Ramapo College Explained

Ramapo College of New Jersey
Type:Public liberal arts college
Accreditation:MSCHE
Endowment:$21.2 million (2020)[1]
President:Cindy Jebb
Students:5,732
Undergrad:5,145
Postgrad:587
City:Mahwah
State:New Jersey
Country:United States
Campus:Large suburb[2]
Colors:Maroon and white
Mascot:[3]
Free Label:Newspaper
Free:Ramapo News

Ramapo College of New Jersey (RCNJ) is a public liberal arts college in Mahwah, New Jersey. It is part of New Jersey's public system of higher education. As of the fall 2021 semester, there were a total of 5,732 students enrolled at the college, including 576 graduate students and 11 doctorate students.[4] The school has a "somewhat selective" acceptance rate.[5]

History

See main article: History of Ramapo College. In the late 19th century, the Ramapo Valley was developed for large estates by many wealthy families. Ramapo Valley is named after the Ramapough, a band of the Lenape Indians. Theodore Havemeyer and his family arrived in the area in the 1870s. Havemeyer, a founder of the American Sugar Company, purchased and renovated a home on the road that would become Route 202 and developed more than surrounding the mansion into a farm. In 1889 he had a second mansion built on the property for one of his daughters. That mansion and about of the original 1,000 were later purchased by Stephen Birch, president of the Kennecott Copper Company.[6]

In 1968, the New Jersey Department of Higher Education authorized establishing a new state college in Bergen County, due to its increasing population and suburbanization. The criteria for the new college's location were sufficient land for the construction of current needs and future expansion, and proximity to at least one major highway. The locations of existing public and private institutions in the state were also taken into consideration. The college was planned to serve economically deprived students from urban and rural areas, in addition to a full range of middle-class families.

George Potter, an administrator at Grand Valley State University in Michigan, was appointed the first President of the college before a location had been determined. After many board meetings, it was decided that the former Birch Estate in Mahwah would be the location for the new college. Although the land was farther north than originally intended for the campus, its proximity to Route 17 and mountainous surroundings made it an attractive site. The architects drew up plans for an L-shaped, glass-walled facility consisting of five two-story academic buildings connected by large entry spaces, with each building devoted to a particular department or division. The architects recommended this approach to allow for rapid construction of additional wings onto the various entry spaces, allowing quick expansion of the college.

The former Havemeyer mansion was adapted as the president's house, and the former Birch Mansion was renovated to be used as the administration building of the college. Rodney David Smith served as college's third president, from July 1, 2001,[7] to June 30, 2004.[8] He was succeeded by Dr. Peter Philip Mercer,[9] who was succeeded by Cindy Jebb on July 6, 2021.[10]

Academics

Ramapo College offers bachelor's degrees in the arts, business, the social and natural sciences, and the humanities, as well as in professional studies programs such as nursing and social work. Seven programs are offered leading to a master's degree: Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Social Work (MSW), Master of Arts in Educational Leadership (MAEL), Master of Science in Educational Technology (MSET), Master of Arts in Special Education (MASE), Master of Science in Nursing Education (MSN), and a Master of Science in Accounting (MSAC). The college also offers a physician assistant (B.S./M.S.) and physical therapy (B.S./D.P.T.) with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey; a B.A./Master's degree program in Art Therapy with Caldwell University; a B.S./Doctor of Chiropractic with New York Chiropractic College; a B.S./D.D.S. and a B.S./D.M.D. with the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine; a B.S./Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) with SUNY State College of Optometry; and a B.S./Doctor of Podiatric Medicine through New York College of Podiatric Medicine (NYCPM).

The five interdisciplinary schools include the Anisfield School of Business (Dean Edward Petkus), the School of Contemporary Arts (Dean Ken Goldstein), the School of Humanities and Global Studies (Dean Susan Hangen), the School of Social Science and Human Services (Dean Aaron Lorenz), and the School of Theoretical and Applied Science (Interim Dean Edward Saiff).

