Ocean County College has ended a program that aimed to bring "American higher education" to students in Egypt. The program, which was started by former president Jon H. Larson, was terminated by new president Pamela J. Monaco and the Board of Trustees due to low enrollment and financial concerns.
The program partnered with several Egyptian universities, including Ain Shams University and the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport. However, the Egyptian universities were not able to guarantee enough students to make the program financially viable.
"The decision to end the program was not an easy one," said Monaco in a statement. "However, after careful review, we determined that it was in the best interests of the college to focus our resources on programs that are more aligned with our mission and strategic goals."
The program's termination comes as Ocean County College faces a number of challenges, including declining enrollment and financial difficulties. The college's accreditation is also potentially in jeopardy, following a recent review by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
It is unclear what the future holds for Ocean County College. However, the decision to end the program with Egyptian universities suggests that the college is under new leadership and is taking steps to address its challenges.
