion and among the nation's top 10 for associate's degree completion in education, the College also ranks among the top 50 for associate's degrees completed in registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing; health professions and related programs; and science technologies/technicians. CCC also ranks among the top 100 in associate's degrees completed by African-American students, Asian-American students and non-minority students.
The College also is recognized nationally as a leader in technology programs such as video game design/development and photonics. In addition, it is acknowledged for maintaining one of the lowest tuition rates of any college or university in the state or region. Perhaps most importantly, CCC is known for responding to the changing needs of the communities and students it serves by continuously updating its programs and services to support the area's economic development and residents' professional and personal development.
CCC: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Camden County College’s mission was launched when what had been the Mother of the Savior Seminary – along with the 320-acre tract of land surrounding it – was purchased early in 1967. By September of that year, the first class of Camden County College students was taking courses on the Blackwood Campus. New buildings were constructed to keep pace with growing enrollments and expanding academic offerings during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
In 2005, the Camden County Freeholders announced an $83 million capital initiative to rebuild the Blackwood Campus. This dramatic transformation is the most significant project undertaken by Camden County College since the institution was founded, affecting more than half of the facilities and structural amenities on the campus.
The first phase of this plan, concluded in 2008, included the refurbishment of Madison Hall, which is the campus’ busiest classroom building. It also included construction of the Connector Building, which connects Madison Hall with the Otto R. Mauke Community Center and serves as the headquarters for the College’s Center for Civic Leadership and Responsibility. Subsequent phases have been focusing on the creation of roads, grounds and athletic fields and on additional demolition, refurbishment and construction, including a 107,000-square-foot science building that will allow for the expansion of science-based academic programming and the education of more students.
The College’s presence in Camden began in 1969, when a diploma-completion program was begun in borrowed space downtown to help students prepare to pass their general educational development (GED) test so they could begin college-level courses on the Blackwood Campus that fall. In 1991, a five-story Camden City Campus building – now known as College Hall – was opened at Broadway and Cooper Street, providing the College’s first permanent home in the City.
A second building, the eight-story academic, retail and parking facility known as the Camden Technology Center, was constructed in 2004 as one of the first projects completed under the Camden Municipal Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act. This multi-purpose center has increased access for students and is helping to develop the economic capacity of the City of Camden through the provision of wired, flexible learning and service spaces, downtown parking, bookstore shopping and a full-service conference facility. Each of these amenities sustains the College’s efforts to support City and County economic development through higher education and workforce training.
Camden County College’s third campus location opened in 2000 as the result of a unique public/private partnership between the College, Cherry Hill Township and the William G. Rohrer Charitable Foundation. The William G. Rohrer Center, located at Route 70 and Springdale Road in Cherry Hill, is named to reflect the generosity of the late banker’s endowment. The Center is a hub for business and industry training and support as well as a location where individuals who seek associate degrees are able to complete core courses.
The College also offers courses at various community locations throughout Camden County to bring additional educational opportunities right where residents live and work. Furthermore, in 2011, CCC assumed administration of the Camden County Regional Emergency Training Center, the Technical Institute of Camden County and the Camden County Police Academy. This development has brought all County-funded postsecondary education under the supervision of the College.
Thanks to technology-rich physical resources and highly qualified, dedicated faculty, staff and administration, Camden County College maintains a tradition of high-quality education and a reputation of agile, responsive service. Each year, the College serves more than 30,000 students through 100-plus degree and certificate programs and hundreds of non-credit and community-interest courses.
Degree, certificate and training programs cover technical fields such as automotive technology and mechanical engineering; health professions such as nursing and medical coding; and liberal arts and sciences such as English and chemistry. There also is a multitude of recreational offerings, ranging from social dancing to computer applications.
All who study, visit or work at the College find comfortable, safe and attractive settings. These sustain a vibrant academic community that is characterized by imaginative teaching, caring student services, energetic management and collegial discussion of diverse ideas and opinions.
Into the future, Camden County College will continue to enhance the quality of life in Camden County and beyond by preparing students to live, work and thrive in a global economy. The College also will further fulfill its responsibility to the citizens of Camden County and New Jersey by continuing to create a skilled and stable local workforce; encourage enlightened civic engagement; provide an avenue of social mobility; and serve as a destination for cultural and recreational activities.
