NJ Community College Opportunity Summit

June 11-13 2024

NJ Community College Opportunity Summit

Thank you to our sponsors!

Agenda OfficialProgram

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NJ Community College
Opportunity Summit

June 11-13, 2024 in Atlantic City, New Jersey

Agenda

OfficialProgram

New Jersey’s 18 Community Colleges play a vital role in addressing the economic, social, technological, demographic, and climate changes facing our state. Each year, more than 230,000 New Jerseyans of all ages and backgrounds turn to their local Community Colleges. Helping a diverse array of students achieve academic, economic, and social mobility is the central mission of our institutions. New Jersey’s Community Colleges also play an increasingly critical role in addressing workforce needs. Our graduates power the state’s key industries, including health care, technology, infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, and supply chain management.

Summit Highlights

June 11:

New Jersey’s Opportunity Agenda: Building Pathways to Equity and Economic Prosperity
New Jersey Community Colleges Awards Program & Dinner

June 12:

New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Summit: Expanding Innovative Education and Workforce Partnerships

June 13:

Holistic Student Supports Convening
Promising Practices: Community College Innovations to Support Equity and Economic Prosperity

Join the New Jersey Council of County Colleges and New Jersey’s 18 Community Colleges for a 3-day Summit focused on our new Opportunity Agenda, grounded in equity, collaboration, opportunity, and innovation.

The Summit is both for Community College faculty, staff, and leaders AND our partners from high schools, colleges and universities, employers, unions, community-based organizations, the public workforce system, state and local government, and others with a commitment to the shared goals of equity and economic prosperity.

WHO ATTENDS | This is your opportunity to join together to help create a more prosperous and equitable New Jersey:

Community College Presidents & Trustees
Executive College Staff
Faculty
Business & Labor Union Leaders

Government Officials
Education, Community, & Workforce Leaders
Philanthropic Leaders

Meet Our Summit Speakers

National and state thought leaders will share their perspectives on key issues facing higher education, including GenAI; noncredit-to-credit pathways; credit for prior learning; basic needs supports, general education; dual enrollment; transfer; student academic, career, and workforce partnerships. New Jersey’s Community Colleges will share promising practices designed to transform our state’s education and training sectors to support our students and our economy.

NJCCC Leadership

Aaron R. Fichtner, Ph.D.

President

View Bio

Catherine Starghill, Esq

Vice President

View Bio

Maria Heidkamp

Chief Innovation and Policy Officer

View Bio

Full Summit Speaker Line-Up

Agenda

June 11, 2024

New Jersey’s Opportunity Agenda: Building Pathways to Equity and Economic Prosperity

Quarterly Council Meeting (11:00am)

Lunch (12:00pm)

Welcome/Themes for the NJCCO Summit: The Four Pillars of the Opportunity Agenda

Dr. Aaron Fichtner, President, New Jersey Council of County Colleges
Dr. Michael Gorman, President, Salem Community College and Chair of NJ Community College Presidents
Dr. Sheetal Ranjan, Chair of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges and Trustee of Bergen Community College

Greetings from the Murphy Administration

Robert Asaro-Angelo, New Jersey Commissioner of Labor, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development

Amid AI Revolution, Opportunities for Community College Innovation

Dave Cole, Chief Innovation Officer, The State of New Jersey

Developing Community College AI Programs: Lessons from an AI Pioneer on Equity, Academics, Industry Partnerships, and Degrees

Dr. Madeline Burillo-Hopkins, Vice Chancellor Workforce Instruction/President Southwest College | Houston Community College

Opportunity Agenda | Building Pathways to Equity and Economic Prosperity: Partner Insights on the Four Pillars

Dr. Carin Berkowitz, Executive Director, NJ Council for the Humanities
Kiran Handa Gaudioso, Chief Executive Officer, United Way of Northern New Jersey 
Dr. Laura A. Sullivan, Director, Economic Justice Program
Althea D. Ford, Vice President, Government Affairs, New Jersey Business and Industry Association
Daniela Carolina Velez, Entrepreneur Program Coordinator, Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of NJ
(Moderator) Maria Heidkamp, Chief Innovation and Policy Officer, New Jersey Council of County Colleges

