Easier access offered to drone and exercise science through unique local community college partnership

A unique partnership between community colleges in Warren and Sussex Counties will allow students at each school access to new academic pathways, benefiting from the strengths and specialized programs that both schools offer while saving on tuition costs.

The collaboration between Warren County Community College (WCCC) in Washington, NJ, and Sussex County Community College (SCCC) in Newton, NJ, allows students to complete general education and prerequisite coursework at the college closest to home before transferring to the partner institution for specialized, hands-on training in either drone technology (unmanned aircraft systems, UAS) or exercise science.

"This partnership leverages Warren’s leadership in drone technology and provides students with unparalleled access to cutting-edge training and real-world experience," said Will Austin, president of WCCC. "We are proud to collaborate with Sussex to open doors for students in these high-demand fields."

Cory Homer, president of SCCC, emphasized the value the collaborative effort affords area students. “This partnership demonstrates how community colleges can work together to expand opportunities for students,” he said. “By combining our strengths, we are providing students with affordable pathways into innovative and in-demand careers.”

For instance, Sussex students interested in pursuing an Associate of Science degree in Unmanned Systems can begin their studies at Sussex and transfer to Warren to complete the core coursework in drone technology.

Likewise, Warren students pursuing an Associate of Acience degree in Exercise Science can complete their general education requirements at Warren before transferring to Sussex to complete the specialized exercise science portion of the program.

Marianne Van Deursen, Warren Provost/Vice President of Academics, pointed out that the collaborative arrangement has a number of benefits, including to taxpayers.

“At a time when many students and families are questioning the affordability and value of higher education, the two schools are demonstrating how community colleges can work together to expand access, reduce costs, and create innovative educational pathways that directly serve regional workforce needs,” she said.

Van Deursen noted that the arrangement benefits taxpayers by allowing more students to pursue specialized academic pathways within the regional community college network rather than requiring out-of-county chargeback arrangements if they enroll in institutions outside the immediate service area. That can mean additional county chargeback expenditures.

She noted it allows both institutions to leverage their respective strengths and resources “in support of emerging industries and evolving workforce demands throughout Northwest New Jersey and beyond”.

Sussex students have access to Warren’s drone program, WarrenUAS, which is nationally recognized for its state-of-the-art unmanned systems training facilities, featuring 6,000 square feet of advanced UxS laboratories and an outdoor Flight Training Center designed for hands-on learning.

At Warren UAS, students gain real-world experience through professional workflows, instructor-led research projects, and off-site flight operations that include mission planning, autonomous flight, data collection, analysis, and final product delivery.

Unmanned systems technology is one of the fastest-growing career fields, supporting industries such as infrastructure inspection, agriculture, construction, environmental sciences, public safety, energy, cinematography, and search and rescue. Students also gain access to a fleet of more than 80 unmanned systems throughout their training.

Meanwhile, WCCC’s Academic Affairs Division has experienced growing student interest in exercise science and related health and wellness career pathways, which the college couldn’t always address, Van Deursen said.

At Sussex, exercise science students benefit from modern instructional spaces and hands-on learning opportunities within the college’s state-of-the-art Human Performance Lab, which features advanced fitness assessment labs, rehabilitation equipment, and functional training areas.

This facility prepares students for careers in health, fitness, wellness, and related fields. With a strong foundation in exercise science, graduates can pursue careers in personal training, athletic coaching, physical therapy, sports medicine, and other health-related professions or transfer to a four-year institution, Homer said.

The partnership allows students to remain close to home while reducing overall educational costs through in-county tuition rates before transferring into the specialized portion of their degree program. Students will enroll at their home institution before transferring into the specialized coursework offered through the partner college.

Austin noted that by combining resources, facilities, and faculty expertise, both colleges are expanding educational opportunities, strengthening workforce development, and creating direct pathways into high-demand careers throughout the region.

The new partnership pathways will begin in the Fall 2026 semester. Students can apply and register now through their home county college to begin their education in one of these programs.