WEST WINDSOR –Mercer County Community College (MCCC) has announced the launch of the American Honors program, a rigorous national program that will enable high-achieving MCCC students to transfer to some of the top four-year universities in the country. Mercer is the first college in New Jersey to offer the American Honors program.

Through a partnership with Quad Learning Inc., a Washington, D.C.-based education company, MCCC will begin enrolling students in the American Honors program in the Fall of 2014. American Honors is a selective two-year program that provides students seeking bachelor’s degrees an opportunity to complete their first two years at a community college at a reduced cost.

“We are excited to be offering the American Honors program at Mercer,” said MCCC President Dr. Patricia C. Donohue.  “American Honors provides a highly rigorous curriculum development process that will challenge top students, while remaining consistent with our mission to provide a quality education at an affordable price and close to home.”

The American Honors program offers a pathway for students interested in earning a bachelor’s degree, but who are not yet ready to take on the financial costs or personal demands of a four-year university. The courses, which will be developed and taught by dedicated MCCC faculty with support from American Honors instructional designers, are designed to prepare students for the rigor of classes at a four-year institution. The challenging curriculum, personalized advising services, and cutting-edge learning platform will prepare students with the tools they need to be successful while at Mercer and after they transfer. American Honors program graduates have been accepted to Stanford, Cornell, Georgetown, Vanderbilt, Michigan, USC, Rutgers, Purdue, Reed, Union and Occidental.

 “The power of student engagement in a community like American Honors facilitates a different kind of learning,” says Chris Romer, American Honors co-founder and president.  “We’re excited to launch the program with MCCC and build its honors community. An Honors diploma from MCCC will be a great route to many top universities throughout the country.”  He adds that American Honors graduates have received significant scholarships from their transfer schools.

Among the elements of MCCC’s American Honors program are small classes, taught by dedicated faculty, personalized academic and career advising, and expanded opportunities for transfer to four-year colleges across the country.

Students interested in applying are encouraged to visit: Apply.AmericanHonors.org and email admissions@americanhonors.org with questions. The selection process is holistic and examines candidates’ leadership abilities, extracurricular activities, academic achievements, standardized test scores, and commitment to the ideals of the program.

Representatives from American Honors and MCCC will be available for media questions and interviews on Thursday, Nov. 14, at 4 p.m. at the Conference Center on MCCC’s West Windsor campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road, during the college’s annual open house event. For more details, please contact info@americanhonors.org.

Mercer County Community College is home to approximately 13,000 students in degree and certificate programs at its West Windsor and Trenton campuses, and through MercerOnline. The college offers more than 100 degree and credit certificate programs. MCCC is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.