A History of Stockton University: From Pine Barrens to Atlantic City

Stockton University, a public institution within New Jersey's higher education system, has a rich history marked by growth, adaptation, and a commitment to sustainability. Founded in 1969 and welcoming its first class in 1971, Stockton has evolved from humble beginnings to a multi-location university serving nearly 10,000 students. This article explores the key milestones and developments that have shaped Stockton University into the institution it is today.

The Founding and Early Years

In November 1968, New Jersey approved a significant capital construction bond issue, allocating $15 million (equivalent to $135.63 million in 2024) for a new state college in Southern New Jersey. The following year, a 1,600-acre (650-hectare) site was selected in Galloway Township, nestled in the heart of the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Recognizing that construction was falling behind schedule, the trustees secured an alternative location for the inaugural class of 1971: the Mayflower Hotel in Atlantic City. Classes began on schedule in September 1971, and later that year, the campus in Galloway Township opened its doors.

Richard E. Bjork led the college as it graduated its first classes, expanded programs and achieved accreditation in 1975, the year it completed Phase II of the campus. Mitchell led during continued growth as enrollment approached 5,000 students.

Environmental Stewardship and Growth

The university's location within the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, established in 1978 by the US Congress, has instilled a strong commitment to environmental stewardship. This designation, the first of its kind in the nation, protects the area's unique ecology and aquifer.

Emphasizing green buildings, Herman Saatkamp directed completion of a campus master plan in 2005 and a major capital program, including construction of the largest building, the Campus Center, opening in 2011. He initiated the 2010 purchase of what is now Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club, established the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality & Tourism in the School of Business, and a collaborative agreement in 2011 with the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration to expand opportunities for students at both institutions in hospitality and tourism. Under his leadership, Stockton expanded its geographic reach, opening instructional sites in Cape May County, Ocean County and western Atlantic County, NJ.

Stockton's commitment to environmentally responsible design has resulted in "green" initiatives that have both saved energy and decreased greenhouse gas emissions. These include the development on campus of one of the largest geothermal heating and cooling systems in the world. The geothermal systems incorporate seasonal thermal energy storage so that waste heat or winter cold can be collected when seasonally available and stored for use in the opposing seasons. An aquifer thermal energy storage system (ATES), the first of its kind in the United States, began operation in 2008. The ATES system reduces the amount of energy used to cool Stockton's newer buildings by storing the chill of winter air in the water and rock of an underground aquifer, and withdrawing it in the summer for cooling. As part of the capital plan, Housing V was built in 2009 to accommodate the rising demand for student housing. It incorporates geothermal heating and cooling using closed-loop technology, for a total of 450 tons cooling capacity. To eliminate the possibility of groundwater contamination in the event of a leak, freeze protection is provided in the circulating fluid. The design accommodates future solar thermal heating systems. Sustainable design includes landscaping: upper-story deciduous trees were planted along the south-facing facades of the residence halls to provide shade during the summer months, but allow the warmth of the sun to reach the buildings during the winter. Stockton's next green project was the largest single building project in its history. Green Building Council's LEED Gold Standard in sustainable design, the new Campus Center, completed in 2011, provides 153,000 square feet (14,200 m2) of space for dining, bookstore, pool, theater, lounges and offices. It will use 25% less energy than standard construction, and 40% less water. Other features include low-emitting adhesives, sealants, paints and coatings. Additional "green" features of the building include a storm water-collection system to irrigate an on-site "rain garden" landscaped with indigenous and adapted plant species.

In 2002, Stockton installed a 200 kW fuel cell, which provides just under 10% of the total energy for the campus; Stockton has the lowest energy cost per student among universities in New Jersey.

Becoming a University

In 1993, the college's name was changed to the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. A significant milestone was reached on February 13, 2015, when Rochelle Hendricks, New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education, approved Stockton's petition to become a university. The board of trustees voted to change the former college's seal to reflect the new name, Stockton University.

Leadership Transitions

On April 22, 2015, Saatkamp announced his resignation, to take effect on or after August 31, 2015. On April 23, Saatkamp received a vote of "no confidence" from a portion of the faculty. Harvey Kesselman, a former provost and executive vice president, was named acting president when Dr. Saatkamp announced his intention to resign and subsequently went on medical leave. Kesselman became interim president September 1, 2015, and was named Stockton's fifth president at a December 2015 meeting of the university's board of trustees. Kesselman was inaugurated on September 23, 2016.

Expansion to Atlantic City

In the fall of 2017, Stockton University embarked on a significant expansion project: a new facility in the Chelsea neighborhood of Atlantic City. This addition was met with enthusiasm from local residents and community leaders, who saw it as a catalyst for redevelopment in the long-declining neighborhoods of Ward 5. By Thanksgiving 2018, the construction of the campus was complete. The campus budget was $178.28 million, is three stories tall and has an apartment-style complex for student living, called the Kessleman Hall. It also includes retail space along the Atlantic City boardwalk.

Read also: The History of Stockton University

Stockton University Atlantic City opened fall 2018 with more than 500 residential students and more than 1,800 students taking courses in the new Academic Center, built on the former site of Atlantic City High School. The project is a public-private partnership with Atlantic City Development Corp., or AC Devco, a non-profit modeled on New Brunswick Development Corp., which expanded Rutgers' New Brunswick campus. The project includes a parking garage topped by new offices for South Jersey Gas, with 879 parking spaces for use by the university, South Jersey Gas and the public; and an academic building that can accommodate up to 1,800 students. Kesselman negotiated a public-private partnership with Atlantic City Development Corp., or AC Devco, for a new campus in Atlantic City with residences for 533 students overlooking the beach and Boardwalk. Stockton Atlantic City also includes an Academic Center for up to 1,800 students, and a parking garage.

