Ramapo College of New Jersey, abbreviated RCNJ, is a public liberal arts college located in Mahwah, New Jersey, near the Ramapo Mountains and just south of the New York state line. As of the spring 2017 semester, there were a total of 5,775 students enrolled at the college, including 459 graduate students. The campus covers approximately 300 acres, built on a former estate about one mile (1.6Â km) from the intersection of Route 17, U.S. 202, and the I-87 and I-287.
History
We Are Roadrunner - Ramapo College of New Jersey - Part II - Across all majors, we are roadrunners! Produced by Angelica Pasquali '19 www.ramapo.edu.
In the late 19th century, the Ramapo Valley was developed for large estates by many wealthy families. Theodore Havemeyer and his family arrived in the area in the 1870s. Havemeyer, a founder of the American Sugar Company, purchased and renovated a home on Route 202 and developed more than 1,000 acres surrounding the mansion into a farm. In 1889 he had a second mansion built on the property for one of his daughters. That mansion and about 700 acres of the original 1,000 were later purchased by Stephen Birch, president of the Kennecott Copper Company.
In 1968, the New Jersey Department of Higher Education authorized establishing a new state college in Bergen County, due to its increasing population and suburbanization. The criteria for the new college's location were sufficient land for the construction of current needs and future expansion, and proximity to at least one major highway. The locations of existing public and private institutions in the state were also taken into consideration. The college was planned to serve economically deprived students from urban and rural areas, in addition to a full range of middle-class families.
George Potter, an administrator at Grand Valley State University in Michigan, was appointed the first President of the college before a location had been determined. After many board meetings, it was decided that the former Birch Estate in Mahwah would be the location for the new college. Although the land was farther north than originally intended for the campus, its proximity to Route 17 and mountainous surroundings made it an attractive site. The architects drew up plans for an L-shaped, glass-walled facility consisting of five 2-story academic buildings connected by large entry spaces, with each building devoted to a particular department or division. The architects recommended this approach to allow for rapid construction of additional wings onto the various entry spaces, allowing quick expansion of the college.
The former Havemeyer mansion was adapted as the president's house, and the former Birch Mansion was renovated to be used as the administration building of the college.
Rankings
US News and World Report ranks Ramapo 37th among 196 "Regional Universities in the North", as of its 2018 list.
Ramapo College also received accolades from The Princeton Review: "Ramapo College was selected by The Princeton Review based on data collected from several hundred schools in each region, visits to schools, student surveys and the opinions of independent and high school-based college advisors. Regional best colleges represent a range of institutions that vary by size, selectivity, character and locale. The 629 colleges named in 2012 Best Colleges Region by Region represent about 25 percent of the nation's 2,500 four-year colleges. The Princeton Review asks students to rate their own schools on several issuesâ€"from the accessibility of their professors to quality of campus foodâ€"and answer questions about themselves, their fellow students and campus life."
Academics
Anisfield School of Business (ASB)
Established in 1979, the Anisfield School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The School offers majors and minors in Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Information Technology Management and International Business. The degree in Business Administration offers concentrations in finance, management and marketing. The school also offers a Business Essentials Certificate for non-business majors, as well as two graduate programs, an M.S. in Accounting and the Accelerated MBA for Working Professionals.
In the spring of 2006, the School was renamed the Anisfield School of Business in recognition of generous donations from the Anisfield Family. The donations were used towards the construction of a new academic building and to provide overall support for the business program. The Anisfield School of Business building opened in 2007 with state-of-the-art classrooms, teaching computer labs and conference facilities. In the fall of 2010, the Global Financial Trading Laboratory opened within the building, providing real-time access to the world’s financial data and electronic trading systems.
School of Contemporary Arts (CA)
The School of Contemporary Arts was established in 1971 with the opening of the college. It is an interdisciplinary arts program offering five majors, in Communication Arts, Contemporary Arts, Music, Theater and Visual Arts. Each major provides a varied array of concentrations in their respective field. Music, Theater, and Visual Arts are also offered as minors, along with Digital Filmmaking and Art History.
