Atlantic Cape Opens $10.9 Million Student Center at Mays Landing Campus

MAYS LANDING – Atlantic Cape Community College held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 28 to formally dedicate the new Student Center building at the college’s Mays Landing Campus.
Atlantic Cape is a leader in focusing on student success and retention efforts, and this $10.9 million Student Center at the Mays Landing Campus will support the college’s growing Student Success Initiatives.
The event featured remarks from Dr. Barbara Gaba, Atlantic Cape president; Jean McAlister, dean, Resources Development, President/Board of Trustee Operations; Nicholas Cashan III, Atlantic Cape Community College Foundation board president; Lidangela Guzman-Palacios, Student Government Association president; Caren Fitzpatrick, Atlantic County Freeholder-at-Large; Assemblyman Vincent Mazzeo, Assemblyman John Armato; and Jeffery Pierson, Cape May County Freeholder.
Dr. Barbara Gaba said, “From the beginning of the project, it was envisioned that there would be a beautiful place where students can learn collaboratively, relax, have fun, meet and engage with fellow students and faculty. We now have a place where student government can finally call home and the radio station has a large enough space to hold more than three people at a time. Our growing honors program now has a home on the second floor.”
Caren Fitzpatrick, Atlantic County Freeholder-at-Large, remarked, “Both myself and my children are graduates of Atlantic Cape I’m very proud to say. I want to empathize the purpose of community college. In my opinion, it serves a diversity of students and not in the usual way we think of diversity, ethnicity, and being gender orientation, but in learning styles- not everyone is cut out to go from high school to college and get their four-year degree. There are many different learning styles– adult learners, people who need to take time off, people who want to work while they learn, and community college fills that need in a very special way.”
The 22,000-square-foot, two-story facility, designed by Spiezle Architectural Group, was awarded to Arthur J. Ogren, Inc. for construction and funded through GO Bonds and Chapter 12 funds. The building houses student activities on the first floor and the Student Success and Career Planning Center on the second floor. The Center will offer guidance and resources to assist students in making informed decisions about career choices, including career counseling and access to computers for job searches, and support other success initiatives. The facility will increase the college’s capacity to provide accelerated learning classes, career and personal counseling, and academic advising. It will also provide space for student seminars, career planning and student engagement.