College’s New President Details Agenda

COURT HOUSE – Dr. Barbara Gaba, Atlantic Cape Community College’s ninth president, and in office less than three weeks, addressed the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce luncheon meeting Feb. 16 at the local campus.  
Her address contained an outline of the agenda that would place the college in a position its founders envisioned, one where the county’s residents could be trained for better jobs and, by that, improve the future. “Just recently I was asked, what I am most excited about,” said Gaba. “I can tell you that I am excited about our vision to become the region’s preferred choice for higher education and workforce development.”
“As a sector, community colleges has been a driver for economic and workforce development in the regions where they are located,” she continued. “We are no different as workforce development is vital to the growth of our regional economy.”
The college, marking its 50th anniversary this year, has had a Cape May County presence for the last 11 years on the Court House-South Dennis Road.
Gaba said the local campus “Only solidified our commitment to Cape May County residents.”
Gaba then cited her “main focus,” strengthening collaborations with business and industry, non-profits, K-12 schools and other higher education institutions.
“Partnering with these entities we are in good position to strengthen Cape May County’s economy and provide education pathways for our students. These relationships will help to promote our brands and encourage a greater number of students to come to Atlantic Cape,” she said.
Then she highlighted the “career and technical education to all sectors in this region” that takes place under Career and Workforce Training.
Among initiatives Gaba cited:
* Foundation Online Directory
In the Cape May County Campus, the Mullock Family Library “will serve as a resource for the over 600 registered nonprofits in Cape May County to provide access to the ‘Foundation Directory Online Professional,'” she said.
That is a database created by a national organization that provides information on 140,000 foundations that serve the nation “that are not normally accessible.”
* Expanded Service to Coast Guard Personnel
While personnel stationed in Cape May can take courses in person or online, and because they are often there for only a brief time, “They can earn one of Atlantic Cape’s 14 associate degrees 100 percent online,” said Gaba.
Also to benefit Coast Guard personnel, through its partnership with Thomas Edison State University, “After service members or their families earn an Associate’s degree from Atlantic Cape, one can transfer up to 90 credits to Thomas Edison…This effort is completely portable, no matter where the member of their family may be living.”
* Veterans’ Lounge and Veterans’ Telehealth Access
In the spring, at the Cape May County Campus, this center will be open to veterans.
* Continued Collaboration with Local High Schools
Through the acquisition of grants and scholarships, the college offers a Math Bootcamp, college readiness programs that use the Morey Family Career Center. Gaba also cited credit courses at Middle Township, Lower Cape May Regional and Wildwood schools.
* Workforce Development
“We are increasing our healthcare certification programs,” she said. At present, a phlebotomy course is given locally.
“Expansion in the health area will include a Medical Assistant course that is slated to begin in April for hospital partners, Cape Regional and Shore Medical Center,” Gaba said.
There will be another Medical Assistant program offered in the fall.
* Non-Credit Workshops for Seniors
“We are making strides to create non-credit based workshops for our senior population in Cape May County,” said Gaba. She added that planning remains “in its infancy stages…however, we are in contact with the (county) Department of Aging and Director Donna Groome to move this along.”
* K-12 Initiatives
Gaba cited the college’s math and English development courses offered to Middle Township High School seniors to have them “fulfill their developmental requirements before graduating from high school. This way they can go directly into college-level courses,” she said.
There are dual credit agreements with all county high schools, Gaba said. “Currently, we have agreements with Ocean City, Lower Cape May Regional, Middle Township and Wildwood high schools.”
The Academy of Culinary Arts “will be delivering a credit course to a group of nine students from Wildwood High School in their kitchen after school two days a week,” said Gaba. That program is slated to start at the end of February.
Funding “has been provided by a generous funder,” said Gaba.
* Entrepreneur Institute
A program that began three years ago in partnership with the Ocean City Library and that city’s Chamber of Commerce will be housed at the Cape May County Campus. It will link with the County Chamber of Commerce and “other entities” to “get this off the ground in the fall.”
Gaba said a meeting would take place at the conclusion of the day’s meeting with Vicki Clark of the chamber.
* Drone-UAS Education
As the county develops its unmanned aerial systems (drone) base of operations at the Cape May County Airport, Gaba said the college would work closely with the county and emergency management.
Gaba concluded by saying, “I am a collaborator, and experience has shown me that some of the best ideas are done in groups. So we will be working closely with our partners in business and industry, K-12 and higher education to strengthen the programs and services we offer.
“We will be directing a sharper focus on the needs of Cape May County and the region with the goal of providing social and economic mobility for our students and contributing to the revitalization of the county and the region.”