Morristown, county college announce new partnership to help students make leap to college

The County College of Morris Expands College Readiness Program at Morristown High School

MORRISTOWN — The County College of Morris has officially expanded its program promoting college readiness and community engagement to Morristown High School, offering low-income students an affordable education and preparing them for the professional world.

Introduction

Town, county, and state officials joined administrators at the high school Tuesday for the launch of the Morristown College Promise program. The initiative officially began three weeks ago, with two groups of 15 students each meeting once a week for workshops, tutoring, projects, and other lessons to benefit the community.

The College Promise Program

The College Promise is run by CCM in conjunction with the Morris School District and other local organizations. It is specifically designed for first-generation, income-qualified high school students.

Partnership and Collaboration

“This program is a true testament to the wonderful things that can come from true collaboration – between CCM, Morris County schools, private foundations, government at all levels, and the local community,” said Julian Gomez, executive director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the college and leader of the program.

Expansion and Impact

The first Promise Program launched in Dover in the fall of 2020 and featured 19 students who graduated last spring. Morristown is the second district to partner with the college in Randolph, and other schools have already reached out to get involved, officials said.

Importance of the Program

Those who spoke Tuesday noted the importance of the program’s expansion, at a time when college costs are rising along with the need for skilled workers in a variety of fields. More than 35% of students in the Morris School District are first-generation Americans, according to Superintendent Anne Mucci, and many face barriers because their parents are unfamiliar with the country’s education system.

Community Support and Commitment

“(The) Morristown College partnership takes direct aim at this problem,” Mucci said. “Together, we will reach out to these students and their families during the crucial secondary school years with practical support to help them make that leap to college.”

Other Community Programs

The partnership is the second major community program announced by CCM in recent days. The college broke ground last week on a 46,000-square-foot career training center for 500 students in the Morris County Vocational School District. Commissioner Director John Krickus also highlighted the 2021 opening of the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Center on the Randolph campus, as well as an upcoming expansion of the Entrepreneurship and Culinary Science Center.

Commitment to Students

CCM President Tony Iacono acknowledged the numerous partnerships and hard work necessary to launch initiatives like the Morristown College Promise. With the community’s support in place, he said he and other stakeholders remain committed to improving the lives of their students.

“Know that we will never stop punching for them,” Iacono said. “We’ll keep on working, and then one day, they will pay it forward. They will be the next generation to say, ‘I want to invest in others.'”

Kyle Morel is a local reporter covering Morris and Sussex counties.

Email: kmorel@njherald.com; Twitter: @KMorelNJH

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 4: Quality Education
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 4.3: By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university.
• SDG 8.6: By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training.
• SDG 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
• SDG 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of low-income students enrolled in the Morristown College Promise program at Morristown High School.
• Number of workshops, tutoring sessions, projects, and other lessons provided to students in the Morristown College Promise program.
• Percentage of first-generation, income-qualified high school students who successfully complete the Morristown College Promise program and enroll in college.
• Number of partnerships between County College of Morris, Morris School District, local organizations, and government entities.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: dailyrecord.com

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