The university has built an Atlantic City campus at the Boardwalk and Albany Ave, with student residences overlooking the beach and Boardwalk.

Real Estate Transactions and Strategic Initiatives

In December 2014, Stockton had purchased the shuttered Showboat Atlantic City hotel and casino for $18 million, with plans to develop a full-service residential campus awarding undergraduate and graduate degrees and other professional training programs. The former resort, dubbed the "Island Campus", would have been converted casino and employee spaces into classrooms, cafeteria space and offices for faculty and staff. Soon after, it was publicly disclosed that Trump Entertainment Resorts held a covenant to the property, preventing the site from being used as anything other than a casino. It was through this covenant that Trump Entertainment Resorts prevented Stockton's plans to open an Atlantic City campus on the Showboat property. President Saatkamp came under fire for making the purchase despite knowing about the covenant. The university reached a deal to lease the property from investor Glenn Straub, who planned to purchase the Showboat.

In August 2010, as part of its expansion of its tourism and hotel management program in the School of Business, Stockton announced plans to purchase the nearby Seaview Resort & Golf Course. On September 1, 2010, Stockton completed the deal for $20 million. In 2010, Stockton established the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality & Tourism in the School of Business. Stockton University officially completed the sale of the Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club on July 31, 2018, to KDG Capital LLC of Florida for $21,070,000. The hotel retained the name Seaview Hotel & Golf Club.

Academics and Student Life

Construction of the $33.2 million Unified Science Center 2 and a $15.2 million classroom building were completed in 2018, creating three sections of a new Academic Quad and entrance to the university.

Stockton's Division of Student Affairs is organized to provide comprehensive programs and services to more than 8,800 students, including more than 3,000 students who reside in university facilities. Stockton University is home to more than 130 official student clubs and organizations including a Student Senate. There are student media organizations, including the Argo, a student-produced newspaper. WLFR 91.7 (Lake Fred Radio) is the student-run FM radio station licensed to Stockton in 1984. SSTV Ch. 14, Stockton Student Television, is Stockton's on-campus television station. Stockpot Literary Magazine is an annual literary publication featuring art, poetry and writing of Stockton students and alumni.

Stockton has six housing units on campus. Founder's Hall (Housing II and III): Housing II is an 11-building, suite-style complex, housing around 520 students, with 17 residents per floor and 51 per three-story building. Housing III is a five-building complex, housing approximately 300 students with 20 students per floor and 60 per building. The residential halls offer a more traditional university lifestyle for the first-year experience. The Apartments (Housing I, IV, and V) consist of three multi-building complexes. Housing IV consists of eight buildings, each with eight two-bedroom apartments, with a total 246 beds. Each apartment holds four residents. Housing V, completed in 2008 as part of the capital program, consists of a complex of six buildings with a total of 384 beds. The Housing V suites house four students, with four key-entry bedrooms. In fall 2018 Stockton opened its Atlantic City Campus. The Atlantic City Campus Residential Complex can accommodate some 530 students.

Recognition and Rankings

In 2019 Stockton was ranked No. News & World Report. Stockton also ranked tie No. 17 in Best Colleges for Veterans and No. Military Times named Stockton in its "Best for Vets: Colleges 2019" listing, ranking it No.

Architectural Significance

The original linear campus was cited as one of New Jersey's ten "architectural treasures" by New Jersey Monthly (April 1999) for its International modernist style, designed in the late 1960s by Robert Geddes of Geddes Brecher Qualls Cunningham Architects. Generous use of glass opens views to the Pinelands setting.

Athletics

The team is part of the NJAC in the majority of sports. Stockton also offers a cheerleading squad open to both male and female students. 2001, NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Champions. Men's basketball coach Gerry Matthews is the winningest college basketball coach in New Jersey history. Matthews retired from Stockton University before the start of the 2016â2017 season. Two Olympic medalists held the position of athletic director at Stockton: Don Bragg (1960 pole vault gold) and G. Larry James (1947â2008), gold medalist at the 1968 Summer Olympics, was athletic director at Stockton for 28 years. In 2007, Stockton's track and soccer facility was named "G.

Arts and Culture

Stockton has had a campus Art Gallery since 1973. Initially located in a classroom-sized space and relocated in 1979 to a former dance studio, the Art Gallery opened in a dedicated exhibition space in January 2012. In 2010, Stockton College entered a partnership with the South Jersey fine arts center Noyes Museum wherein Stockton would supply funds for needed repairs, and Noyes would provide access to their collections to Stockton.

Notable People

Bill Lubenow, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, author and historian, serves as president of the North American Conference on British Studies. Among his many published works are: The Cambridge Apostles, 1820â1914: Liberalism, Imagination, and Friendship in British Intellectual and Professional Life. Carol Rittner, Sisters of Mercy RSM, a Distinguished Professor of Holocaust & Genocide Studies, and considered one of the 50 greatest scholars on the Holocaust. She co-produced the Academy Award-nominated film The Courage to Care based on her book of the same name, and has authored or edited over 15 books. Dr. David Lester, a Distinguished Professor of Psychology, is one of the world's leading suicidologists.

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