Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County Celebrates the 250th Anniversary of Rutgers University November 2016

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County joins the Rutgers University family in celebrating the 250th anniversary of Rutgers University on Nov. 10, 2016. Founded 10 years before the American Revolution in 1766, Rutgers is the eighth oldest institution of higher learning in the United States —one of only nine colonial colleges established before the American Revolution.
Rutgers has grown from a private colonial college to one of the largest, most diverse universities in America. Today, Rutgers is a leading national public research university that has more than 67,000 students and 22,000 faculty and staff who learn, work and serve the public at Rutgers locations across New Jersey and around the world.
Some interesting facts to know about Rutgers University:
• On Nov. 10, 1766, the Royal Governor of New Jersey granted a Charter for Queen’s College to educate young men for the ministry…making it the eighth of nine colonial colleges.
• In 1825, the college was renamed to honor trustee Colonel Henry Rutgers, A Revolutionary War Veteran.
• In 1864, Rutgers prevails over Princeton University to become New Jersey’s Land-grant Institution.
• In 1869, Rutgers is the birthplace of college football.
• In 1945 and 1956 legislative acts designate Rutgers as the State University of New Jersey.
• Rutgers is the only university in the United States that is a colonial college, a land grant institution, and a public research university.
• At 250 years old Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, stands as a public research University with three higher education institutions and an academic health care division.
Rutgers Cooperative Extension is an arm of Rutgers University in counties throughout the state. The signing of the Smith-Lever Act of 1914, officially created the national Cooperative Extension System to aid in diffusing among the people of the United States useful and practical information on subjects relating to agriculture and home economics and to encourage the application of the same.
Rutgers hired George B. Thrasher as the first Cape May County Agent in 1915. This made Cape May County the sixth county in New Jersey to offer extension services to county residents.
Today in Cape May County, Rutgers Cooperative Extension is committed to helping both youth and adults improve their knowledge and skills, enhance their quality of life and resolve problems in areas of food, nutrition, health and wellness; food safety; agriculture; environmental and natural resource management; and youth development.
This is accomplished through the use of science-based knowledge and university research. We provide informal, noncredit education conducted beyond the formal classroom and for all ages.
Located at 355 Court House-South Dennis Rd., Cape May Court House at the entrance to Atlantic Cape Community College, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County consists of three program areas: Family & Community Health Sciences, 4-H Youth Development and Agriculture and Resource Management.
For more information about programs and services offered at Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County, please call (609) 465-5115.