CCM-Drew U. deal offers scholarships to honors students

RANDOLPH – Students who start their college education at County College of Morris now have a path to obtain scholarships at a four-year institution, Drew University in Madison.

The agreement was signed Thursday morning by CCM President Edward Yaw and Drew President MaryAnn Baenninger at Henderson Hall on CMM’s campus.

The acord provides honors students at CCM scholarship money along with a simple transition to earn their bachelor’s degree.

CCM and Drew previously collaborated on a dual admissions agreement in 2014, allowing for the seamless transfer of credits from one school to the other. Under that agreement, Drew agreed to award up to two full-tuition scholarships each year to qualified students who enroll through that program. That arrangement will remain.

“We’re delighted that Drew has developed yet another pathway for CCM students to seamlessly transfer to the university and pursue a bachelor’s degree more affordably,” Yaw said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for CCM students who earn their associate degree to also earn a bachelor’s degree from a highly respected liberal arts university.”

The new deal is in line with one made earlier this month between Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg and Drew.

Under the agreement, CCM students who successfully complete a minimum of four honors courses at the college, and earn a minimum 3.25 grade point average will receive a scholarship from Drew to continue their studies.

The arrangement also will allow qualified honors students to take up to two courses at Drew while enrolled at CCM.

Students admitted to Drew through this agreement will enter as juniors and join the school’s honor’s program.

“We are so proud to be able to offer qualified students at County College of Morris the opportunity to attend Drew through this unique agreement,” Baenninger said. “Besides taking classes at Drew while still at CCM, this agreement will make college more affordable by offering a range of honors scholarships to these high-achieving students as they complete their baccalaureate degrees.”

Admitted students with a GPA of 3.75 will receive a $25,000 Honors Scholarship, those with a GPA of 3.5 or higher will receive a $20,000 Presidential Scholarship, and those who earn a 3.25 GPA or higher will receive a $15,000 Deans Scholarship. The scholarships will be awarded annually as long as the student maintains the appropriate GPA.

Students who are members of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society at CCM will receive an additional $2,500 annual scholarship.

The top $25,000 scholarship would cover slightly less than half of Drew’s annual tuition next year.

Tuition for the 2015-16 academic year at Drew is $45,552. Room is $8,152 and board is $4,520, with additional fees for books and supplies totaling several thousand dollars more.

For information about the new agreement, contact Kari Hawkins, CCM’s coordinator of transfer services at 973-328-5142 or transferservices@ccm.edu.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@GannettNJ.com