Union County College Reveals New Name

UNION COUNTY, NJ — Union County College has unveiled its new name, but don't worry, the change isn't too drastic.

Effective July 1, Union County College will be known as "Union College." The two-year college has locations in Cranford, Elizabeth, Plainfield and Scotch Plains.

The President of Union College, Dr. Margaret McMenamin, led a panel last week to explain the name change. She said the college has gone through several name changes before and that the name Union College was used once before.

McMenamin said the name change is reflective a national trend to eliminate words like "junior," "county" and "community" from the names of two-year colleges.

According to USA Today, some prospective students tend to be put off by names like "community college" and dropping these terms can make the college a more attractive place to students who can benefit from it and otherwise would not attend.

McMenamin assured that the name change does not mean that the college is no longer supported by the public and the county. She said the name change signifies the college's institutional priorities of "excellence, enrollment, innovation and equity."

She said she is hopeful that this name change will result in more enrollments and become a first-choice school in the region.

“We’re entering a time of great competition and great change, with decreasing resources and really dwindling enrollments,” McMenamin said. “This name change supports our strategy for success moving forward in this post-pandemic era."

The college has previously been nationally recognized for its graduation rates, one of the 25 semifinalists nationwide for the 2023 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence and the elite institutions where its graduates transfer.

McMenamin added that programs at the college are being modified to keep up with employer demand and student expectations, focusing on transfer programs and career and technical education program.

A member of Union College's Board of Governors, Hugh Welsh, tweeted about his excitement for the new name. See below: