Building on more than a decade of academic collaboration, Hudson County Community College (HCCC) and Rutgers University-Newark (RU-N) have officially launched a new dual-admission partnership designed to streamline the journey from an associate degree to a bachelor’s degree.
HCCC President Dr. Christopher Reber and RU-N Chancellor Dr. Tonya Smith-Jackson recently signed the CONNECT Transfer Pathways Agreement. The initiative eliminates traditional transfer hurdles, waives application fees, and broadens the scope of degree options available to local students looking to advance their education.
Under the new agreement, students who earn an Associate in Science in Business Administration at HCCC can transition seamlessly into Bachelor of Science programs at Rutgers-Newark for Marketing, Supply Chain Management, and Leadership and Management, as well as Bachelor of Arts programs in Public Administration.
The institutions are already developing additional seamless pathways for high-demand majors, including Biology, Psychology, Social Work, Computer Science, Education, and Criminal Justice.
The CONNECT program is designed to catch students early in their academic journeys—including Early College students currently enrolled in local high schools. Once enrolled, participants are granted joint admission to both HCCC and Rutgers-Newark, locking in maximum transfer credit benefits while eliminating the duplication of required coursework.
To ensure student retention and success, the program provides tailored, one-on-one academic advisement and personalized transfer support from both institutions.
“The CONNECT program is transformational,” Reber said. “It removes barriers and the duplication of required courses, and it provides seamless and expedited pathways to baccalaureate degrees and better paying, more secure careers. We are very proud of our long and productive partnership with Rutgers University-Newark and look forward to continuing to develop new programs that help improve the lives of our community.”
Chancellor Smith-Jackson echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the social and economic mobility the program aims to create.
“This partnership with Hudson County Community College affirms our shared belief that talent is universal and opportunity must be deliberate, creating inclusive, well-supported pathways to the baccalaureate,” Smith-Jackson said. “Through the CONNECT program, HCCC students arrive at Rutgers-Newark poised to thrive, proving that when institutions work together, transfer success becomes a promise kept.”
While application fees are entirely waived for CONNECT participants, students will work alongside advisors to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and tap into additional scholarships and grants offered by Rutgers-Newark to keep their degree pathways affordable.
