Ramapo College of New Jersey and Thomas Edison State University (TESU) signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to expand academic access and create flexible degree pathways for students across the state.
The agreement, signed by Presidents Cindy Jebb of Ramapo and Merodie Hancock of Thomas Edison at the New Jersey State House, signals a new era of collaboration between two of the state’s leading public institutions. The partnership is designed to meet the evolving demands of New Jersey’s workforce by focusing on traditional students, adult learners, and non-traditional populations.
“This agreement reflects the best of what public higher education can offer — collaboration, innovation, and an unwavering focus on students,” Jebb said. “We look forward to designing pathways that are responsive, inclusive, and contribute to New Jersey’s workforce development.”
A core component of the partnership is the development of articulated master’s degree pathways. These pathways will allow students to transition seamlessly from undergraduate programs at one institution to graduate programs at the other, reducing administrative hurdles and time-to-completion.
The institutions are also exploring:
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Micro-certificates and Stackable Credentials: Short-term programs aligned with emerging workforce trends.
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Degree-Completion Pathways: Initiatives specifically targeting New Jerseyans who have earned some college credit but have not yet finished their degrees.
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Coordinated Student Support: Aligned advising to help students navigate between the two institutions.
A key focus for the collaboration is Prior Learning Assessment (PLA). By leveraging TESU’s extensive expertise in serving adult learners, the partnership will help students translate professional experience, military training, and previous certifications into college credit.
“By leveraging Ramapo’s strengths as a leading public liberal arts college with TESU’s decades of expertise serving adult students through online and flexible learning, we are creating pathways that are both academically rigorous and immediately responsive,” Hancock said.
Dr. Brian Bridges, New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education, praised the initiative, noting that such collaborations empower every New Jersey resident to succeed and drive innovation in the state.
Ramapo and TESU plan to expedite the assessment and design of these joint initiatives, with specific program announcements expected as they are developed throughout 2026.
