Essex County College

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Essex County College (ECC) is a public community college in Newark, New Jersey. Founded in 1966, it opened in 1968 to serve thousands of students. The main campus is in the University Heights area of Newark, and its landmark Megastructure building—now the A. Zachary Yamba Building—was completed in 1976. ECC was accredited by the Middles States Association of Colleges and Schools in 1974.

ECC operates several campuses and centers. The West Essex Campus in West Caldwell opened in 1979 and became a full branch campus in 1989 after expansions in 1985. The FOCUS Center (opened 1974) and the Ironbound Center (opened 1979) are off-campus centers in Newark. The Public Safety Academy in Cedar Grove began operating in 1998.

The college has faced leadership changes and financial challenges in recent years. After long-serving president A. Zachary Yamba retired, ECC experienced interim leadership and a warning from Middle States in 2016 for governance and resources. Enrollment declined, and in 2017-2018 the college restructured, cutting staff. Middle States reaffirmed ECC’s accreditation in July 2018.

Programs and student life: ECC offers associate degrees (A.A., A.S., A.A.S.) in more than 50 majors and 26 certificates. Classes are available day, evening, weekend, and online across fall, winter intercession, spring, and summer sessions. Students come from more than 50 countries. Many ECC graduates transfer to four-year schools such as Rutgers University–Newark, NJIT, and Bloomfield College.

Campus life and athletics: ECC chartered Phi Theta Kappa in 1982 and supports numerous student clubs, including the Short Films Club and the Future Teachers Club. The college’s athletic teams, the Wolverines, compete in the GSAC and Region 19 of the NJCAA, with men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, soccer, and track and field. ECC has produced All-Americans and dozens of athletes who have competed in the Summer Olympics.