Networking & Visits with Summit Sponsors

Opportunity Agenda | Pillar 2: Fostering Student Success and Completion in Postsecondary Education and Training

Dr. Constance Barnes, Director, CUNY ASAP|ACE National Replication Collaborative, The City University of New York, Office of Academic Affairs
Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin, President, UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ
Dr. Christopher M. Reber, President, Hudson County Community College
Dr. Jessica Rowland Williams, Senior Director of Client Service Delivery, National Institute for Student Success at Georgia State University
(Moderator) Maria Heidkamp, Chief Innovation and Policy Officer, New Jersey Council of County Colleges

Break (5:00pm)

Awards Dinner (6:15pm)

Bonus Session (8:00am on Wednesday, June 12 (Open to All) – Reckoning with Relevance: 2023 State of the Sector

Dr. Tara Zirkel, Director, Strategic Research, EAB

June 12, 2024

Breakfast Buffet (7:45am)

Introductions and Opening Remarks (9:00am)

Catherine Starghill, Esq., Vice President, New Jersey Council of County Colleges and Executive Director, New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce & Economic Development
Christopher Emigholz, Chief Government Affairs Officer, New Jersey Business and Industry Association
Dr. Brian Bridges, Secretary of Higher Education, New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education

The Success of the New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities

Dr. Michael McDonough, President, Raritan Valley Community College
Catherine Starghill, Esq., Vice President, New Jersey Council of County Colleges and Executive Director, New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce & Economic Development

Pathways: Equity and Access to High Quality Industry Credentials and Associate Degrees

Chauncy Lennon, Vice President for Learning and Work and Senior Strategy Advisor, Lumina Foundation

Break

Credential Transparency for Competencies and Skills: The Benefits to Students, Jobseekers, and Employers

Scott Cheney, CEO, Credential Engine
Ken Sauer, Senior Associate Commissioner and Chief Academic Officer, Indiana Commission for Higher Education
(Moderator) Catherine Starghill, Esq., Vice President, New Jersey Council of County Colleges and Executive Director, New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce & Economic Development

Networking Break

Lunch (12:00pm)

Education Pathways and The Future of Work

Charlotte Cahill, Associate Vice President, Education, Jobs for the Future

Industry and Pathways: The Intersection of Education and Workforce Development

Amanda Winters, Program Director, Post-Secondary Education, National Governors Association
Keith Witham, Vice President of Education Philanthropy, Ascendium Education
(Moderator) Paul Fain, Journalist, Work Shift and The Job, and The Cusp Podcast (former Reporter/Editor, Inside Higher Ed)

Break

New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities: The Centers of Workforce Innovation

Raritan Valley Community College – Aseptic Processing and Biomanufacturing
Brookdale Community College – Film and Television Production
Camden County College – eSports Production Content Creation Hub
County College of Morris – Robotics and Automation

Break

New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities: The Path Forward

Catherine Starghill, Esq., Vice President, New Jersey Council of County Colleges and Executive Director, New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce & Economic Development

After Summit Break (5:00pm)

Pathways Reception (5:30pm)

June 13, 2024

Affinity Group Breakfasts (8:00am)

Additional details to follow

Track 1: Holistic Student Supports (9:15am)

Welcoming Remarks

Mark Dinglasan, New Jersey Food Security Advocate
Dr. Medha Havnurkar, Director of Workforce Development, NJ Department of Health

Holistic Student Supports Morning Plenary

Community to Opportunity: Strengthening Community to Build Opportunity (The Tepper Foundation, Benefits Data Trust, Camden County College, Essex County College, Hudson County Community College, Sussex County Community College)

Track 2: Promising Practices (9:15am)

Promising Practices – Concurrent Sessions

Enhancing Institutional Access and Inclusivity through the Lens of an Online Learner (County College of Morris, Rowan College of South Jersey)
Gateway to Innovation: Transforming the Local Workforce Ecosystem (Hudson County Community College)
Driving Strategic Priorities with Flexible Work Arrangements (Hudson County Community College, Middlesex College)

Track 1: Holistic Student Supports (10:45am)

