A Message from Dr. Barbara Gaba - April 13, 2020

April 13, 2020

Dear College Community,

I hope that this message finds you and your loved ones healthy and safe. Although life as we know it has changed in countless ways since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, I want to reassure you that Atlantic Cape’s commitment to our students and our community remains steadfast through this challenging time.

April is Community College Month, and I couldn’t think of a better time to remind all of us how important community colleges are to all communities, including Atlantic and Cape May counties. We play a critical role in the economy as we educate the next generation of healthcare professionals, educators, engineers, and others in response to workforce needs. We will continue to be here for the tourism and hospitality industries, as they rebound from COVID-19. I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of Atlantic Cape Community College, as we are the catalyst for community transformation! I encourage you to check out the Cape May County Herald’s recent article on the positive impact Atlantic Cape alumni are making in their communities during this crisis: https://bit.ly/3ectmGW.

Atlantic Cape Supports our Students
Our Spring semester has now been back in session for two weeks since our spring break, with all of our courses having moved online. Although this change was unexpected, the transition has gone smoothly overall, and I am so grateful that all of our students and faculty have shown flexibility and perseverance in adapting to this situation and supporting each other’s success.

We look forward to returning to campus once it is safe to do so; in the meantime, we are here to support students with digital resources such as free online tutoring and library services that are accessible 24/7. Please visit our Coronavirus webpage at www.atlantic.edu/coronavirus for more information about these and other resources. 

Also, Atlantic Cape’s Student Government Association (SGA) has stepped up to keep students engaged with each other and connected to the campus community. Maintaining connections with others is vital for our mental and social wellbeing, especially as we practice social distancing. I encourage you to view a special message from SGA President, Joelle Motley: www.instagram.com/p/B-peJZmnHzt/.

Atlantic Cape offers “Register Now, Pay Later”
Student Registration is now open for the Summer and Fall semesters. You can search for desired courses and register for both semesters online via the Self-Service portal. Payment for the Summer Semester isn’t due until May 5, and Fall Semester payment will be due on July 7. Our advising and counseling staff is available via phone, email, and video chat to assist with this process. If you have yet not applied for financial aid, please do so at www.studentaid.gov. Applications for state aid are due on June 1, and the deadline for federal aid applications is June 30, 2020.

Please note that our summer courses beginning on May 18 (Summer 1 and Full Summer sessions) will be offered online, given the uncertainty of the timeline for returning to campus. We hope to be able to return to our regular course offerings as soon as possible and will keep you updated as the situation evolves.

Atlantic Cape Supports our Community
Food insecurity is a serious issue for many of our neighbors in the face of this crisis. I am pleased to report that on Saturday, April 11th, Atlantic Cape partnered with the Fellowship of Churches of Atlantic City & Vicinity to host a food distribution event at our Worthington Atlantic City Campus. There were 350 boxes (10,000 lbs.) of food distributed to our neighbors. Given the overwhelming response, another distribution is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, April 18.

Together we are Atlantic Cape Strong!
Although there is no doubt that the crisis we are facing is formidable, we are stronger when we work together as a college and as a community.

“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” (Helen Keller)

Please continue to support each other, practice social distancing, and stay safe!

Sincerely,

Dr. Barbara Gaba
President