group photo at the atlantic cape groundbreaking ceremony

Our History

Higher Education for All — Since the Beginning

A Historic Vision for Higher Education

Original ground breaking ceremony for Mays Landing campusThe nascent idea of the community college first saw the light of day in 1947 as part of then-U.S. President Harry S. Truman’s commission report on the state of higher education in America. A six-volume report suggested the establishment of a network of public community colleges across the country that would be free of charge for all youth who could benefit from a higher education.

Read a further comprehensive history of Atlantic Cape here.

Atlantic Cape Community College History

Here in Atlantic County, various groups urged that a college be established with the goals of providing an educational service to the entire community that would discover and develop individual talents at an affordable cost with easy access. The combined efforts of educators, legislators and individuals in the community resulted in the passage of the New Jersey County College Act in 1962.

We used to be called Atlantic Community CollegeFollowing the act’s passage, a special committee of County Freeholders and educators prepared a study, which showed the need for a community college in Atlantic County. In December 1963, the State of New Jersey Department of Education granted approval for the establishment of Atlantic Community College, thus becoming the second community college to be organized by the state on April 14, 1964. Since its passage in 1962, 16 community colleges have been established in New Jersey.

The site for the college was selected on November 19, 1964 and the official groundbreaking ceremonies for its nine-building complex in Mays Landing were held in November 1966. Atlantic Community College opened its doors to students in September 1966, using facilities rented at the original Atlantic City High School location on Albany Avenue. In February 1968, the college moved to its permanent campus location in Mays Landing.

Worthington Atlantic City campusIn the Spring of 1982, the former Atlantic City Electric Company building was purchased by Atlantic County for Atlantic Cape’s permanent Atlantic City campus, which opened in 1984 after a $4 million renovation project transformed the aging building into a beautiful modern facility that hosts the Casino Career Institute (CCI), the country’s first higher education affiliated gaming school.

The William J. Spangler Library on the Mays Landing campus was expanded and renovated with the addition of a mezzanine level, computer lab with space for more than 90 personal computers, faculty and administrative offices, small study/meeting rooms, a classroom/meeting room and typing, video and audio tape rooms in 1990.

Carême's on the Mays Landing campusThe Academy of Culinary Arts building on the Mays Landing campus opened in October 1991 and features more than 29,000 square feet of space. The building's entrance opens to an atrium lobby with a glass ceiling that allows natural light to fill the space. The building features teaching kitchens, classrooms, a 70-seat student-run gourmet restaurant, Carême's, with a 25-seat greenhouse room, service and storage areas, and administrative and faculty offices.

To recognize Atlantic Cape’s long-standing dedication to higher education in both Atlantic and Cape May counties, Atlantic Community College officially became known as Atlantic Cape Community College in February 1999.

In April 2001, the Atlantic City campus was renamed in memory of Atlantic County’s first county executive, Charles D. Worthington. Casino-Career-Institute.png

A second major renovation was completed in 2008 to house the Health Professions Institute (HPI). Another expansion project commenced in 2013 and by 2015, the college added the Caesars Entertainment Wing for Hospitality and Gaming Studies, and brought the college’s renowned culinary and hospitality training programs to Atlantic City.

In 2004-05, a $2.6 million renovation provided upgrades to the Mays Landing campus' HVAC system, and building improvements including new sidewalks, fencing, landscaping and signage.

STEM-building-at-night.pngThe Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) building opened in 2015 adjacent to the Library. The 32,475-square-foot building was designed by the Philadelphia firm Stantec Architects and is eligible for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification for its environmentally "green" design. The STEM building contains labs for chemistry, biology and earth science, as well as an air traffic control simulation lab. The building also includes unique dry-erase walls, an astronomy observation area and partially vegetative roof. 

Welcome to Atlantic CapeOn May 30, 2017, Atlantic Cape was designated an Anchor Institution. The signing of the historic "Declaration of Commitment," which was endorsed by 18 other New Jersey colleges and universities, pledged to "leverage the resources of higher education institutions to revitalize, strengthen, empower and improve their respective communities." The New Jersey Coalition of Anchor Institutions has charter members in Atlantic City, Camden, Newark, Paterson and Trenton.

Atlantic Cape in Cape May County

Since 1973, the College has been the main provider of community college education to Cape May County residents. For many years, Cape May County officials studied ways to bring better higher educational opportunities to its residents.

Cape May County campusIn July 1995, the New Jersey Higher Education declined the county's request for an independent college and recommended that it enter into a partnership with a neighboring community college, citing such benefits of a joint college as a larger population base, economies of scale, immediate availability and accreditation of curricula, and elimination of duplication of efforts and costs.

Cape May County requested joint proposals which were due in February 1997 and, as a result, on January 1, 1999, ACC officially became a joint college between Atlantic and Cape May counties. The Board of Trustees approved a new name for the joint college: Atlantic Cape Community College (Atlantic Cape) in February, 1999.

The Cape May County campus opened in August 2005. The new 68,000-square-foot facility features a brick façade and two wings that house an information commons that includes a combination library and computer lab; a 100-seat lecture hall; a full-service cafeteria; and 19 classrooms-including chemistry and biology labs, three academic computer labs, two continuing education computer labs and one distance education classroom. In addition, Atlantic Cape provides support services facilities, including counseling, testing, tutoring and financial aid offices as well as administrative offices at the new campus.

Presidents of Atlantic Cape Community College

  • Dr. Barbara Gaba, 2017-present
  • Dr. Peter L. Mora, 2005-2016
  • Dr. John T. May, 1993-2005

Presidents of Atlantic Community College

  • Dr. William A. Orth, 1987-1993
  • Ronald W. Bush, 1984-1986
  • Dr. Lawrence R. Winchell, Jr., 1973-1984
  • Dr. Wallace Appelson, 1970-1973
  • Dr. Luther G. Shaw, 1966-1970
  • Dr. Walton Brown, 1964-1966

 

Fast Facts

  • A comprehensive nonprofit publicly-supported institution of higher education
  • Serves Atlantic and Cape May counties in New Jersey across three campuses
  • Enrolls just over 6,000 credit students
  • Originally named Atlantic Community College
  • Second community college in New Jersey (1964)
  • Officially became a joint college with Cape May County - January 1, 1999
  • Renamed Atlantic Cape Community College  - February 1999
  • Mays Landing Campus on 541 acres in the picturesque New Jersey Pinelands
  • Atlantic Cape is located 15 miles west of the world famous Atlantic City Boardwalk
  • 45 miles from Philadelphia
  • 115 miles from New York City