Special Programs and Services

American Honors

The American Honors program at Union County College helps motivated students transfer to their dream school to obtain their bachelor’s degree.  The Honors program cultivates in-depth learning through individual inquiry and encourages high-quality performance.  Honors courses are interactive and emphasize critical thinking, analytical writing, and effective speaking.

The American Honors program is not a separate track or major; students matriculate into a Union County College degree program and take Honors courses toward fulfillment of their general education and program requirements.

Students possessing a high school diploma (or equivalent) - including new students, continuing students, international students, and transfer students - should apply directly to American Honors at Union County College.  To be eligible to enter the American Honors program, students typically have a cumulative GPA of what is equivalent to a 3.25 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale and must be enrolled in a transferable degree plan.

Contact an American Honors Admissions Officer (admissions@americanhonors.org) to learn more about joining the Honors program.

All completed Honors courses are identified on student transcripts.  Students who take these classes are exceptionally well prepared for transfer to four-year colleges and universities, for scholarships, and for success in their transfer institutions and career paths.

For more information, visit https://www.ucc.edu/academics/american-honors/ or contact an American Honors Admissions Officer at admissions@americanhonors.org.

UCC 101 - A College Success Class

UCC 101  is a hands-on college success class designed to help all students adjust to college by giving them the information, strategies, and support they need to do well in their college classes and stay on the path to graduation. This course will help students explore career and four-year college options, navigate the academic environment, and learn to think and read critically.

Students will familiarize themselves with college-level research, study skills, and personality and career inventories that will help them make future decisions. This course is a resource for students to get their bearings in college and set educational and professional goals into action.

All first-time full-time students taking twelve or more credits are required to take UCC 101  in order to progress in their programs. Although this course is not listed among the required credits within each program, it is considered a college-wide requirement which must be fulfilled by all first-time full-time students.

Prerequisites: None.

Exemptions: All first-time full-time students are required to take UCC 101  except for:

• Students taking fewer than 12 credits;
• Students who transfer from other institutions with 15 or more credits;
• Students who transfer from other institutions with 2 or more credits in a first-year seminar course;
• Students with a college degree;
• Students who have successfully completed ENG 101  or ENG 112  and MAT 119 ;
• Students with visitor status;
• Students in diploma programs;
• Students in certificate programs;
• Senior citizens.

New Student Orientation

New Student Orientation is the first step to achieving academic and personal success at Union County College. New Student Orientation (NSO) is required for all first-time, full-time students entering the college during the Fall or Spring semesters.  By participating in this program, you will be knowledgeable about the tools needed to successfully navigate your college education experience. At the session, students will learn about degree requirements for graduation, explore careers that fit their interest, and gain assistance with developing an educational plan, and register for your first semester of classes.

The Educational Opportunity Fund Program

The Educational Opportunity Fund Program

The mission of the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Program at Union County College is to provide students from disadvantaged communities, who demonstrate the potential for academic success, an opportunity to attend college. Our purpose is to help students successfully graduate and transfer students to four-year institutions, as well as provide a high level of preparation and readiness for the workforce.

What services or benefits are offered to Union County College EOF students?

• Comprehensive summer orientation for first year students

• Registration, Career, Transfer and Financial Aid advisement from a personal EOF Advisor

• Leadership Activities and Workshops

• Academic Support through tutoring and supplemental instruction

• Opportunity to join the Chi Alpha Epsilon National Honor Society

• An additional financial aid grant of $100-$525 a semester

Eligibility Requirements: Students interested in being considered for the EOF Program at Union County College must fulfill the following requirements:

• Meet the financial eligibility requirements for 2017-18 Academic Year as defined by the State of New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education –

(www.state.nj.us/highereducation/EOF/EOF_Eligibility.shtml)

• Be a full-time student (minimum 12 credits) for the semester of consideration for EOF

• Be a New Jersey resident for at least one year prior to enrollment

• Complete the 2017-18 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – (www.fafsa.gov)

