General Information About the College

Raritan Valley Community College is a comprehensive two-year college that offers more than 90 associate degrees and certificates. Information about RVCC can be found by visiting its website at www.raritanval.edu.

The College’s distinguished faculty hold advanced degrees and have broad experience in their fields. Class size is small and students have easy access to excellent facilities, including the state-of-the-art Science Center and West Building, The Theatre, and The Conference Center.

The student population is approximately 8,400 each semester, which includes about 3,900 full-time students. In addition, approximately 5,000 students of all ages and backgrounds enroll in non-credit courses, customized training programs, and more.

Financial support from Hunterdon and Somerset counties, and from the State, enables the College to offer the highest quality education at a relatively low cost.

Close to 1,000 courses are offered each semester in day, evening and weekend sessions and online. Programs of study include career programs that are designed to prepare students for entry-level positions and transfer programs that prepare students for transfer to baccalaureate programs.

Comprehensive student support services, including tutoring, counseling, and transfer and career advisement, are available to all students.

A wide variety of non-credit courses, seminars, workshops and customized training for business and industry are also offered.

The Theatre at Raritan Valley Community College offers the best in dance, music, theatre, and children’s programming year-round.

Physical Facilities

The College’s main campus is located on a 240-acre site in Branchburg, Somerset County, New Jersey. In addition to classrooms and laboratories, the main campus houses a theatre, library, swimming pool, gymnasium, fitness center, planetarium, cafeteria, and an academic support center.

Visit the College, or call for more information at (908) 526-1200.

In support of its mission to make higher education as accessible as possible to the residents of the communities it serves, the College also offers selected courses and programs at a growing number of off-campus locations. Current additional locations include: RVCC @ Bridgewater, Bridgewater, NJ; and Hunterdon County Polytech Career Academy, Flemington, NJ.

Other instructional sites include: Bound Brook High School, Bound Brook, NJ; Bridgewater-Raritan High School, Bridgewater, NJ; Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School, Bridgewater, NJ; Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women, Clinton, NJ; ESC Hunterdon County, Lambertville, NJ; Franklin High School, Somerset, NJ; Hillsborough High School, Hillsborough, NJ; Hunterdon Central High School, Flemington, NJ; Manville High School, Manville, NJ; Montgomery Township High School, Skillman, NJ; North Hunterdon High School, Annandale, NJ; Somerset County Vocational and Technical High School, Bridgewater, NJ; South Hunterdon High School, Lambertville - Holland Township, NJ; Voorhees High School, Glen Gardner, NJ; Watchung Hills Regional High School, Warren, NJ.
 

History

Somerset County College was officially established on April 5, 1966 by the appointment of a nine-member Board of Trustees. The College opened its doors to 229 students on September 12, 1968 at its temporary home: Green Brook High School. In May of 1970, the first commencement was held for 75 graduates.

In July of 1968, the College found a permanent home with the purchase of a 240-acre site in North Branch. With the first phase of construction underway, the current Arts Building was the first structure and housed all College operations. In September 1973, students finally moved into new facilities that included the current Hunterdon Hall and Somerset Hall buildings. The second phase of construction was completed in 1975, adding to the complex a new College Center - including the dining hall, bookstore, counseling, Student Activities area - and a Physical Education building featuring a full gymnasium, fitness center and swimming pool. The campus continued to grow with the opening in 1985 of a new library and a 1,000-seat Theatre.

The College’s major redefining moment came when freeholders from Hunterdon and Somerset approved co-sponsorship of the College. The first bi-county college in the state, Somerset County College was officially renamed “Raritan Valley Community College” in July 1987.

With the merger and new name, the College continued to expand. March 1990 marked the official opening of the 100-seat Planetarium. As part of the College’s 25th anniversary celebration in 1993, the library was named to honor founding trustee Evelyn S. Field, and the Theatre was named for founding trustee Edward Nash.

In June 1993, a Child Care Center opened to serve the children of RVCC students, faculty, staff, and administrators. The Center for Advanced Teaching and Technology, which opened in 1994, brought multimedia resources into the classroom via fiber optics, enabling RVCC to become the first community college in the state to offer the new classroom technology. Four years later, the state-of-the-art Conference Center opened, serving as a conduit to bring the corporate and academic communities together.

