Important NoteThe statements, provisions, policies and fees listed in this catalog are not to be regarded as binding between the student and Brookdale Community College. The College has the right to change at any time any of the provisions or programs, which could include the possible elimination of programs, courses, schedules, tuition, fees procedures or statements, as may be warranted. Each student is responsible for knowing the information contained in this catalog. Failure to read and comply with College guidelines, requirements and regulations will not exempt the student from responsibility. About BrookdaleThe College was founded in 1967 and is sponsored by the citizens of Monmouth County through the Board of Chosen Freeholders. Equal opportunity for all is a College mandate; the College does not discriminate against anyone on any basis, either in education or in employment practices. An appointed Board of Trustees sets policy, fixes tuition and fees and continually monitors educational programs. Brookdale is an open admission college, available to anyone 18 years of age or older, has been home-schooled and can document age-appropriate learning skills, anyone who is a high school graduate or holder of an equivalency diploma. (A limited number of programs have specific admission criteria which must be met.) If a student does not have a high school diploma, he or she may still enroll at Brookdale as long as the student is 18 or older. Students wishing to gain a New Jersey issued high school diploma will be referred to Brookdale’s 30-credit high school equivalency program or may take and successfully pass a GED test. An adult basic education program is offered at any of the Brookdale regional locations in Freehold, Wall, Long Branch, and Neptune. To obtain more information on the Brookdale sites, see Regional Locations. Brookdale is open all year and operates on a term-based system. There are two traditional 15-week terms that begin in September and January. Within each of the traditional terms we offer two 7-week terms and an 11-week term. In addition, there are 6-week and 10-week terms that run during the summer and a 2-week Winterim term is offered during winter break. Additional terms may be added based on community need. Classes tend to meet once or twice a week, depending on the length of the academic term and the course content. Classes are scheduled throughout the day, evening, online and on weekends to meet the demands of working people as well as traditional full-time students. Courses are offered not only on the Lincroft campus, but also at various regional locations throughout the county. The regional locations offer a wide range of courses. They all are accessible from most areas by public transportation. There is no typical Brookdale student. People of all ages come to the College to meet educational goals as varied as the people themselves. Many are enrolled full time (12 credits or more), or part time, in programs designed for transfer to four-year colleges. Others are pursuing programs designed to prepare them for employment upon graduation. Persons already working attend Brookdale to upgrade skills and enhance chances for promotion or to explore new areas to facilitate a career change. Many students are here because they love to learn and the courses they select enrich their personal lives. In keeping with the College’s dedication to open and innovative education, learning at Brookdale is oriented toward success. Each course syllabus has learning outcomes, course requirements, grading standards, course content, notification for students with disabilities and references to additional support and labs. Teaching faculty schedule office hours to answer student questions. Academic support services are available to students through the Writing Center, Reading Center, Math Lab, STEM Peer Tutoring and the Tutoring Center at the Brookdale Bankier Library Learning Commons. Notice of Right to Access Government Records of Brookdale Community CollegeThe New Jersey Public Access to Government Records Act N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 (the “Act”) requires that the College grant members of the public access to government records as defined in the Act. The Act safeguards from disclosure of proprietary and private records and information. Requests for records should be made to Bonnie Passarella, Executive Associate Legal Services located on the second floor of the Brookdale Administrative Center (BAC), parking lot #3. Requesters must fill out a form specific to their request by contacting the Records custodian directly at 732-224-2239 or emailing the request to bpassarella@brookdalecc.edu. Requests for government records may be made anonymously. Upon payment of the applicable fees, the College is required to make government records available within the following time periods: Immediate access will be provided to budgets, bills, vouchers, contracts, including collective negotiations agreements, individual employment contracts, and public employee salary and overtime information. Immediate access will be provided as soon as reasonably possible following receipt of the request if the record is not being used and is not in archive storage. Not later than seven (7) business days after receiving the records request, access will be granted or denied to all other government records provided the record is currently available, not in use and not in storage or archived. Failure of the Custodian of Government Records to respond within seven business days after receiving a request is deemed a denial, unless the requester has elected not to provide a name, address or telephone number, or other means of contacting the requester, in which case the Custodian of Government Records shall not be required to respond until the requester appears before the Custodian seeking a response to the original request. The requester is entitled to be advised in advance of the estimated amount of fees and charges to be imposed by the College for the reproduction costs and other special services requested. Right of AppealA person who is denied access to government records by the Custodian, at the option of the requester, may institute a proceeding challenging the Custodian’s decision by (1) filing a complaint with the Government Records Council, NJ Division of Local Government Services (www.state.nj.us/grc) by calling 866-850-0511, toll free or by e-mail: grc@dca.state.nj.us, or (2) by filing an action in the Superior Court, Monmouth County Courthouse, Freehold, NJ. The Higher Education Opportunity ActThe Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) requires the College to disclose and report on numerous items. Many of these are included throughout this catalog. Information pertaining to Student Consumer Information is available from the Brookdale home page with a direct link to the State website. Degrees And CertificatesThe Associate in Arts (A.A.), Associate in Science (A.S.) and Associate in Fine Arts (A.F.A.) degree programs are designed for transfer to four-year colleges. These degrees give students grounding in their major fields of study, along with the general studies required of freshmen and sophomores in four-year schools. Students who graduate with an A.A. or A.S. Degree and transfer to a New Jersey Public Institution receive the benefits of transfer registration. See for the rules and requirements. The Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree programs are career-related. Students receive education and training in the skills needed for employment, plus the general studies are designed to turn out well-rounded employees. While some credits may transfer to four-year institutions, the A.A.S. programs are not designed for transfer. In some study areas, certificate programs are available. These contain fewer credits than the degree programs and certify students as competent in a particular employment areas. Company On-site Credit Course Offerings (COCCO)Continuing and Professional Studies works with employers who request college courses to be presented to their employees at their place of business. The courses are identical to those presented on campus and are taught by Brookdale faculty. Students receive full college credit for course completion. Instructional emphasis to include case studies can be customized to reflect corporate objectives and learning experiences with on-the-job tasks. Every effort is made to meet the needs of employers. Starting dates and class times are flexible. College LifeThe Office of Student Life and Activities oversees over 50 clubs and organizations geared to student interests. The Current (student newspaper) and Collage (student literary magazine) are two publications produced by the student body. Students can become involved in planning and shaping programs and services at Brookdale through the Student Life Board (Brookdale’s version of student government, programming board and finance board, all in one). Students may also serve as members of College Governance. This is a body comprised of faculty, administrators, staff and students which discusses issues affecting College life and academic policies and regulations. Recommendations are forwarded to the President for consideration and recommendations.
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