A Message from Dr. Barbara Gaba - July 6, 2020

July 6, 2020

Dear College Community,

Summer is finally here! Like everything else we are experiencing due to COVID-19, this year’s Fourth of July celebrations were a little different from what we have experienced in the past. As we enjoy our summer, please remember to protect yourself and others by following the CDC guidelines (i.e., wearing a face mask, social distancing, etc.).

While the Summer semester is in full swing, we are busy working remotely, educating and serving our students, and preparing for the Fall semester.  

Reopening Plan
The Atlantic Cape team is working towards gradually reopening the campuses in phases. Our Phase I plan regarding reopening was submitted to the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) last week. This plan includes the protocols necessary to bring staff back safely to campus to support students who would like to meet staff in-person to register for classes. In this plan, we will bring staff on campus in a staggered, scheduled fashion. We will advise students when we will reopen for limited face-to-face admissions, registration, financial aid, counseling, and payments for students. These student services will continue to be provided remotely until the face-to-face services resume.

Housekeeping has been very busy cleaning and sanitizing all offices, common areas, and classrooms to ensure a healthy return for faculty, staff, and students. CDC protocols are in place, including wearing of face masks, upgrading our sanitizing of classrooms and workspaces, and remaining 6 feet apart.

Our campuses will look very different this year, with a limited number of students on campus. Fall classes will be available online, remotely, and in a hybrid modality, which will include limited face-to-face instruction. We anticipate many sciences, culinary, and nursing labs, for example, to follow this hybrid model. In addition, we still plan to have student clubs and other activities, which will be engaging; however, they will be done a little differently. I will keep you posted on the final details of the plan.

Registration is Open!
Registration is open remotely for the Summer Session 3 and Fall semester. The Summer Session 3 begins July 13; Fall classes begin on August 31. For more information on how to register, go to http://www.atlanticcape.edu/admission/registration.php.

Payment and Financial Assistance
Students who already registered and took advantage of the delayed payment option have until Tuesday, July 7 to make payment arrangements. Payment plans are available. Please contact bursar@atlanticcape.edu for more information.

Students who filed for financial aid through FAFSA.gov, but have not enrolled, now is a perfect time to do so. Please check WebAdvisor for award amounts at http://www.atlanticcape.edu/admission/WebAdvisor/index.php. Our Financial Aid staff are contacting students to remind them to register to take advantage of the available funding. Scholarships and the State’s Free Tuition program, the Community College Opportunity Grant (CCOG), is also available for eligible students.

Contact the Financial Aid office for more information about financial aid at finaid@atlanticcape.edu or call (609) 343-5082. For more information about registration or where you can make a payment, please go to http://www.atlanticcape.edu/admission/registration.php.

There is $1.98 million in direct aid to students through the CARES Act relief funds. These grant funds are for students' costs associated with the disruption of campus operations, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, and childcare. Students eligible for CARES Act relief funds received an email to their Buccaneer email account with a link to the application. To date, we have awarded $1,303,675 to 1,364 students in the last two months. However, 1,906 students are still eligible for this grant who have not yet applied. Our Financial Aid office continues to reach out to students to complete the required CARES Act application.  These emergency funds are to help with financial obligations and burdens that are directly affecting students' education. Students should check their email for the CARES Act application.

There is still time for high school seniors, first-time college students, and students that did not receive state financial aid in Academic Year 2019-20 to submit their FAFSA application by September 15. Contact the Financial Aid office for more information or visit our website for additional information

You may qualify for scholarships. If you are a Cape May County resident, there is more than $100,000 in aid available, and you need to apply to be considered. I encourage students to complete the financial aid application, as a student may qualify for aid without realizing it.

We look forward to seeing faculty, staff, and students back on campus when it is safe to do so. I can assure you that we are doing everything we can to make the student experience the best it can be under these unprecedented circumstances. Our concern is for the safety of our faculty, staff, and students while maintaining the best educational and social experience for our students.

Stay informed, and check our website often at www.atlanticcape.edu. Our special reopening webpage is coming soon.

Sincerely,

Dr. Barbara Gaba

President