Leadership Exchange - Summer 2009

It’s a reasonable assumption that “location, location, loca- tion” plays a role for many students who choose The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. That decision occurs for a variety of reasons.

First and foremost is the natural beauty of the campus. Stockton’s strategic location in the Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey ensures that its beauty will be protected and that its well-known program in environmental studies will be nurtured. The 1,600-acre campus, known as New Jersey’s “green” college, includes two small lakes, a natural arboretum, a wildlife observatory, and a marine field station.

Add the back bays of the Jersey coastline and the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean, and you have a winning combination for recreation and a respected marine sciences program.

Socializing opportunities abound with some of the most famous boardwalks in the world right down the road. Ocean City, a traditional family vacation spot, provides a wealth of summer employment positions for students. Atlantic City, a world-class resort area, abounds with posh eateries, celebrity chefs, luxurious hotels, magnificent spas, star-studded entertainment, must-see sporting events, and spectacular gaming floors. Internships and part-time, career-oriented jobs are a reality for students interested in fields such as hospitality management and tourism.

There are obvious pros and cons when studying in what some consider a perfect party environment. After 23 years as a senior student life administrator in a resort college community, I can say the pros definitely outweigh the cons. Let me explain.

The town–gown concept has a rich history in higher education. We usually don’t hear about it unless a neighborhood is being affected by students and their sometimes noisy and less-respectful antics. While those behaviors will continue to happen, they certainly are not the norm for our college community. The symbiotic relationship between our local township and the larger community is strengthened by the presence of the college. It is a true laboratory for community living, learning, and sharing.

It’s fairly intuitive that living, working, and studying so close to a casino town can present distractions as students move forward with their academic and career agendas. Yet, the resort nature of our location has actually contributed to many positive student life initiatives.

Only about one-third of the students attending Stockton are true commuters who live in the immediate vicinity. The majority of students either resides on campus or rents apartments close to campus, sometimes near the beach. The summer

Stockton College students take advantage of the boardwalks, beaches, and cultural opportunities of nearby Atlantic City and Philadelphia.

rental season for vacationers actually helps students rent prime real estate off season, specifically September through May. Returning to your rented beach home to study or have friends over is a perk.

Some are concerned that students can be negatively impacted living and studying so close to a casino environment. It is true that this environment may exacerbate student addiction issues, including chronic gambling. However, the advent of Internet technology combined with legal and illegal sports betting opportunities has extended this environment to society in general.

It is true that alcohol is incorporated in the lifestyle of college students, whether we like it or not. Free drinks provided on the casino floor do not help our cause for promoting responsible drinking. However, we have programs in place to assist those who might have gambling and/or alcohol addictions, and our heightened sensitivity aids in both proactive and reactive efforts. I am not aware of many students who fall prey to these issues simply because of our proximity to the casino environment.

As far as the co-curriculum, the opportunity for engaging campus life programs throughout the year is infinite. Our proximity to Philadelphia (less than one hour) and New York City (less than two hours) makes our location even more desirable. Academic and service-oriented projects operate through student life areas to ensure that the local community benefits from our students, as well. Our days of service routinely involve the rescue missions and shelters that invariably cohabitate with resorts. For example, our students, faculty, staff, and administrators can be found serving food in a nearby soup kitchen. When our faculty band performed their latest gig to raise money for scholarships, it wasn’t held in the gym—it was held in Atlantic City at the House of Blues.

Studying and preparing for a career in a resort community definitely has advantages. I believe that Stockton students and the general community benefit from having each other as neighbors.