How Berkeley College Empowers Students To Achieve Lifelong Success

This Patch article is sponsored by Berkeley College.

Local businesses are the heart of our communities. Patch had a chance to talk with Diane Recinos, EdD, President of Berkeley College.

Patch: Tell us a bit about your organization.
Diane Recinos: Berkeley College, founded in 1931, is a career-focused institution accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that offers students Master’s, Bachelor’s, and Associate’s degree and Certificate programs in more than 20 career fields. The College also provides continuing education programs to enhance career credentials. A commitment to practical, career-focused education and personal attention sets Berkeley apart. Programs are developed with input from industry experts to ensure that students have the skills today’s employers demand. Instructors are chosen for both academic excellence and professional experience, and comprehensive support services and resources are available for students.

More than 3,600 students are enrolled at campuses in Newark, Woodbridge, and Woodland Park, NJ, and New York City, as well as Berkeley College Online®. U.S. News & World Report has named Berkeley College among the Best Colleges for Online Bachelor’s Programs and among the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans, for 10 consecutive years. U.S. News & World Report named Berkeley College (NJ) one of the Best Regional Colleges in the North in its 2023 edition of the Best Colleges Survey. Berkeley College (NJ) was recognized among the Best Colleges in the region for social mobility for three consecutive years.

Patch: How long has your organization been around in the community?
Recinos: Berkeley College conducted its first classes as The Berkeley School on September 28, 1931, in East Orange, NJ, to provide pathways and opportunities for women during the Great Depression. The school evolved from a premier secretarial school to a widely recognized degree-granting institution offering Associate, Bachelor, and Master-level degrees, as well as Certificate and Continuing Education programs in a range of career fields. Berkeley’s main campus was relocated to Woodland Park in 1976 after operating in East Orange for 45 years. The College also has campuses in Newark and Woodbridge, NJ, and New York City. The College celebrated its 90-year history in New Jersey with tree-planting ceremonies in 2021.

Patch: What attracted you to the line of work you’re in, and how did you get started?
Recinos: My career in higher education began in financial aid and I enjoyed helping students and their families with the financial aid process. Even though my roles and responsibilities changed over the years one thing remained constant – the ability to help students and see them grow and ultimately graduate.

Related: President's Profile: Diane Recinos, EdD

Patch: If you had to sum up your business mission to a stranger in five words, what would those words be?
Recinos: Career-focused, accessible, student-centered, community, innovative

Patch: What’s the biggest challenge or most difficult moment you’ve faced in your job?
Recinos: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been by far the biggest challenge, while at the same time it highlighted the resilience and adaptability of Berkeley College students, faculty, and staff.

If the COVID-19 pandemic revealed anything about the future of higher education, it was the need to reimagine the student experience and meet students where they are. When I became President, I could not assume things would return to how they were prior to the pandemic. With 24 years of excellence in online education, Berkeley College was already strongly positioned to offer academics and support services in the virtual space. Post-pandemic, many students continue to choose the flexibility of online learning. Berkeley College has addressed these changing needs, offering a vibrant online college experience as well as in-person and virtual interview preparation, career fairs, and other resources that meet students’ interests and career aspirations.

Many Berkeley College students – the majority of whom are nontraditional and may be working full-time or taking care of their families – continue to choose the flexibility of online learning and virtual campus activities. It is vital that we listen to our students and have a greater understanding of what they need to be successful. By offering the flexibility of both on-site and online programming that fits their schedules, Berkeley College students can have the best of both worlds without sacrificing the quality of a well-rounded education.

Patch: What’s the most satisfying part of your job?
Recinos: The most satisfying part of my job is seeing students graduate and go on to successful careers. As I told our graduates when I presided during my first Commencement ceremony as President last year: Dreams do not come easy. Our students know this. The majority of Berkeley College students are nontraditional and may be working full-time or taking care of their families. They have persevered through a pandemic and overcome the challenges of unforeseen circumstances and the everyday responsibilities in their lives. As our graduates become leaders in the workforce and in their communities, Berkeley College will continue to support them as they progress in their careers. This year’s Commencement ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.