• Be eligible for state aid from the NJ Higher Education Student Assistance Authority – (www.hesaa.org)

• Have taken the Accuplacer Placement Test and placed into ENG 096 or higher; or ESL placement level 5 or 6

• For current students, have a minimum 2.5 GPA (including any developmental courses) and no more than 30 college credits

How to Apply for EOF: Interested students must complete an EOF application and submit all required supporting documentation listed on the application. Students will not be considered for acceptance until all required supporting documentation has been submitted. The EOF application can be downloaded from the following sites:

• EOF Summer Program – https://www.ucc.edu/admissions/educational-opportunity-fund/

• EOF Academic Year – EOF Owl’s Nest site

— Union County College Portal > Student Development > Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) > Apply for EOF

EOF is not a financial aid entitlement. Space in the EOF Program at Union County College is limited. Priority for acceptance into the EOF Program is given to first-time, full-time college students.

To learn more about the Educational Opportunity Fund Program, contact us at (908) 709-7088 or email us at eof@ucc.edu.

Honor Societies

Chi Alpha Epsilon

The Psi Chapter of the Chi Alpha Epsilon Academic Honor Society is a national honor society for students in the Educational Opportunity Fund Program. EOF students who hold a 3.0 cumulative GPA for two consecutive semesters with a minimum 18 college credits are eligible to be members. Its purpose is to promote continued high academic standards, foster increased communication among its members, and honor the academic excellence of those students admitted to college via developmental program pathways.

The Engineering and Architectural Honor Society

The Engineering and Architectural Honor Society is for students in an A.S. Engineering or Architecture program. Membership is extended by nomination of the Engineering/Technology/Architecture faculty to students who have completed at least 15 credits of the required courses in their major program with at least a 3.5 GPA in that program.

Mu Alpha Theta

Students with a strong interest and ability in mathematics are recognized through admission to Mu Alpha Theta. Mu Alpha Theta is a national honor society which promotes scholarship in mathematics at two-year colleges. Requirements for admission are 3.5 average of any credit mathematics course, an overall 3.25 cumulative average, and finishing at least MAT 144  or above.

Phi Theta Kappa

Students who achieve outstanding scholastic records and demonstrate qualities of good citizenship receive recognition through admission into Phi Theta Kappa. Phi Theta Kappa is the international honor society which aims to promote scholarship, develop character, and cultivate fellowship among students of two-year colleges. Iota Xi is the chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Union County College. All students who have earned 12 transferable credits at Union County College with a cumulative average of 3.6 are eligible for admission into Iota Xi Chapter.

Psi Beta

Psi Beta is a national honor society in psychology associated with the American Psychological Association. It was founded expressly for community and junior colleges. The purpose of Psi Beta is to promote, encourage, and recognize scholarship for students in psychology. The local chapter encourages member participation in workshops, seminars, conferences, and other educational experiences, as well as service to the community. Membership requirements are, at minimum, an overall average of 3.25 GPA, a least 12 credits, and at least one course in psychology with an overall grade of “B” or better in each psychology course.

Tau Alpha Pi

Tau Alpha Pi, New Jersey Beta Chapter. The Tau Alpha Pi National Honor Society is a national honor society for students matriculated in an AAS Engineering Technology program. Membership is extended by nomination of the Engineering/Technology/Architecture faculty to students who have completed at least 15 credits of the required courses in their major program with at least a 3.0 GPA in that program.

Lambda Epsilon Chi

Lambda Epsilon Chi is a nationally known academic honor society for paralegal students. Sponsored by the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE), the society offers national scholarship opportunities, participation in regional, state and local conferences, and networking opportunities. Candidates for membership in Lambda Epsilon Chi must be in good academic standing and have completed at least two-thirds of their paralegal coursework. Candidates also must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.

NJ Sea Grant Consortium

Union County College is a member of the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, which affords students the opportunity to become acquainted with the marine environment through summer credit course offerings. The offerings supplement the science curricula at the College and increase the course options available for students.

