On behalf of all of us at Brookdale – faculty, staff, board members, alumni and students – I want to thank you, our Monmouth County neighbors, for the impressive vote of confidence we received from you this year!

Our record enrollments for both Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 Terms, coupled with our burgeoning graduation rate, have made us New Jersey’s #1 Associate degree college, and one of the top 100 providers of Associate degrees in the nation.

These are estimable accomplishments, but even more important to us are the results of a random telephone survey of County residents conducted early in 2008. What matters most is what you think of the job we’re doing in your behalf, and a large majority of you feel we’re doing very well.

First of all, almost 90% recognized Brookdale as a preeminent purveyor of higher education in our area. Indeed, more than a quarter of you have taken at least one Brookdale course, most of you at our Lincroft campus, but an increasing number at our Western Monmouth Branch Campus and our Higher Education Centers.

An impressive 88% knew that preparation for transfer to an upper division school is central to the College’s mission, and more than 97% considered that part of the mission crucially important.

More than three quarters of those surveyed were aware of our career-oriented programs designed to prepare students to take their places in the world of work. Again, more than 90% recognized the importance of such education to the welfare and economy of our County.

But perhaps most gratifying was your rating of our performance in these, and many other educational facets.  In each of the areas of importance, you consistently rated us in the 90th percentile – you believe that your community college is doing its job, and doing it well.

 There is, of course, always much room for expansion and improvement. We want to address your time constraints with more on-line and distance education courses. We want to bring more classes and services to your neighborhood Higher Education Centers. More of you need to know about our career-related opportunities. It is our job to educate you about the education Brookdale offers. And we remain dedicated to doing so.

Again, thank you. We look forward to continuing to enhance your lives through our services.

Peter F. Burnham, Ph.D.