The school is based in the Berrie Center for Performing and Visual Arts, opened in 1999. The Center includes the 350-seat Sharp Theater, the 100-seat black box Adler Theater and the Kresge and Pascal Art Galleries, as well as classrooms, labs, studios and offices. The Curtain Call Cafe, located on the first floor, serves Starbucks beverages.
Salameno School of Humanities and Global Studies (SSHGS)
The Salameno School of Humanities and Global Studies was established in 1971 with the opening of the college. Eight majors are offered, in Africana Studies, American Studies, History, International Studies, Liberal Studies (contract major), Literature, Political Science and Spanish Language Studies. All of these, expect Liberal Studies, are available as minors as well. Additionally, the School offers minors in Anthropology, Creative Writing, East Asian Studies, French, Human Rights and Genocide Studies, Italian Studies, Judaic Studies, Latino/a and Latin American Studies, Philosophy and Public Policy.
The School is based in the B-Wing academic building, one of the original five buildings on the campus.
School of Social Science and Human Services (SSHS)
The School of Social Science and Human Services offers six majors, in Environmental Studies, Law and Society, Psychology, Social Science, Social Work and Sociology. Of these, Environmental Science, Psychology and Sociology offer minors. Other minors offered are Contemplative Studies, Criminology, Food Studies, Gerontology, Neuroscience, Substance Use Disorders and Women's and Gender Studies. Concentrations are also offered in variety of subjects. The School's graduate program offers degrees in Educational Leadership, Educational Technology, Social Work, and Special Education.
The School's offices are located in the Anisfield School of Business.
School of Theoretical and Applied Science (TAS)
The School of Theoretical and Applied Science was established in 1971 with the opening of the college. Twelve majors are offered, in Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Biology, Chemistry, Clinical Lab Science (CLS), Computer Science, Engineering Physics, Environmental Science, Integrated Science Studies, Mathematics, Medical Imaging Science and Nursing. Most of these majors are also offered as minors, as are Earth Science and Science, Technology and Society. Graduate degrees are offered in Nursing for either Education Track, Family Nurse Practitioner or Nurse Administration.
The school is housed in the G-Wing, which was constructed as part of the school's first major expansion in 1975. The four story building was rebuilt and heavily renovated between 2012 and 2014 and features state-of-the-art laboratory and research spaces, as well as classrooms and faculty offices. The Adler Center for Nursing Excellence opened in 2015 and provides nursing students with three simulation rooms and multiple laboratories, as well as containing classrooms and faculty offices. The Center is connected to the G-Wing via a skyway.
Accreditation
Ramapo College was established in 1968 as a state-supported, co-educational, four-year College for liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies. Ramapo received accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools in 1975. Individual programs also received accreditation. The Social Work Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, the Chemistry Program is approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS), the Nursing Program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) and the New Jersey Board of Nursing, the Teacher Certification program is approved by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) and the State of New Jersey, and the Anisfield School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Ramapo College is a founding member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges, a national alliance of leading public liberal arts colleges.
Faculty
Ramapo has 213 full-time faculty members, of which 95 percent have doctorate or terminal degrees. This faculty is supplemented by adjunct specialists and other visiting scholars.
Degrees offered
Organized into five interdisciplinary schools offering more than 30 programs, the Public College's offerings are complemented by lectures, performances, and off-campus experiences. Ramapo College offers bachelor's degrees in the arts, business, the social and natural sciences, and the humanities, as well as in professional studies programs such as nursing and social work. Seven programs are offered leading to a master's degree: Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Social Work (MSW), Master of Arts in Educational Leadership (MAEL), Master of Science in Educational Technology (MSET), Master of Arts in Special Education (MASE), Master of Science in Nursing Education (MSN), and a Master of Science in Accounting (MSAC). The college also offers a physician assistant (B.S./M.S.) and physical therapy (B.S./D.P.T.) with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey; a B.A./Master's degree program in Art Therapy with Caldwell University; a B.S./Doctor of Chiropractic with New York Chiropractic College; a B.S./D.D.S. and a B.S./D.M.D. with the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine; a B.S./Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) with SUNY State College of Optometry; and a B.S./Doctor of Podiatric Medicine through New York College of Podiatric Medicine (NYCPM).
