Elizebeth Education
UNION COUNTY COLLEGE
The oldest community college in New Jersey, Union County College, operates one of the largest of its four campuses in Midtown Elizabeth. Union County College is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and enrolls approximately 5,300 full-time and 5,800 part-time students at all four of its campuses. Many programs lead to the Associate in Arts and the Associate in Science degrees. Students who satisfactorily complete these two-year programs may transfer to four-year institutions for their junior and senior years.
Union County College is moving forward with a new, $37.5 million building in Midtown Elizabeth to accommodate the growing demand at Union County College. The new building would include approximately 132,000 square feet of new space and be located just a short distance from its existing facility on West Jersey Street.
Union County College confers the Associate in Science degree upon graduates of the Trinitas School of Nursing in Elizabeth. The Elizabeth campus also houses the Institute for Intensive English, providing English instruction for speakers of other languages.
The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders has established the Freeholder Scholars Program for Union County students who have attained a record of academic success in high school. The scholarship will cover two free years of college in pursuit of an associate’s degree. Distance learning opportunities, such as courses by videotape, are increasing with each semester.
The College’s Industry Business initiative can design educational training programs for any company or organization. Union County College offers a wide range of activities, including the honor society Phi Theta Kappa, a five-star chapter, an award-winning student newspaper, and various athletic programs. The Career Institute conducts occupational training and adult academic education programs for students. The Division of Continuing Education and Community Services provides professional development and personal enrichment opportunities for individuals who live or work in Union County.
KEAN UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1855, Kean University has grown to become one of New Jersey’s largest institutions of higher learning. More than 13,000 students attend the sprawling University that occupies a total of 150 acres in Union, Hillside, and Elizabeth. The campus is quiet, green and spacious, and traffic is restricted to the perimeter. The University offers 75 academic degree programs (28 graduate and 48 undergraduate) that students may pursue on a full- or part-time basis in its five Colleges: The College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; the College of Education; the College of Business and Public Administration; the College of Natural, Applied and Health Sciences; and the Nathan Weiss Graduate College. Kean’s students and faculty represent 88 different nations with 100 languages spoken on campus.
The University is a virtual self-contained community for its students with more than 130 student-run clubs and organizations, including 30 fraternities and sororities, Division III Varsity sports, ROTC, and a student-run newspaper, TV station and FM radio station. The University offers distance-learning courses, including Internet and ITV (interactive television) courses, and an External Education program to help those whose family or work responsibilities make it difficult to attend regular classes. Students can study abroad in 20 different countries. Kean offers Travelearn, which gives students the opportunity to combine pre-travel readings and extensive fieldwork not often available to tourists. The Kean Washington Program provides students with learning experiences and internships in various governmental areas in Washington, D.C.
The Nancy Thompson Library provides more than 275,000 volumes, and more than 27,000 periodicals. The library also houses the Holocaust Resource Center, which collects and disseminates information about the Holocaust. A Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides counseling and training to business owners and prospective entrepreneurs. It offers resources available through the U.S. Small Business Administration, the state of New Jersey, as well as county and municipal agencies.
ELIZABETH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
There are more than 20,000 students in 28 public schools and two early childhood centers, making the Elizabeth Schools system among the largest in the state, with a professional and support staff numbering just about 3,000. The children in attendance represent more than 50 countries and 37 language groups.
The system’s Pre-K, elementary and middle schools are located in the city’s neighborhoods. There is one central high school, the largest in the state, located in the City’s Midtown district. A variety of educational offerings are available in the public schools, including honors and advanced programs, bilingual and English as a Second Language programs, a Gifted and Talented track, and special education programs.
Educational programs initiated under Mayor Bollwage’s administration include the LEAP (Linking Educational After School Programs) and SOAR programs (Special Opportunity for Achievement and Reawakening), which provide after-school programs and activities centering on building leadership skills and health education, including workshops for children about alcohol, tobacco control, drug and violence prevention.
The Mayor created the Office on Youth, and as part of this function, created a Youth Advisory Board to consult on the needs of children.
The district’s long-range facilities plan calls for the construction of three new buildings to meet the needs of the rapidly growing student population. The high school’s track, baseball, basketball and football programs are among the best in the state, and the school has spawned many professional athletes who have gone onto successful careers. The school’s marching band has also won many state competitions.
ELIZABETH PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Elizabeth Public Library is a modern library system meeting the needs of Elizabeth residents, businesses, and students for both traditional and innovative library services.
The library provides services both on the Internet and at its four locations. By accessing the library’s web page at www.elizpl.org, persons with valid library cards have access to an almost limitless amount of books, articles, audiovisual media, and data.
The library produces several hundred programs a year for children and adults. There are magic, craft, and storytelling programs for children, as well as cultural and ethnic programming reflecting the many heritages of the residents of Elizabeth. Many staff members are fluent in Spanish and some in Portuguese and Creole.
The locations and phone numbers of the library branches are as follows:
Main Library
11 South Broad St.
Elizabeth, NJ 07202-3486
Phone: 908-354-6060
LaCorte Branch Library
408 Palmer St.
Elizabeth, NJ 07202-3710
Phone: 908-820-4298
Elmora Branch Library
740 W. Grand St.
Elizabeth, NJ 07202-1102
Phone: 908-353-4820
Elizabethport Branch Library
102-110 Third St.
Elizabeth, NJ 07206-1717
Phone: 908-289-9032
PRIVATE EDUCATION
Elizabeth also offers many options for private and parochial education. There are more than a dozen private schools offering educational opportunities, including Catholic, Christian and Jewish. There are also a number of options for daycare, pre-school and nursery schools.
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