Accreditation

Ramapo College was established in 1968 as a state-supported, co-educational, four-year College for liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies. Ramapo received accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools in 1975. Individual programs also received accreditation. The Social Work Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, the Chemistry Program is approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS), the Nursing Program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) and the New Jersey Board of Nursing, the Teacher Certification program is approved by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) and the State of New Jersey, and the Anisfield School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

Ramapo College is also a founding member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges.

Rankings

U.S. News & World Report ranks Ramapo 37th among 196 "Regional Universities in the North" in its 2018 list.[11]

According to Forbes, as of 2018, Ramapo College of New Jersey was rated #370 in Top Colleges, #127 in Public Colleges, and #143 in the Northeast region.[12] However, in 2019, Forbes ranked Ramapo College at #341 in Top Colleges, #116 in Public Colleges, and #133 in the Northeast region, and ranked Ramapo at #206 in America's Best Value Colleges of 2019.[13]

In 2023, Ramapo College's Nursing School was one of 17 New Jersey graduate schools to rank nationally, according to the U.S. News & World Report. The same article noted that Ramapo College is additionally ranked by U.S. News as the No. 2 public institution in New Jersey.[14]

For its 2025 edition of "Best Colleges," U.S. News & World Report ranked Ramapo College as the 27th best in "Regional Universities North" (tied), 10th best in "Top Public Colleges," and 72nd in "Best Value Schools," marking an increase in all three rankings from previous editions.

Campus

Praised for its accessibility and modernity which is juxtaposed by the picturesque outdoors, Ramapo College, which lies at the foothills of the Ramapo Mountains, was named by CondeNast Traveler as one of the 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America in 2020.[15]

The campus includes dozens of modern academic buildings, offices, eating facilities, and athletic playing fields and gyms. It also features an array of theaters and art galleries. Several dormitories have been built in the last twenty years.[16] There is a "Spiritual Center" (see picture).

The school has an independent FM radio station, WRPR, 90.3 FM, a free-form station featuring numerous genres and talk shows.

Athletics

Ramapo College currently has 8 men's teams and 12 women's teams, and participates in NCAA Division III sports. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country running, soccer, swimming, track and field, and volleyball. Women's athletic teams at Ramapo College consist of basketball, cheerleading, cross country running, dance, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, track and field, and volleyball. Ramapo also offers a club DIII ice hockey team.

The men's basketball team won the 2017 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) championship and advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs. However, Ramapo was eliminated after the second round of playoff competition.[17]

The hockey team won the Metropolitan Collegiate Hockey Conference title for 2016–2017 season.

Student supporters of Ramapo College's athletic teams are known as the Ramapo Rowdies.

Affiliations

Notable alumni

Notable faculty

Demographics

Ramapo College of New Jersey CDP
Settlement Type:Census-designated place
Pushpin Map:USA New Jersey Bergen County#USA New Jersey#USA
Pushpin Label:Ramapo College of New Jersey CDP
Pushpin Map Caption:Map of Ramapo College of New Jersey CDP in Bergen County (Inset: Location of Bergen County in New Jersey).
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Bergen
Unit Pref:Imperial
Population As Of:2020
Population Footnotes:[39]
Population Total:2200
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Density Sq Mi:auto
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:−05:00
Timezone Dst:Eastern (EDT)
Utc Offset Dst:−04:00
Elevation M:308
Coordinates:41.0814°N -74.1747°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP Code
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:[40]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:2806174

Ramapo College of New Jersey CDP is also a census-designated place (CDP) covering the Ramapo College campus in Mahwah.

It first appeared as a CDP in the 2020 U.S. Census[41] with a population of 2,200.[42]

2020 census

Ramapo College of New Jersey CDP, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic composition
!Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)!Pop 2020[43] !% 2020
White alone (NH)1,46166.41%
Black or African American alone (NH)1727.82%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)10.05%
Asian alone (NH)2079.41%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)10.05%
Other race alone (NH)80.36%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)411.86%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)30914.05%
Total2,200100.00%

