Campus to Campus Initiative Kicks Off

Project Self-Sufficiency and Sussex County Community College have joined forces to offer a new program to local women and men who may be facing obstacles in their pursuit of a college education. These non-traditional students can come from all walks of life, including young adults who have never enrolled or older adults who did not attend college for a variety of reasons. The program offers basic skills testing, test anxiety support, child care, access to financial aid and scholarship applications, and other services at both locations.

Beginning in 1987, the two institutions have had a long history of collaboration, with Project Self-Sufficiency’s original office space being housed at the college’s former location within Sussex Technical School. Now the non-profit agency and the educational institution have once again teamed up to offer a new program for local residents.

“We know that there are many adults in our community who would like to enroll in college, but may feel that they do not have the resources to succeed,” remarked Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director of Project Self-Sufficiency. “The new Campus-to-Campus program offers these adults a seamless transition between both locations, helps them to overcome the obstacles which may be preventing them from achieving their full potential, and allows them to embark along a path to self-sufficiency.”

Officials at both Project Self-Sufficiency and Sussex County Community College are excited about the new joint venture. As the new Campus to Campus Program Coordinator, Project Self-Sufficiency employee Samantha Seltmann will spearhead the program at the non-profit agency. Notes Edwina Cariati, Director of the Health Sciences programs at Sussex County Community College, “Sussex County Community College is very excited about this partnership with Project Self Sufficiency which will help to expand the careers of people in our community.”

Current Project Self-Sufficiency participant Kira Shaffer recently graduated from Sussex County Community College with an Associates’ Degree in Fine Arts. Along the way, Shaffer took advantage of the opportunities for support offered on both campuses. “Because of the help and knowledge I gained at both Project Self-Sufficiency and Sussex County Community College, I feel I am much more prepared to venture out into the workforce with confidence,” noted Shaffer, who took time off from her pursuit of a college education for several years but returned to complete her degree with the support of Project Self-Sufficiency.

Samantha VanderVelde, the young mother of a toddler, recently completed the phlebotomy course at SCCC and has been certified as an EKG Technician through the college. “Since graduating from high school, my goal has been to further my education, but single parenting and working part-time makes fitting in classes very difficult,” notes VanderVelde. “The road to enrolling in college courses could have been very challenging if not for the support I received from Project Self-Sufficiency and Sussex County Community College. I never thought that I could have gotten this far, and the support I received from both Project Self-Sufficiency and Sussex County Community College has been invaluable.”

Information sessions about the new Campus to Campus program will be held at Project Self-Sufficiency on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., from August through November. Evening sessions will take place on the first and third Tuesday of each month, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Potential students are invited to attend upcoming information sessions on August 4th and 6th, from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., or on August 18th and 20th, from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.; evening sessions will be held on August 4th and 18th, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Project Self-Sufficiency is a private non-profit community-based organization dedicated to improving the lives of low-income families residing in northwestern New Jersey. The agency’s mission is to provide a broad spectrum of holistic, respectful, and comprehensive services enabling low-income single parents, teen parents, two-parent families, and displaced homemakers to improve their lives and the lives of their children through the achievement of personal and economic self-sufficiency and family stability. Since 1986 Project Self-Sufficiency has served more than 20,000 families, including over 30,000 children. For information about the programs and services offered by Project Self-Sufficiency, visit www.projectselfsufficiency.org or call 973-940-3500.