The five interdisciplinary schools include the Anisfield School of Business, the School of Contemporary Arts, the Salameno School of Humanities and Global Studies, the School of Social Science and Human Services and the School of Theoretical and Applied Science.
Facilities
The campus includes modern academic buildings, the Robert A. Scott Student Center (which houses student offices, the Birch Tree Inn and Atrium cafeterias, and J. Lee's student lounge); entertainment and meeting rooms; a library with electronic research facilities; the Ramapo Spiritual Center, an administration building; athletic playing fields and 12 lighted tennis courts.
The Angelica and Russ Berrie Center for Performing and Visual Arts houses performance theaters, art galleries and specialized spaces devoted to fine arts, computer art, photography, theater, dance and music. The Berrie Center includes a number of art galleries that are aligned with the School of Contemporary Arts and display a wide variety of art including faculty artwork and international collections. The visual arts faculty uses the exhibitions as an educational tool to illustrate the creative process to students. The art galleries include the Kresge Gallery, Pascal Gallery, Selden Rodman Gallery, Potter Library Gallery, and the Photo Lounge Gallery. The Potter Library Galleries showcase regional artists and student work.
A campus-wide building program during recent years has resulted in the completion of the Anisfield School of Business, designed by local firm SNS Architects & Engineers, PC [6], which opened in Fall 2007 and the Bill Bradley Sports and Recreation center with its 2,200-seat arena, fitness center, climbing wall, dance/aerobics studio, gymnasium and indoor swimming pool. The center has also been used for live music. A new synthetic outdoor running track was laid down in the summer of 2008, and further refurbishments to the main athletic stadium are ongoing. Five residence halls, Mackin Hall, Bischoff Hall, Overlook Hall, Laurel Hall, as well as the Village, an apartment-style complex, were also completed. Restoration of the College Park Apartments, built during the late 1970s, is also underway, reaching Phase II of the project. As per the other residence halls they are relatively modern, with Pine Hall being completed in 1986 and Linden Hall completed in 1990. Furthermore, Bischoff Hall opened in 1999, followed by Mackin Hall in 2000, the Village apartments in 2002, the distinctively designed Overlook Hall in 2004, and Laurel Hall in 2005. The Salameno Spiritual Center is now open. The Adler Center for Nursing Excellence opened in the fall of 2015 and houses both undergraduate and graduate nursing programs, featuring three simulation rooms where students work with computer-simulated patients, in addition to a nursing skills lab and a laboratory for anatomy and physiology.
Dr. Peter Philip Mercer became the College's fourth president on July 1, 2005. The College is governed by a Board of Trustees who are appointed by the Governor of the State. George C. Ruotolo, Jr. is the chairman of the board.
The school has an independent FM radio station, WRPR 90.3 FM, a free-form station featuring numerous genres and talk shows.
The Roukema Center for International Education is located in the Anisfield School of Business. Here, advisement is given for those students who want to study abroad. There are more than 50 countries in Ramapo's study abroad program, which includes a variety of faculty-led trips to China, Cuba, Ghana, India, Peru, and Portugal.
Residence life
Ramapo College offers a variety of housing options for students who choose to live on-campus:
Pine Hall:
Dorm Style: Designated for First-Year students; three 2-person bedrooms sharing a suite with a common living space and a large bathroom.
Linden Hall:
Dorm Style: Designated for First-Year students; two 2-person bedroom joined by a shared bathroom.
Mackin and Bischoff (formerly Maple and Oak, respectively):
Dorm Style: Two-person bedroom with a private bathroom. Mackin designated to First-Year students, Bischoff designated to transfer students.
