Michael McDonough, President, Raritan Valley Community College

Michael McDonough, president of Raritan Valley Community College, sat down with Invest: to discuss how the college is partnering with local businesses to meet labor market demands, the value of higher education, and how Raritan Valley is shifting its approach to curriculum to provide students with skills that are relevant to ever-changing industry needs. “Connecting with industries and businesses that have critical labor market needs is key,” McDonough said.

Over the past year, what changes have most impacted Raritan Valley Community College, and what notable successes have you achieved? 

We have begun expanding our workforce training center. At the heart of this expansion is a Class C Cleanroom, which will help us to better serve the emerging aseptic biomanufacturing industry in New Jersey. Our workforce footprint is continuing to grow as we continue to invest in partnerships with business and industry. This has resulted in wonderful opportunities for our students to find career pathways that provide them with sustainable wages. These partnerships have also allowed us to provide skilled workers to industries that are in need. Our enrollment is continuing to grow, and we are excited to continue to serve our diverse community. 

How is the college positioning itself within the life sciences industry, and what impact will the recent launch of NJBioFutures have on the community? 

NJBioFutures is aiming to accomplish several things. We are looking to forge meaningful collaborations with business and industry. Understanding the technical skill sets that the industry is looking for in our students is key, and we are looking to include these industries in the development of our programs. NJBioFutures uses labor market data and collaborations to help sustain and grow businesses that are here, as well as act as an entity that can welcome new businesses into New Jersey. The idea is to make our area an ideal location for businesses to come to because we can provide them with highly skilled and capable workers. NJBioFutures also allows students who are in noncredit workforce pathways to transition into a more academic pathway in the life sciences sector. NJBioFutures also allows us as an institution to better understand the kind of workplaces that our students are going to be going into, while also giving them work-based learning experiences. This partnership allows us to give our students access to internships and mentorships that they otherwise may not have had access to. 

How is the college a reflection of not only the business industry but also of the broader educational sector in New Jersey?

The college has been reflective of the state of the current landscape that we are in the middle of. It is important to ask if our hiring processes are reflective of the actual student population. Twenty-seven percent of our student population is Hispanic, and they must see representation. This is a significant achievement for us because 10 years ago, we had a small Hispanic student population.

A key difference between our sector and four-year institutions is that the majority of our students will remain in the region after graduating. As an institution, we must be engaged in the community and give our students the same opportunities. We believe that service learning and experiential learning are of the utmost importance. The other part of that equation is that we must support the businesses and industries that are in New Jersey. That is central to our mission, and we aim to do that in whatever ways we can. 

How does Raritan Valley Community College foster community engagement? 

Many years ago, I was asked what Raritan Valley Community College does to support those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. At the time, we had nothing of the sort. In an effort to address this issue, we implemented the Achievement Center on our campus by partnering with the Arcs of Summerset and Hunterdon County. We have over 150 students on campus three days a week, all of whom have intellectual and developmental disabilities. This program provides a college experience for those students. Some of those students may not transition into taking college courses; however, they may transition into our workforce program. Our goal is to serve everyone in our community. The question to ask is, “Who is not here?” and find a way to get those citizens on our campus.  

How do institutions continue to add value to ensure higher education remains a worthy investment? 

For the first time, the public is skeptical about higher education. Because it is so expensive, people are questioning whether they will get a return on their investment. Study after study shows that you do need some sort of credential post-high school. That does not necessarily mean it needs to be a four-year degree. 

We have had to remake the case with the public and provide a real response to their concerns. What are our outcomes? We have had to show people the statistics. How many of our students are placed in jobs? What is the average annual salary of those workers? How many individuals complete their programs? Fifty-three percent of people receiving a bachelor’s degree this year started at a community college, which is a remarkable return on their investment. Ninety-six percent of students in our advanced manufacturing pathways are hired before they finish the program. We need to do a better job of telling these stories to help restore confidence in the public. 

We are the recipients of a Title II literacy grant that allows recent immigrants to come to campus and improve their English, while simultaneously getting an industry credential. We acknowledge that it might not be the best job in the world; however, it is the first step to mobility and prosperity. Higher education is the single most powerful tool to improve your life. 

How is Raritan Community College adapting to meet the evolving demands of the workforce in the region and current trends in the industry? 

This is often a difficult task for colleges. The myth about colleges is that they move slowly and do not like change. Business and industry are changing at an alarming rate. AI and machine learning have completely transformed much of the business landscape. We must form public-private partnerships. Connecting with industries and businesses that have critical labor market needs is key. We now have businesses reaching out to us, and it is not a one-sided partnership. We have also had to recognize that we now have to be much more agile and innovative. One aspect of that is being willing to start and stop programs as the needs of the labor market shift. Some industries, like healthcare, will always be in demand. However, most industries are ever-changing and require us to evolve.

We have learned to be more flexible with class scheduling. This means offering both online and hybrid courses, and various credentials that are valuable in the workplace. Change is sometimes difficult; however, in today’s current climate, it is necessary. 

Another shift in higher education has been teaching students how to use technology in meaningful, productive, and ethical ways. We must provide students with tools to problem solve, not just information to memorize. 

What opportunities for growth do you see for Raritan Valley Community College, as well as the education industry as a whole? 

I hope that we continue to open the doors to all students. The history of higher education has been opening those doors wider and wider. Secondly, I believe that we are going to see revolutions in general education and the liberal arts. I believe we will see programs that allow students to leverage generative AI and machine learning, and students will be much more attuned to solving problems in the real world. Students will become better at using technology to find creative solutions. 

I hope that we allow students to work better with one another because work is about collaborating and how well you can work on a team. Fostering genuine care for one another and learning how to have difficult conversations is important. I hope we do not lose the idea of a public good. We should engage in service work, civic engagement, and education. Citizenship is a responsibility, and some things must be done to ensure that the good of all of us is sustained.