Students Reflect On Taking Classes At The Jersey Shore

By Logan Germano | Published September 29, 2022

Kean Ocean, home to over 40 undergraduate and seven graduate degree program options, has made the transition from community college to an undergraduate degree program a lot easier. 

Students who reside in the Ocean County area have the opportunity to enroll and attend classes at the Ocean campus located in Toms River to complete their graduate and undergraduate degree without commuting to Kean’s Union campus.

The commuter program which began as a partnership in 2006 between Ocean County College (OCC) and Kean University is a one-stop shop for getting a college degree closer to home. 

“It’s all here for students,” Maureen Bryne, Associate Director of Kean Ocean said. “From the affordability of the program and overall cost of the degree, to the resources both local and international, the career preparation and research initiatives, not to mention the location.”

The program started with only three Ocean County College classrooms that were used for Kean classes; the campus has grown over the last 16 years and now takes up half of Ocean County College’s Gateway Building. 

As students approach the end of their community college experience, choosing where they want to further their education can be a difficult process. They are constantly connecting with their advisors, completing and submitting countless application forms, and keeping an eye on tuition in order to transfer to a university that is not only affordable, but best fits their interests. 

Anselmo Martinez Pita, a criminal justice major who is in his first semester at Kean Ocean, expressed how easy it was to transfer in from Ocean County College.

“To transfer to Kean Ocean, it was a quick and efficient process where I barely had to fill anything out,” Pita said. “I would recommend this to any current Ocean County College students because the way courses are set up at Kean is similar to OCC.”

Although most students deal with the stress of going away to live at a four-year university, some take the road less traveled and stay local. Robert Goodall, a communication major who transferred from Ocean County College, chose Kean Ocean because of how convenient it is for someone who lives in town. 

“It is nice to have all of my classes in one building,” Goodall said. “Although I am missing out on living in a dorm and life at the main campus, Kean Ocean is very convenient for me because I live five minutes away. Moneywise you can’t beat it.”

Despite being in one building, the Kean Ocean campus has a lot to offer. The campus has several clubs for student involvement such as the Education Club, History Club, Psychology Club, Accounting Club, and STEM Club. 

Kean Ocean also hosts events throughout the year. A few upcoming events include the start of Community Yoga sessions and a Roe v. Wade/ Dobbs v. Jackson discussion panel being hosted by two Kean Ocean alumni on Oct. 3. 

Students at Kean Ocean are eager to see the campus expand. Kevin Woodworth, a member of the Public Relations Student Society of America, Kean Chapter, said that he would like for more material to be available for students in the communications field. 

“I want to see more reporting and media production to be brought to Kean Ocean for students going into Journalism,” Woodworth said. “As for Public Relations, our PRSSA chapter is being converted to an overall Communication Club where everyone can be in one facility.”

As the semester progresses, Pita envisions a fitness club being put together at Kean Ocean. 

“I would like to see a weight lifting or some type of fitness club come about,” Pita said. “Although OCC’s weight room is kind of limited, it is still something I would be interested in, even better if Kean Ocean had their own.”

The convenience of the location, simple transfer process, and tight-knit campus atmosphere are all what make Kean students seek higher education from their own backyard.

---