The Overlook:
Dorm Style: Two 2-person bedrooms with a bathroom in each joined by a common area.
Laurel Hall:
Dorm Style: Four single-person bedrooms in sharing a suite with a common living space, a mini-kitchen with a large fridge, counters, a sink, and a shared bathroom.
College Park Apartments:
Apartment Style: Two 2-person bedrooms in an apartment-style living space, including a kitchen, a bathroom, and a common living space.
The Village:
Apartment Style: Four single-person bedrooms in an apartment-style living space, including a kitchen, a bathroom, and a common living space.
Housing at Ramapo College offers students convenient, modern amenities. Below are just a few of the attractions of Ramapo’s residences:
•Air conditioning
•Cable television (Channel Guide)
•Carpeted bedrooms
•Complimentary Laundry Facilities
•High-speed Internet
•Lounges
•Off-campus shuttle to local business, train station, and malls
•Smoke-free environment
•Sprinkler systems for fire protection
•Vending machines
•24-hour Public Safety
•Complimentary micro-fridge set (microwave connected to small refrigerator)
Athletics
Ramapo College currently has 8 men's teams and 12 women's teams, and participates in NCAA Division III sports. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country running, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. Women's athletic teams at Ramapo College consist of basketball, cheerleading, cross country running, dance, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. Ramapo also offers a club DIII hockey team.
The men's basketball team won the 2017 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) championship and advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs. However, Ramapo was eliminated after the second round of playoff competition.
The hockey team won the Metropolitan Collegiate Hockey Conference title for 2016- 2017 season.
Student supporters of Ramapo College's athletic teams are known as the Ramapo Rowdies.
Affiliations
- NCAA Division III, ECAC
- New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC)
- North East Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA)
- Skyline Conference
- Metro (NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship|NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship Division III)
Notable alumni
- Lauren H. Carson (born 1954), member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, representing the 75th District since 2015.
- Frank Eufemia (born 1959), former MLB relief pitcher who played with the Minnesota Twins.
- Tim Eustace (born 1956), one of New Jersey's first openly gay assemblymen, he has represented the state's 38th Legislative District since 2012.
- Grace Helbig (born 1985), comedian, actress, New York Times bestselling author and creator and host of the web series It's Grace.
- Ron Cephas Jones (born 1957), actor known for This is Us, Mr. Robot and Across The Universe.
- Don La Greca (born 1968), sportscaster who is the co-host of The Michael Kay Show on ESPN New York.
- Mark Leiter (born 1963), former MLB pitcher.
- Todd Lowber (born 1982), former NFL/CFL professional football player, who was on the 2007 New York Giants championship team
- Sergio Michel (born 1979), metal guitarist, songwriter and recording artist.
- Joshua Orwa Ojode (1958-2012), Kenyan politician and assistant interior minister.
- Laura-Ann Petitto (born c. 1954), cognitive neuroscientist and a developmental cognitive neuroscientist, known for her discoveries involving the language capacity of chimpanzees.
- Jeff Phillips (born 1968), fitness trainer and former actor best known for his work on Guiding Light, As the World Turns and the 1996 film Independence Day
- Mike Roche, actor.
- Kevin J. Rooney (born 1960), member of the New Jersey General Assembly representing the state's 40th Legislative District since 2016.
- Jay Seals (born 1976), actor, known for his recurring role in the television drama Mad MenC from 2010 to 2015.
- Brian Sella, lead singer of New Jersey indie band The Front Bottoms.
- Rich Skrosky (born 1964), football player and coach.
- Patrick Stickles (born 1985), singer, guitarist, and songwriter in the band Titus Andronicus
- Scott Laudati (born 1985), novelist, journalist, poet, author of three books.
Notable faculty
- Murray Bookchin (1921-2006), political theorist, pioneer in the ecology movement and former faculty member.
- Laura McCullough (born 1960), poet and former professor.
References
External links
- Official website
- Official athletics website