Developmental Sequence

Mathematics & Reading
Depending on your test scores, you may be required to take one or more semesters of Developmental English or Mathematics. All required developmental mathematics courses, as determined by placement testing, must be completed prior to enrollment in credit mathematics courses. In some instances, credit course placement may be determined through satisfactory performance on the College Level Mathematics Exam. Contact the STEM Dean’s office for more information.

If that’s the case, it is likely that you’ll spend more than two years studying at Union County College. Along with these Developmental courses, there are other College requirements, such as UCC 101 , and program prerequisites that you may have to complete.

It is very important that you stay in close contact with an advisor or a Faculty advisor throughout your time at Union County College. This will help keep you focused on your program curriculum and ensure you’re taking the right classes for your specific major.

Refresher courses and accelerated options are available in developmental mathematics and developmental English.

Students may contact an advisor or the appropriate Division Dean for more information. At any level, students may be evaluated and moved up from one level to another without having to take all the intervening courses. For example, some students will take ENG 096   and after successfully completing the coursework may take an exam to test out of the sequence. Although this happens in rare cases, students should expect to take all the courses in the sequence and plan their semesters accordingly.

ENG 087  is a prerequisite for ENG 096  so students who are required to take ENG 087  will only be able to take other courses that do not require ENG 087  as a prerequisite (such as BUS 101  or FIA 103 ).

IF YOU DO NEED TO TAKE DEVELOPMENTAL CLASSES, THIS IS THE SEQUENCE OF COURSES:

* For Non-STEM majors: upon completion of MAT 017  register for MAT 125  or MAT 127  

**For STEM majors: upon completion of MAT 021  register for MAT 119  .

English for Speakers of Other Languages

The Institute for Intensive English provides a program of intensive instruction in English for speakers of other languages. Through this program students have the opportunity to enhance their English language abilities in order to further their academic, career, and/or personal goals.

After placement testing, students enter an appropriate ESL level of instruction commensurate with their abilities. In all levels, students can register for two core English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses: Grammar/Writing and Reading/Listening/Speaking.

Upon completing each course, there is an exit test, to assess a student’s proficiency. While enrolled in ESL courses students can take additional content area courses, depending on a student’s level:

Level 3 Students:
Developmental Mathematics courses (MAT 017  , MAT 019  , MAT 021  , or MAT 022 ), based on major or Accuplacer score . ADM 101 - Keyboarding for the Computer I  PED 101 - Concepts of Adult Fitness ;

Level 4 Students:
Credit Level Mathematics courses (MAT 119 , MAT 143 , MAT 144  and other credit Mathematics courses), based on Math placement test or progression through courses. ADM 102 - Keyboarding for the Computer II , CST 100 - Introduction to Computer Applications ;

Level 5 Students:
FIA 107 - Introduction to Dance , FIA 109 - Introduction to Drawing , FIA 110 - Introduction to Painting , MET 109 - Computer-Aided Drafting , EGG 111 - Engineering & Computer Graphics , HSM 100 - Introduction to the Hospitality Industry , as well as other courses with permission;

Level 6 Students:
BUS 101 - Introduction to Contemporary Business  , BUS 105 - Organization and Management , COM 100 - Communications Technologies , CRJ 101 - Introduction to Criminal Justice , ADM 140 - Customer Service , PSY 101 - General Psychology , and other courses with permission.

Please be advised that New Student Orientation is required for all first-time students who intend to enroll full-time.

Language Requirements

The Languages offered by the College are Spanish, French, Italian, German, Mandarin Chinese, and Arabic.

GENERAL POLICIES CONCERNING LANGUAGE PLACEMENT

Language Placement Guide for American High School Graduates

ESL Students are Not Required to Take Modern Language - All ESL students who have completed that program are exempt from the English program Modern Language requirement. They may, however, elect to study a language, including their native language, if placed at their appropriate level of competence. In any case, they must complete their general education humanities course requirements.

