After being named a best-value public college by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance last year, Ramapo College has now been recognized by CollegesofDistinction.com for well-rounded, student-focused education and has also been given a nod for excellence in the TIPS alcohol training program.
On CollegesofDistinction.com, Ramapo ranks alongside three other New Jersey schools-Richard Stockton College of New Jersey in Ponoma, Saint Peter’s College in Jersey City and Seton Hall University in South Orange-and many more nationwide. Colleges and universities are first recommended to Colleges of Distinction by high school counselors and then are evaluated according to the “four distinctions.”
In order to be featured on the website, the school must meet minimum standards in each category: student engagement, quality of teaching, vibrancy of the college community and success of graduates. Ramapo excelled in all four assessments.
“We are pleased to be recognized for our commitment to our students,” President Peter Mercer said in a College press release. “Here at Ramapo College of New Jersey, our students work with outstanding and devoted faculty who excel at teaching, mentoring and preparing them to succeed personally and professionally, in an environment usually associated with an elite college.”
The College was also given the TIPS Award of Excellence from Health Communications, Inc. for its implementation of the Training for Intervention Procedures (TIPS) programs to prevent alcohol misuse on campus. The three-part program teaches students how to prevent alcohol-related incidents and includes information, skills training, practice and rehearsal.
Ramapo has offered the TIPS program since January 2011 during both the fall and spring semesters and is utilized as part of a comprehensive drug and alcohol awareness initiative on campus. Further, students who are 21 or over must complete TIPS training in order to live in alcohol-allowed housing, in The Village or Laurel Hall.
The award of excellence was determined based on feedback from TIPS participants, trainers and master trainers.
For more information on either of these accomplishments, visit collegesofdistinction.com or www.ramapo.edu/students/chc/tips.html.
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nalliegr@ramapo.edu