Recent additions to the College complex include the Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies and the Paul Robeson Institute for Ethics, Leadership and Social Justice. In September 2002, the Christine Todd Whitman Science Center opened. The state-of-the-art facility houses the biology, biotechnology, chemistry, physics and engineering laboratories, as well as a lecture hall that provides interactive centers for teaching using technology. An Academic Support Center opened in September 2005, offering students centralized tutoring services for all academic areas. The West Building opened in Fall 2007. The 18-classroom building houses the Computer Science department. In a far-reaching effort to enhance workforce training programs for Somerset County residents while reducing administrative costs by sharing services, in July 2010 RVCC assumed administration of all post-secondary programs previously offered by the Somerset County Technology Institute (SCTI) in Bridgewater.

From its early days in Green Brook High School to today, Raritan Valley Community College is constantly expanding and improving to meet the changing educational needs of Somerset and Hunterdon county residents.

Accreditation 

Raritan Valley Community College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, (267) 284-5000. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The following College programs are accredited: Nursing - National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC); Ophthalmic Science - Commission on Opticianry Accreditation; Allied Health - Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education; and Health Information Technology - CAHIIM, the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education. The Paralegal Studies Program is approved by the American Bar Association. Raritan Valley Community College is licensed to operate and to award associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates by the New Jersey Commission of Higher Education. The Medical Assistant Certificate program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).

All accreditation documents are available for review during regular business hours.

Memberships

Raritan Valley Community College is a member of:

• The American Council on Education
• The Association of Governing Boards
• American Association of Community Colleges
• The New Jersey Association of Colleges & Universities
• The Association for Continuing Higher Education
• The National League of Nursing
• National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD)
• Alliance Members of League of Innovation
• New Jersey Virtual Community College Consortium
• American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges
• National Association of Developmental Education (NADE)
• College Consortium for International Studies
• National Collegiate Honors Council
• Campus Compact

Academic Freedom

Raritan Valley Community College has endorsed the statement on Academic Freedom adopted by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). This statement is as follows:

Teachers are entitled to full freedom in research and in the publication of the results, subject to the adequate performance of their other academic duties; but research for pecuniary return should be based upon an understanding with the authorities of the institution.

Teachers are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing their subject, but they should be careful not to introduce into their teaching controversial matter which has no relation to their subject. Limitations of academic freedom because of religious or other aims of the institution should be clearly stated in writing at the time of the appointment.

College and university teachers are citizens, members of a learned profession, and officers of an educational institution. When they speak or write as citizens, they should be free from institutional censorship or discipline, but their special position in the community imposes special obligations. As scholars and educational officers, they should remember that the public may judge their profession and their institution by their utterances. Hence they should at all times be accurate, should exercise appropriate restraint, should show respect for the opinions of others, and should make every effort to indicate that they are not speaking for the institution.

The College also supports the position of AAUP that “students should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion, but they are responsible for learning the content of any course of study for which they are enrolled.”

The College also supports the appearance of guest speakers at events approved and/or sponsored by the College to support its mission, its academic programs, or the educational interests of its faculty and students. When guest speakers are invited to make presentations at such events, it should be made clear that the College’s hosting and/or sponsorship of the event does not imply that the College approves or endorses the views expressed by the speaker.

Copyright Compliance

Raritan Valley Community College requires that all members of the College community respect intellectual property rights, adhere to the provisions of all Federal Copyright Laws, and secure appropriate permission for the reproduction of any copyrighted materials. The College expects faculty members to be aware of the limitations of the “fair use” doctrine, which allows limited use of copyrighted materials, for educational purposes, without specific authorization.

The College Library is responsible for securing appropriate authorization for the reproduction and use of copyrighted materials by any member of the College community. The Library Director is the College’s designated officer for copyright compliance.

Use of copyrighted materials in distance learning environments and online course management systems must adhere to guidelines established by the Technology, Education, and Copyright Harmonization (TEACH) Act of 2002.
 

Public Integrity

Raritan Valley Community College is committed to the highest standards of integrity in the conduct of its programs and activities and in the representation of those programs and activities to the public and to the constituencies it serves. This commitment to institutional integrity extends, but is not limited to, the following specific areas of activity:

• The College does not provide incentive compensation, prohibited by law, to any of its employees or to any other individuals or organizations for the purpose of securing student enrollment (recruitment) or for securing financial aid for potential students.
• The College will not intentionally misrepresent to the public or to the constituencies it serves its educational programs, financial charges, or the potential employability of its graduates. 

Affirmative Action and Compliance

Raritan Valley Community College is firmly committed to a policy of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action and will implement the policy to assure that the benefits, services, activities and programs offered are available to all persons regardless of race, creed, color, disability, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, and in accordance with the state and federal laws: Title IX, Title VII, Civil Rights Act of 1964; Executive Order 11246; Section 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); and Veteran’s Assistance Act of 1972.