Holistic Student Supports – Concurrent Sessions

The Caroline Huber Holistic Wellness Center (Brookdale Community College)
Strategic Initiatives That Strengthen Graduation: Removing Barriers to Student Degree Conferral and How Data and Analytics Moved the Needle in Meeting Student Success Goals (Atlantic Cape Community College, UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ)
Revolutionizing Advising for Student Success (Hudson County Community College)

Track 2: Promising Practices (10:45am)

Promising Practices – Concurrent Sessions

AI in Teaching (UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ)
Filling a Direct Support Professional (DSP) Workforce Need by Working in Collaboration with Various NJ Partners (Bergen Community College, Rowan College of South Jersey)
Enhancing Grant Compliance: Integrating Grants Office into Finance and Procurement (Middlesex College)

Lunch (12:00pm)

Plenary: Serving New Jersey’s Justice-Impacted Individuals (12:00pm)

The Honorable James McGreevey, Executive Director, NJ Reentry Corporation
Honorable Judge (Ret.) Mark Sandson, J.S.C., Judiciary Opportunities for Success, JOBS Program
Lori Margolin, Associate Vice President, School of Continuing Education and Workforce Development, Hudson County Community College
Dr. Alexandra Fields, Academic Director, Center for Justice-Impacted Students, Middlesex College
Genevieve Van Doren, Director of Returning & Incarcerated Student Education (RISE) Program, Raritan Valley Community College
(Moderator) Dr. David Stout, President, Brookdale Community College
(Closing Remarks) Dr. Aaron Fichtner, President, New Jersey Council of County Colleges

Track 1: Holistic Student Supports (1:45pm)

Holistic Student Supports – Concurrent Sessions

Partnerships to Meet Community College Students’ Basic Needs (Bergen Community College, Hunger Free New Jersey)
Integrated Approach to Retention (Ocean County College)
Pipeline Programs That Empower Student Success: A College Promise Program, College for a Day, and Enabling Youth Pre-College Access(County College of Morris, Rowan College at Burlington County, Middlesex College)

Track 2: Promising Practices (1:45pm)

Promising Practices – Concurrent Sessions

Social Justice Education: A Pathway for Inclusion (Hudson County Community College)
Best Practices in Strategic Course Scheduling for Student Success (Bergen Community College, Ad Astra)

Track 1: Holistic Student Supports (2:45pm)

Holistic Student Supports Closing Plenary

Emerging Resources to Support Students: SNAP Employment & Training (E&T)

Linda L. Rhoads, M.S., Project Associate, Center for Policy and Practice, Association of Community College Trustees

Track 2: Promising Practices (2:45pm)

Promising Practices Closing Plenary

Supporting Adult Learners

Dr. Vanessa O’Brien-McMasters, Vice President, Institutional Effectiveness and Chief Strategy Officer, Atlantic Cape Community College
Dr. Lisa Dougherty, Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment, Hudson County Community College
Jasmine Jilus, Director of Career Services, Union College of Union County
Lauren Collier, Senior Consultant, VantagePoint
(Moderator) Maria Heidkamp, Chief Innovation and Policy Officer, Ne Jersey Council of County Colleges,
(Moderator) Dr. Linda Scherr, Chief Academic Officer, New Jersey Council of County Colleges

Conference Concludes

The New Jersey Community College Opportunity Summit will Focus on How We Can Work Together to:

Ensure All High School Students Access Pathways to Postsecondary and Career Success;
Foster Student Success and Completion;
Build Stackable Pathways that Respond to the Changing Economy, and;
Help More Adults Earn Credentials of Value

Featured Full Day Sessions

The NJ Pathways to Career Opportunities Summit on June 12 will highlight innovative partnerships and pathways strategies that are aligning education to build an innovative workforce through the NJ Pathways to Career Opportunities statewide initiative which is led by industry, fosters collaboration across education sectors and providers, and helps residents achieve family-supporting careers.

The Holistic Student Support Convening on June 13 will showcase strategies, partnerships, and promising practices that promote meeting students’ basic needs.

Meet National and State Experts

Become a Summit Sponsor

Interested in sponsoring the New Jersey Community College Opportunity Summit? To learn about sponsorship opportunities, contact Jessica Britt at jbritt@njccc.org.

