History
In November 1968, New Jersey approved a $202.5 million capital construction bond issue with an earmarked $15 million dollars designated for the construction of a new state college in Southern New Jersey. In 1969, a 1,600 acres (6.5 km2) tract in the heart of the Pinelands within Galloway Township was selected for this site. Trustees originally voted to name the school South Jersey State College but later opted to name it Stockton State College, as not to confuse it with Rutgers College of South Jersey. Immediately, construction began to run behind schedule and in 1970, when it became clear that the first class in 1971 would not have a campus, Trustees selected the historic Mayflower Hotel in Atlantic City as the temporary campus.
Classes began on schedule with the commencement of the first academic year in September 1971. The College officially took shape as 1,000 students, 50 of whom were Educational Opportunity Fund students, 97 staff and 60 full-time faculty took over the former resort hotel. By December, occupancy of the first phase of the new campus construction took place, with the transfer of classes and offices to Galloway Township during the winter holiday period.
Accreditation of Stockton State College by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools was first granted in December 1975.
Over the next few years, Stockton continued to grow exponentially as additional buildings and wings were added for the rising college demand in admissions. Around the same time that enrollment climbed past 5,000 students, Housing II opened in November 1981. With the opening of the N-Wing College Center & Housing III in February 1983, Stockton State College became one of the most residential of NJ state colleges. Amidst this growth, Vera King Farris was named third President of the College on May 25, 1983.
In July 1991, Stockton State College was re-accredited unconditionally for another 10 years by the Middle States Association Commission on Higher Education, with a special commendation for achieving social and intellectual diversity. Two years later, the College name was changed to The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey.
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