Two Newark City of Learning Collaborative partners enter agreement
Two founding members of the Newark City of Learning Collaborative (NCLC) joined forces earlier this week to facilitate the matriculation process of students seeking a master in counseling, with specialization in marriage, couple, and family counseling. The agreement between Newark’s Pillar College, a Christian-based institution of higher learning offering accredited degrees at the associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s levels, and Bloomfield College, a comprehensive, liberal arts institution located in Bloomfield, New Jersey, brings NCLC closer to reaching its goal. Based at the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies at Rutgers University– Newark, NCLC is a citywide post-secondary attainment initiative that seeks to increase the percentage of Newark residents who hold degrees, certificates, and other high quality credentials to 25% by the year 2025.
“The articulation agreement … is just the latest example of the ways in which both colleges are working to expand access to rich credentialing opportunities, for largely underserved students,” says Reginald Lewis, executive director of NCLC.
The collaborative arrangement allows Bloomfield students who have achieved a bachelor of arts with a major in one of the social or behavioral sciences to “fast-track” the admissions process if they have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). As part of the agreement, Pillar is offering the following incentives:
- streamlined application process – including waiver of transcript processing fees
- enhanced financial aid – for those who matriculate within 24 months of graduating from Bloomfield College
- waiver of certain prerequisites
According to Pillar College President Dr. David Schroeder, “We are excited to establish our first partnership with Bloomfield College, offering its qualified candidates the ability to obtain an MA in Counseling in two years, as well as the potential to obtain their Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credentials. We hope this is just the first of many collaborative arrangements between the two schools which share not only geographic proximity, but a highly motivated student body that’s representative of New Jersey’s diverse population.”
Requirements for acceptance include:
- a formal application
- admission essay
- two letters of recommendation (waiver of a third letter, traditionally required)
- minimum grade point average of 3.0
“This agreement marks an exciting day for Bloomfield College students, “says Rich Levao, president of Bloomfield College. “Through this signed agreement, we’re making the process of transitioning to graduate school practically seamless, and in the process supporting our students’ desire to reach the pinnacle of their desired professions, ensuring a promising future ahead.”
Dr. Tracy M. Duncan, chair of Pillar’s master in counseling program, adds, “Bloomfield’s student body has much in common with Pillar’s demographic, especially our mission to support and nurture first-generation college students. The signed agreement supports academic, professional, and personal development by removing many of the barriers that are typically part of the graduate admissions process.”
For more information about the cooperative arrangement, contact NCLC at nclc.info@newark.rutgers.edu or 973-353-1750.