С����Ƶ

С����Ƶ and Mercer County Community College signed dual admission agreements for 18 programs today, expanding the educational opportunities for MCCC students choosing to complete their bachelor’s degree. This brings the total number of transfer agreements between the two institutions to 23. 

At a ceremony held on the MCCC campus, representatives from both institutions chose one program in particular – Health Care Management – to sign symbolically, illustrative of all 18 new agreements. 

The agreement guarantees transfer admission of MCCC students who complete the Business Administration, Associate of Science Program to Rider’s Bachelor of Science in Business Administration: Health Care Management major.

Rider announced its health care management major earlier this year, which provides a core education in business combined with critical topics in health care management.

“There is no field more exciting and relevant today than health care management," Elad Granot, Ph.D., dean of Rider’s College of Business Administration, said. "Health care is driving our economy both in New Jersey and nationally, and a well-rounded degree intersecting business and health care is in high demand.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook, the health care field is expected to grow rapidly as baby boomers age and people remain active later in life. Employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow by 23% through 2022 – faster than the average for all occupations.

Rider’s BSBA in health care management was developed with input from health care executives in hospitals, biotech, medical device and pharmaceutical companies and health insurance firms. The curriculum is designed to provide students with an understanding of both the business and health fields, including a deeper grasp of the legal, ethical, economic, social and managerial issues related to health care. Faculty includes professors with expertise in economics, finance, information systems, law and marketing.

Granot said the program is also designed to provide “real world” experiences and offers students the opportunity to participate in a semester-long internship, large data-group project for a client, and a health care marketing course where students design a marketing plan.

The new agreement grants full junior-class admission to Rider for MCCC students who have declared their participation in the program before accruing 30 credit hours at MCCC, have taken and completed all courses in the prescribed program curriculum, have earned their associate degree, and have earned a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5. Rider will waive application fees.

“The changing demands of the modern workplace require our students to gain every possible edge to be competitive,” said Dr. Eun-Woo Chang, MCCC Vice President for Academic Affairs. “Through the addition of these new programs to our excellent relationship with С����Ƶ, students will have access to the tools they need to succeed.”

To mark the occasion of the continuing partnership between Rider and MCCC, Rider’s president, Gregory G. Dell’Omo, Ph.D., presented a Sesquicentennial Medal of Excellence to MCCC, an honor celebrating Rider’s 150th Anniversary bestowed on select individuals and organizations for their significant contributions in assisting the university in better serving its students. MCCC’s president, Jianping Wang, Ph.D., accepted the medal on behalf of the College.

As he presented the medal, Dell’Omo said, “Since Mercer Community College was established in 1966, it has been a strong academic and educational partner with С����Ƶ. Together, we have worked to forge academic collaborations that allow students to move from the community college to a four-year institution. This partnership has become increasingly more important as our student populations have grown more diverse in age, experience and access. Rider is glad to have found such a willing and enthusiastic partner in Mercer, and we are proud of our enduring relationship.”

To date, more than 339 students have successfully transferred from MCCC to Rider, more than any other community college. MCCC also remains Rider’s largest articulation partner.

Dell’Omo added, “We are grateful to Dr. Wang, the faculty, staff and administration at MCCC for partnering with us for the mutual benefit of our students. Together we are dedicated to student development and success, and committed to providing opportunities for students to excel in higher education. For their willingness to work with us for the past fifty years, we are pleased and honored to present the much-deserved Sesquicentennial Medal of Excellence to Mercer County Community College.”

“Mercer County Community College has enjoyed a long and productive relationship with С����Ƶ, enabling many students access to educational opportunities that otherwise would not have been possible,” said MCCC President Dr. Jianping Wang. “We are proud to build on this relationship, enabling our students to pursue their personal goals. I am honored to receive this recognition, and look forward to a continued partnership with С����Ƶ focused on student service and educational excellence.”