OCC Pursuing Tourism Degree Partnership With FDU

Ocean County students could start degree program close to home

Ocean County College officials are hoping to forge an agreement with Fairleigh Dickinson University that will allow students to begin the process of earning a degree in Tourism and Hospitality locally. "We currently do not have a degree, per se, in hospitality and tourism," said Dr. Jianping Wang, President of Academic Affairs. OCC has been in talks with FDU to allow students to take the first two years of a hospitality and tourism program in Toms River, then transfer to FDU at a significant discount. FDU's hospitality and tourism program is number four in the nation, said Wang, "but their tuition is also very high." With room and board, tuition and fees top $40,000 per year at the Teaneck-based school. Under a potential partnership plan, …

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Hurricane Sandy

UPDATE: OCC Closing Mon. and Tues.

Monmouth U., Brookdale and Georgian Court also closed

Due to weather conditions, Ocean County College in Toms River is closed Monday and Tuesday. Also, Georgian Court University, in Lakewood, and Brookdale Community College, in Middletown, will be closed on Monday and Tuesday. "If possible, residents should vacate on Sunday," Georgian Court states on its website. Monmouth University is also closed Monday and Tuesday. Ocean County College officials said they will decide tomorrow whether to close. The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and Atlantic Cape Community College are closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Rowan University, and Rider University are also closing Monday and Tuesday. An open house at Rider on Sunday is canceled. Rutgers University is still open; its website does not …

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Point Boro Man Finds Afghanistan Duty A Learning Experience

Benny Castillo reflects on a year spent teaching Afghans how to police their country

Benny Castillo, a Point Borough resident, says he has developed a new respect for the way Jersey drivers handle themselves on the roads. While New Jersey drivers have issues with road rage and people driving like they need to get where they’re going yesterday, there is, on some level, rules that everyone follows, he says. That was definitely not the case in Afghanistan, where Castillo, an assistant professor of criminal justice at Ocean County College and former dean of its School of Social Science and Human Services, spent a year’s leave of absence from the college, trying to help train Afghans to be police officers in their country, and help bring some peace and stability to that war-torn country. “Over there, I saw stoplights but they …

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Kudos

Student Awards Night At OCC

Scholarships, awards bestowed this week

As reported by RoseAnn D'Urso, Ocean County College Public Relations staff: Ocean County College presented awards to outstanding students at its 45th Annual Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, May 23, in the Arts and Community Center, OCC Main Campus, College Drive, Toms River, NJ. The awards recipients are: Career, Employment & Counseling Services Award (Donated by the Career, Employment & Counseling Services Department): $200 is awarded to a graduating student who diligently worked on their career, academic, and life goals.  Recipient: Katlyn P. Heid (Toms River) Charles J. Abeles Memorial Award: $100 is awarded to a student demonstrating outstanding aptitude in Languages, Literature, or Philosophy.  Recipient: Rebecca M. Roberts (Lanoka …

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Freeholders Approve $18.5 Million for Improvements at OCC

Growing enrollment, OCC-Kean partnership sparking need for new access driveway, student center

In two separate ordinances on Wednesday, the Ocean County Board of Freeholders approved $18.5 million in spending for improvements to the campus at Ocean County College. Thanks to state funding and money from the college itself, the measures are expected to cost the county $11 million of that total, however, Freeholder Deputy Director John C. Bartlett said. The improvements are the result of the college’s partnership with Kean University that allows students to start at OCC and wind up with a bachelor’s degree from Kean. “This is going to be a major development for our community,” Freeholder Director Gerry Little said. “It will offer students an affordable baccalaureate degree for under $25,000 total.” One ordinance, for $8.5 million, will…

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Robotics Race Leaves Other Clubs In the Dust [VIDEO]

Students from Ocean County Schools made robots out of Legos and raced them in challenges on Friday.

Who has the fastest robot? The one who can most accurately keep to the course? It was a race of robots, built by students from various schools around Ocean County. On Friday, students designed robots using Legos, then programmed them with computers and raced them at the Ocean County College gymnasium. There were two events, but the students coming into the competition only knew about one, the second was a "mystery event." The first was a straight line the robots had to race down, then retrieve a ball and bring it back to the starting point. Some robots faired very well, rolling down and back with ease, while others struggled to just stay on the line. During the entire event, there was a feeling of camaraderie among the teams, as they …

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