Yaw: 'CCM the Best Deal in Town'

As the economy teeters between struggling and recovering, longtime County College of Morris (CCM) President Edward Yaw has continued to push the envelope to make sure his institution is a realistic option for those seeking career advancement. Speaking to guest host Steve Adubato on WOR's John Gambling Show, the longtime CCM President discussed the evolution of the county college.

"Many are looking to us for the first two years of their education," said Yaw, who led the effort to approve a state-wide transfer agreement to make it easier for students to pursue their education beyond an associate's degree. "But we are also serving those who are looking to change careers."

While Yaw admits the challenging economy and loss of state aid has had an impact, it has not been a factor in the quality of the education. "Our tuition is higher than the national average, but it is still low," Yaw said. "But we believe we really have excellent academic programs."

During Yaw's tenure, CCM has developed the highest transfer rate of any community college in New Jersey, earned one of the highest graduation rates in the state and formed partnerships with several state agencies.

"Since 2007 we've trained about 30,000 individuals in the state of New Jersey in partnership with the NJBIA (New Jersey Business and Industry Association)  and the Department of Labor," Yaw said. "One of the strong points in New Jersey from an economic perspective is the fact that we have a highly skilled  and trained work force."

In his 25 years in office, Yaw has seen many changes to the higher education, but during that time CCM has developed into one of the state's leading community colleges with the highest transfer rate in New Jersey.

That is no surprise to the President.

"Our hallmark is affordability and accessibility," Yaw said. "To put it bluntly, we're the best deal in town."