Patch: How would you say your business or organization distinguishes itself from the others?
Recinos: Berkeley College empowers students to achieve lifelong success in dynamic careers. A commitment to practical, career-focused education and personal attention sets Berkeley apart. Academic programs are developed with input from industry experts to ensure that students have the skills today’s employers demand. Instructors are chosen for both academic excellence and professional experience, and comprehensive support services and resources are available for students. The College also provides continuing education programs to enhance career credentials.

Berkeley College has a dedicated Office of Career Services that assists students and alumni in identifying and pursuing job and internship opportunities. We assist them with resume writing and interview preparation and work with each student as he or she pursues an internship or a full-time position best suited to their interests and career focus. Graduates join a network of 65,000 Berkeley College alumni who are eligible to receive lifetime career assistance.

The College embraces a holistic approach to education by offering campus food pantries and student services such as personal counseling and academic advisement both on-site and online. Many Berkeley College students – the majority of whom are nontraditional and may be working full-time or taking care of their families – continue to choose the flexibility of online learning and virtual campus activities. Strengthened by 25 years of online teaching and learning excellence, Berkeley College’s virtual space is an inclusive and effective option that allows all students to have meaningful interactions with their classmates and professors and fully participate in the college experience.

We also work closely with the business community. Berkeley College advisory boards speak with employers about what they need from our students so that we can prepare them for the workforce in a way in that ensures their skills will be marketable. The College also has established Corporate Learning Partnerships with local and national businesses including Fresh Direct, TD Bank and others, offering discounted tuition to employees seeking to learn new skills or pursue a degree to advance their careers.

Patch: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given when it comes to success?
Recinos: The best piece of advice I have been given is that it is OK make a mistake – you must learn from it and move on.

Patch: Are there any new projects or endeavors you’re working on that you’re extra excited about?
Recinos:

Newark Promise Initiative: Berkeley College recently announced the Newark Promise Grant, an opportunity for qualified residents of Essex County, NJ, to pursue a degree without incurring any loans for tuition and fees. Interested residents who meet the grant requirements must enroll as full-time Associate’s degree students at Berkeley College in Newark, NJ. Learn more about the Newark Promise Initiative here.

Graphic Design Virtual Gallery: In fall 2022, the Berkeley College Graphic Design Department launched the GRD Virtual Gallery, displaying more than 190 curated student works in photography, painting, drawing, motion graphics, and more – all housed in the metaverse. Using an avatar, viewers can explore the three-level virtual exhibit the same way they would walk through a physical gallery space. Learn more about the Graphic Design Virtual Gallery here.

Master of Science in Nursing: Berkeley College recently launched a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program through its School of Health Studies. The advanced degree is for nursing professionals interested in expanding their opportunities as nurse educators, managers, and practitioners. With this program approval, Berkeley College – New Jersey has the only Licensed Practical Nurse-Bachelor of Science in Nursing-Master of Science in Nursing (LPN-BSN-MSN) pathway program in the State of New Jersey.

Patch: Do you have any events coming up in your community?
Recinos: Berkeley College will host its Commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. We look forward to celebrating our graduates who persevered through the COVID-19 pandemic to earn Certificates, Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees. The graduating class includes military and veteran students, international students, future healthcare heroes, and many first-generation college students who reflect perseverance and resilience as they step toward brighter, more equitable futures.

Each October, Berkeley College hosts Women’s Entrepreneurship Week, part of a global initiative that elevates the voices of women on key issues. Since 2015, WEW events have featured a wide range of diverse leaders in government, business and media who have shared resources for success in rebuilding the economy, fixing the broken rungs of the career ladder, and converting pivotal moments into opportunities. Topics center on advancing gender equity, business and entrepreneurship among Minority and Women-owned Businesses (MWBEs). Learn more about Berkeley College Women’s Entrepreneurship Week (WEW)

More about Berkeley College:

• Website: BerkeleyCollege.edu
• Facebook: BerkeleyCollegePage
• Twitter: @BerkeleyCollege
• Email: info@BerkeleyCollege.edu
• Phone: 800-446-5400
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/school/berkeley-college/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/berkeleycollege/