External links

Notes and References

  1. As of June 30, 2020. U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2020 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY19 to FY20 . . February 19, 2021 . February 21, 2021.
  2. Web site: IPEDS - Ramapo College of New Jersey.
  3. Web site: Mascot Database - Rocky, Ricky, and Fledge.
  4. Web site: Ramapo Enrollment Fall 2021.
  5. https://www.niche.com/colleges/ramapo-college-of-new-jersey/admissions/
  6. Henry Bischoff, A History of Ramapo College of New Jersey: The First Quarter Century – 1971–1996 (Mahwah: Ramapo College of New Jersey,1997).
  7. Rodney D. Smith Appointed President of Ramapo College. September 17, 2019. January 25, 2001. Ramapo College.
  8. Ramapo College President Announces He Will Not Seek Reappointment. September 17, 2019. January 30, 2004. Ramapo College.
  9. Dr. Peter Philip Mercer Appointed President of Ramapo College of New Jersey. September 17, 2019. February 16, 2005. Ramapo College.
  10. Cindy R. Jebb, Ph.D., Named 5th President of Ramapo College of New Jersey. Ramapo College. March 5, 2021. March 5, 2021.
  11. Web site: Ramapo College . USNews.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20170405060920/https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/ramapo-college-9344. 2017-04-05. dead.
  12. News: Ramapo College of New Jersey. Forbes. August 6, 2019.
  13. Web site: Ramapo College of New Jersey. 2020-09-02. Forbes. en.
  14. Web site: 2023-04-25 . Ramapo's Graduate Nursing School Ranks Among Best In Nation: Report . 2023-04-28 . Mahwah, NJ Patch . en.
  15. Web site: The 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America. Timothy Latterner. Condé Nast Traveler. July 24, 2020. August 27, 2020.
  16. Hann . Chris . Fall–Winter 2009 . Ramapo College Celebrates 40 Years . Ramapo Magazine . Ramapo College of New Jersey . August 6, 2019 . issuu.com.
  17. Web site: 2016-2017 Men's Basketball Schedule - Ramapo College Roadrunners. ramapoathletics.com.
  18. http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/representatives/carson/Pages/Biography.aspx Lauren H. Carson
  19. Bradley, Jeff. "Eufemia Winds Up In Doubt Brings To Yankees Resume & Anxiety", New York Daily News, February 19, 1995. Accessed February 17, 2018. "A Bergenfield, N.J., native and product of Ramapo College, Eufemia went 4-2 with a couple of saves for the Twins in '85."
  20. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=369 Assemblyman Tim Eustace (D)
  21. Chozet, Tara. "ESPN New York 98.7FM Signs Don La Greca to Multiyear Extension", ESPN Media Zone, August 27, 2015. Accessed February 17, 2018. "La Greca graduated from Ramapo College in 1992 with a degree in communications. In 2014, La Greca was honored by the College with its Distinguished Citizen Award, given for his 'personal and professional commitment to advance higher education and for his significant service to the community.'"
  22. Herzog, Laura. "YouTube comedian recounts SNL failure at Ramapo College graduation", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 15, 2015. Accessed February 17, 2018. "YouTube comedian Grace Helbig, a 2007 graduate of Ramapo College of New Jersey who gave this year's commencement speech on Friday night, now has her own E! show. Before that, she failed a lot."
  23. http://nj1015.com/this-is-us-has-nj-connections/ "How hit show This Is Us is connected to NJ — NO spoilers, scout’s honor!"
  24. Trutor, Clayton. "Mark Leiter", Society for American Baseball Research. Accessed February 23, 2018. "Mark played baseball at Connors State Junior College in Warner, Oklahoma, a perennially nationally-ranked junior college team, and in 1983 he played far closer to home at Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey."
  25. Web site: Toronto Argonauts - Argos . argonauts.ca. 30 September 2016 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110422084349/http://argonauts.ca/roster/show/id/1963. 22 April 2011.
  26. Holler, John. " Legend of Lowber, 10 years laterRick Spielman has brought several very good players to the Minnesota Vikings in the last decade. Todd Lowber wasn't one of them.", Scout.com, April 18, 2017. Accessed February 17, 2018. "It didn’t take long for Lowber’s myth to build. He had never played college football. He was a basketball player at some phantom college in New Jersey – the fabled Ramapo College in Mahwah."