Join Us in Building a More Equitable and Prosperous New Jersey!

Learn More

New Jersey Community College Awards & Dinner

June 11, 2024

The New Jersey Community College Awards & Dinner, organized by the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, recognizes excellence and achievement in the state’s 18 Community Colleges and honors individuals and organizations whose vision and leadership have been integral to the efforts of the Community Colleges to build an equitable and prosperous New Jersey.

Learn More

Event Registration

Please use our official Eventbrite registration page to register yourself and any other individuals you are planning on registering. You will be able to add multiple attendees during one session.

Event Details

In Person
June 11-13, 2024
$320.00

Bally’s Atlantic City Hotel & Casino
1900 Pacific Ave
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
njcommcolleges@njccc.org

Accommodations at Bally’s Atlantic City Hotel & Casino

Our hotel room block is now closed.

To reserve a room for the conference, you will need to book your hotel room directly through Bally’s website with this link. If you choose to stay with the group, you may book a room in the Bally’s Tower.

You can also inquire about a reservation by calling 609-340-2000.

Reservations for rooms accessible to guests with disabilities may be made in the same manner.

Directions & Parking

Contact Bally’s: 609-340-2000
1900 Pacific Ave.
Atlantic City, New Jersey, 08401
Google Map Directions

The Summit will be located on the sixth floor of the hotel in the Rotunda, the program will begin in the Traymore Ballrooms (Map).

Bally’s offers a self-park garage for all attendees. The cost to park is $10 (pick up your voucher at the registration desk).

FAQ

Accommodations:

Where do I register for a room?

Click here.

Registration for the One-Day NJ Pathways Summit:

I can’t commit to the full 3-day conference, but want to attend the 1-day NJ Pathways Summit. Is this possible, and where do I register?

Yes, there will be a separate registration process for the 1-day NJ Pathways Summit on Tuesday, June 12, 2023. To register for the 1-day NJ Pathways Summit click here.

*PLEASE NOTE: The NJ Pathways Summit is a part of a larger three-day New Jersey Community College Opportunity Summit (NJCCO Summit), taking place at Bally’s from June 11-13, 2024. If you’re registering for the NJCCO Summit, you don’t need to register for the NJ Pathways Summit; which is included on Day 2. Please only use the for the NJCCO Summit registration page to register for the full three-day Summit.

Directions and Parking:

Where do attendees park?

Click here.

Cancellation/Refunds:

We understand that circumstances may change, and we strive to accommodate attendees to the best of our ability. Please review our refund policy outlined below.

For tickets that were paid through Eventbrite, a refund of the full registration fee will be given for cancellations made by May 12, 2024. To cancel your registration and request a refund, log into Eventbrite, go to tickets, find your order you want refunded, then select “Request a Refund”.

For tickets that were paid through individual or group reservation by your Community College, please submit your cancellation request in writing by May 12, 2024 to njcommunitycolleges@njccc.org.

The following applies for all attendees: badge sharing, splitting and reprints are strictly prohibited.

NJCCC regrets that refunds will not be given for no-shows. NJCCC is not responsible for any change/cancellation charges assessed by airlines, travel agents, hotels or other vendors.

Payment:

Payment in full is required at the time of registration, with the exception of New Jersey’s Community College attendees. If this applies to you, please reach out to your president’s office prior to registering for further instructions.

Confirmation:

You will receive an email confirmation of your registration from Eventbrite (please add noreply@event.eventbrite.com to your safe senders list). If you have not received a confirmation within 10 business days after registering, please contact njcommunitycolleges@njccc.org.

Consent Clause:

Registration, attendance at and participation in NJCCC events constitutes an agreement by the registrant to the use and distribution (both now and in the future) of the registrant or attendee’s image or voice in photographs, videotapes, electronic reproductions and audiotapes of such events and activities by NJCCC and other third parties, including but not limited to the venue. Registration for this event may include technology that monitors your activities throughout the conference, such as session attendance and booths visited.

Dietary Restrictions:

Please include your dietary restrictions in the registration order form.

Become a Sponsor:

Interested in sponsoring the New Jersey Community College Opportunity Summit? To learn about sponsorship opportunities, contact Jessica Britt at jbritt@njccc.org.