Native Speakers may not take elementary level courses of their native language - Native speakers may not enroll in the elementary level of their native language. They may not take language courses designated as 101, 102, 105, and 106. They require permission of the Division Dean to enroll at the Intermediate Level Language (courses designated 111 or 112).

Language Exemption does not mean that credit is given for the courses exempted - Students exempt from taking a given language may consider taking some other language or they may fulfill their humanities general education requirements by substituting other courses in the humanities/history category. Language exemptions do not entail college credits for the courses exempted.

Many Associate in Arts Programs Require 2 or 3 semesters of a Modern Language - Please review specific requirements in each program.

Modern Language Placement - Students who qualify for the intermediate or advanced level of a Modern Language in their freshman year will be placed accordingly.

Distance Education

Distance education at Union County College provides an educational experience that is equivalent to traditional courses. Distance education courses cover the same course subject matter, carry the same credits, and are taught by highly qualified Union County College faculty. Courses are available in the fall, winter, spring, and summer sessions.

Union offers two types of Distance Education courses:

Online Courses: 

•      Offered entirely online with no on campus requirements; no set meeting time
•      Requires the use of a computer (Windows 7 & above; iOS Mavericks 10.9 and newer)
•      HD 128 X 720p Camera/Microphone (built in or add on)
•      Assignments and assessments have specific due dates
•      Requires students to verify identity using digital imaging, photo ID, and a knuckle scan
•      Requires students to submit verified assignments using specialized software
•      May require the use of third party course packages, web based tools, etc.
•      Section numbers: Regular Start: 300, 301, 302 (Example: CST-100-300); Late Start: 310, 311 (CST-100-310)

Hybrid Courses: 

•      Courses are split between on campus meetings and online; there are set meeting times
•      Requires the use of a computer
•      May require students to submit verified assignments using specialized software
•      May require the use of third party course packages, web based tools, etc.
•      Number of class meetings: 14
•      Meets on campus once a week for 80 minutes
•      Section numbers: 391, 392 (Example: CST-100-390)

Resources for Online Students:

     Smarthinking Online Tutoring 

     Online Advising

     Portfolium 

     24/7 Canvas Help Desk 

     24/7 Proctortrack Help Desk 

Verification and Online Integrity

•      Online students are required to provide photo ID and a knuckle scan during the first week of classes
•      All online students must verify their identity once a year
•      Students need to verify only once per year; it applies to all online courses
•      Students can participate in their online course while verification is being processed
•      Questions about student identification and verification should be directed to the Distance Education department, (908) 497-4364.

Fees:  There may be additional fees for online and hybrid courses.

FERPA and ADA:  All online and hybrid courses protect student privacy and provide ADA accommodations.

Questions about student identity verification, online course integrity, FERPA, and ADA in online courses should be directed to the Distance Education office located in the basement of the Cranford Library, L-22, by phone at 908-497-4364 or by email at ucconline@ucc.edu.

How do I know which course is a Distance Education course?

Distance Education courses are identified by the course section number (see the chart below).

Are Distance Education courses for me?

They are if you:

• are self-motivated and don’t procrastinate;
• are responsible and can resist distractions;
• are an independent learner and can set weekly goals;
• enjoy communicating in writing;
• have good reading comprehension skills;
• possess good time management skills;
• have the minimum computer requirements

Do I have to be a computer expert to take an online or blended learning course?

No, but at a minimum, you must be able to access the Internet, locate and upload an attachment to email, send and receive email with attachments, and create, save and open documents. Students need daily access to the internet, a working computer camera, and a working computer microphone. Students must have a photo ID and produce a knuckle scan to verify identity. Courses are held entirely online. Take our brief readiness survey to determine if online or blended education is for you:

http://owlsnest.ucc.edu/academics/de/Documents/Ready4Online.htm

Login and review the Distance Education website for more details and up-to-date information.

owlsnest.ucc.edu/academics/DE/pages/default.aspx