  27. News: The Final Goodbye For Hon. Joshua Orwa Ojode. Gusii.com. June 17, 2012. February 17, 2018. Upon graduation from Maranda, Hon. Ojode proceeded to Ramapo State College of The University System Of New Jersey, in Mahwah, New Jersey, United States. When he graduated from Ramapo State in 1991, Hon. Ojode returned to Kenya..
  28. Hess, Elizabeth. Nim Chimpsky: The Chimp Who Would Be Human, p. 102. Random House, 2008. . Accessed February 23, 2018. "Laura-Ann Petitto, an ambitious undergraduate from Ramapo College in New Jersey, often transported Nim from the LaFarges' home to Columbia for his classes."
  29. Web site: Duggan. Amelia. Spelling. Ian. Big Name, 'Small' Start: Famous people who entered the world in Bergen. https://web.archive.org/web/20150926005716/http://www.bergen.com/featured/big-name-small-start-famous-people-who-entered-the-world-in-bergen-1.819281?photo=49 . Bergen.com. May 9, 2012. September 26, 2015. February 23, 2018. Jeff Phillips, 1968 Veteran soap actor Jeff Phillips was raised in Hillsdale and went to Pascack Valley High School and Ramapo College..
  30. Shattuck, Kathryn. "Two Actors Find the Perfect Parts in Love", The New York Times, September 16, 2016. Accessed February 23, 2018. "He was also a baseball player at Ramapo College in New Jersey before working as a production assistant and an actor for Estelle Parsons and then winning a 2010 Drama Desk Award as a member of the Godlight Theater Company."
  31. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=390 Assemblyman Kevin J. Rooney (R)
  32. Web site: Rohn. Virginia. Jay Seals, an actor from Hasbrouck Heights, talks about his role in the new series Awake. https://web.archive.org/web/20120314165140/http://www.northjersey.com/arts_entertainment/140830683_Bergen_man_stars_in_new_NBC_drama.html?page=all . The Record. Bergen County, New Jersey. February 29, 2012. March 14, 2012. February 23, 2018. A graduate of Ramapo College, he booked his first big job – a one-shot gig on Saturday Night Live – in 2000..
  33. http://www.onthebanks.com/2013/1/18/3889336/rumors-swirling-around-dave-brock-at-delaware "Rumors swirling around Dave Brock at Delaware"
  34. Web site: Alumni. Ramapo College Literature Department. 21 July 2013.
  35. Tedder, Michael. "The Power of Negative Thinking", The Village Voice, October 31, 2012. Accessed February 17, 2018. "Stickles’s mom is a student assistance counselor in New Jersey, 'which is like being a guidance counselor, but it’s exclusively about feelings.' His dad is a high school principal, and his stepmom teaches second grade. Well read as a kid, he majored in literature and minored in philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey."
  36. Martin, Douglas. "Murray Bookchin, 85, Writer, Activist and Ecology Theorist, Dies", The New York Times, August 7, 2006. Accessed February 17, 2018. "In 1971, he started the Institute for Social Ecology in Plainfield, Vt., to further his ideas, and began teaching at Ramapo College of New Jersey, where he was later given tenure."
  37. News: Ramapo College Adjunct Professor Appointed Maldives Ambassador to U.S. . Ramapo College of New Jersey . 1 May 2019 . Press release.
  38. Paulson, Dina. "The Story Behind 'Across Which the World' by Laura McCullough", Compose, March 29, 2017. Accessed February 17, 2018. "She teaches full time at Brookdale Community College, has taught at Stockton University and Ramapo College, and is on the faculty of the Sierra Nevada low-res MFA where she teaches poetry and critical theory."
  39. https://data.census.gov/profile?g=160XX00US3461632 Census Data Explorer: Ramapo College of New Jersey CDP, New Jersey
  40. https://mcdc.missouri.edu/applications/geocodes/?state=34 Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey
  41. Web site: 2020 Geography Changes. .
  42. Web site: Ramapo College of New Jersey CDP, New Jersey. United States Census Bureau. March 13, 2022.
  43. Web site: P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Ramapo College of New Jersey CDP, New Jersey. United States Census Bureau.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Ramapo College".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.