The following person has been designated to handle complaints and inquiries regarding anti-discrimination and harassment policies:
Nancy Moore, Vice President of Human Resources and Labor Relations
Somerset 220, telephone: (908) 526-1200, extension 8345

Students may discuss concerns with an advisor or counselor in College Center 163 or with Diane Lemcoe, Dean of Students, College Center 143, (908) 526-1200, extension 8976.

Bullying and Intimidation 

Harassment, intimidation, or bullying in gesture; or any written, verbal or electronic communication that is motivated by actual or perceived characteristics such as race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct and may be a violation of Title Vii of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and/or Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments. Students should report complaints to the Dean of Students in C143 to discuss violations. All complaints of discrimination should be directed to Nancy Moore, VP for Human Resources and Labor Relations, in S220.

Sexual Harassment and Discrimination

It is the policy of RVCC to provide an environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Students are encouraged to report any incidents of discrimination, harassment, sexual violence, and bullying which cause physical or emotional harm; or create a hostile environment which interferes with your education or your rights as a student. This includes any gesture, any written, verbal or physical act, or electronic communication, whether it be a single incident or a series of incidents, which you perceive as motivated by race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory disability which substantially disrupts or interferes with the operation of the college or the rights of a student. If you believe you are being harassed, report the situation immediately. If immediate attention is needed, always contact Campus Security by picking up a red phone in the halls or calling (908) 231-8800.

Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 specifically prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education, programs, and activities. Discrimination under Title IX includes sexual harassment or sexual violence, such as rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, and sexual coercion.  Confidentiality will always be maintained insofar as it does not interfere with the College’s legal obligation to investigate allegations of misconduct when brought to the college’s attention, and the ability of the college to take corrective action consistent with rights of due process.

All inquiries and complaints should be addressed to Nancy Moore, VP for Human Resources and Labor Relations, (908) 526-1200, extension 8345. Personal counselors are available for assistance in the Advising and Counseling Office, College Center 163.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Raritan Valley Community College fully complies with the regulations and stipulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. No student or employee may be discriminated against based upon a disability. Students who require special accommodations should contact the Coordinator of Disability Services at (908) 526-1200, extension 8418. For additional information, check the RVCC website at www.raritanval.edu. Choose QuickLinks: Disability Services.

Distance Learning

RVCC offers 125 online and hybrid courses, including almost 50 general education courses. Hybrid courses, where class time is divided between traditional classroom or lab activities and online instruction, combine the convenience of online courses with the personal attention of classroom interaction.

RVCC offers the following degree programs entirely online:

• A.A. in Liberal Arts
• A.S. in Business Administration
• A.A.S. in Health Information Technology
• Certificate in CPA Education Requirement
• Certificate in Health Information Technology-Medical Coding
• Certificate of Completion in Electronic Healthcare Records

In addition, at least 85 percent of the courses are offered online for the following degree programs:

• A.A. in Business Liberal Arts
• A.A. in Criminal Justice
• A.A. in English
• A.A. in Liberal Arts-Communication Studies
• A.A. in Liberal Arts-Social Science Option
• A.S. in Mathematics
• A.S. in Management Information Systems
• A.A.S. in Accounting
• A.A.S. in Business Management
• A.A.S. in Marketing
• Certificate in Corrections
• Certificate of Completion in Homeland Security & Emergency Management

Academic Departments

RVCC offers the following nine Academic Departments:

Business & Public Service
Third Floor, Hunterdon Hall
Pattiann Kletz, Chair
(908) 526-1200, extension 8878

Communication & Languages
Second Floor, Somerset Hall
Kevin Hinkle, Chair
(908) 526-1200, extension 6698

Computer Science
West Building
Tom Edmunds, Chair
(908) 526-1200, extension 8969

English
Third Floor, Somerset Hall
Karen Gaffney, Chair
(908) 526-1200, extension 8816

Health Science Education
Second Floor, Hunterdon Hall
Patrice Case, Chair
(908) 526-1200, extension 8877

Humanities, Social Science & Education
Third Floor, Somerset Hall
Karen Gutshall, Chair
(908) 526-1200, extension 8816

Mathematics
Second Floor, Somerset Hall
Rosemarie Gorini, Chair
(908) 526-1200, extension 8546

Science & Engineering
Whitman Science Center
Margaret Czerw, Chair
(908) 526-1200, extension 8817

Visual and Performing Arts
Arts Building
Ann Tsubota, Chair
(908) 526-1200, extension 8876