High-Tech Education Abounds

Mercer Business, Feb 01, 2002 by Ramsey, Ed

Among the areas of study offered at Thomas Edison State College, Trenton, are courses in the technical sciences that will prepare the student for initiation in very specialized jobs that are often highly paid and bring the satisfaction of important and interesting achievement not only during the periods of study, but throughout a lifetime career.

Among the tech courses Edison offers are aviation flight technology leading to FAA commercial and airline transport pilots licenses, aviation maintenance technology, biomedical electronics that trains students to design and maintain health-related equipment, civil and construction engineering technology, clinical laboratory science, computer science and cytotechnology.

Also available are courses and graduate programs in electrical and electronic technology, environmental sciences, marine engineering, mechanical engineering, medical imaging, nuclear engineering and nuclear medicine technology, radiation therapy, and radiation protection.

Established in 1971, the college is located in several downtown Trenton buildings including the landmark Kelsey Building. Constructed in 1911, it was modeled after the Palazzo Strozzi in Florence, and is located adjacent to the New Jersey State House.

Headed by Dr. George A. Pruitt, a former chairman of the Greater Mercer County Chamber of Commerce, Thomas Edison boasts a distinguished professional staff. All students must be at least 21 years of age, and a high school graduate. Last year, the college awarded 1,197 degrees, 85% of which were baccalaureate.

Seven months after the end of the Civil War in 1865, entrepreneurs looking for a place to establish a school of business chose Trenton because of its prominence in the manufacture of numerous goods including pottery, iron and steel, textiles and rubber products. They reasoned that such businesses would require a steady supply of accountants, secretaries and clerks with professional training so they rented Temperance Hall, a large building located at the corner of S. Broad and Front Sts. in the heart of downtown Trenton and hired Andrew Jackson Rider to be the first president of the new Trenton Business College.

The following year women were admitted, an exceptional event in 1866. Over the years the flourishing school underwent several changes of name, but its most familiar was Rider College, changed to Rider University in 1994.

From these modest beginnings, Rider has achieved worldwide fame and its 353 acre campus in Lawrence Township hosts. 38 buildings that house and educate more than 5,000 students.

Lauren B. Eder, Ph.D. heads up the department that teaches computer information systems, including electronic commerce, networking, database management and similar programs relating to the computer age. All business majors are required to take a course in what is called management information systems, according to Dr. Eder. The course deals with a "bird's eye" view of the strategic impact of information technology with the focus on commercial organizations.

"Students today are more technology minded than they were even in the fairly recent past," she said. "They are growing up in the digital age, and they are not afraid to try things that people who have been in industry, for even 10 years, are afraid to become dependent on. I see students coming in who are more aware of what technology can do for them, how they can use it, and so forth, but, the one thing I find that students are not aware of, is how much digital information is available. Many students are astounded at the availability of information."

Among the more popular courses on the campus at Rider is electronic commerce. In this course, students get handson experience by developing a mock business and research various types of business to ascertain the types of businesses more likely to succeed. Research is also done on real industries to discover reasons for success (or failure).

Dr. Eder believes that students today are looking at more traditional career paths.

She notes that students are aware of today's tighter job market, By contrast, she said, two years ago a much more laid-back attitude prevailed, with students expressing the belief that a college or university degree was not needed to compete successfully in today's world. Such beliefs have given way to a more sober view that career successes often follow traditional educational paths.

Founded in 1855 as the New Jersey State Normal School, The College of New Jersey (formerly Trenton State College) has been preparing students for a career in teaching since its beginning. And like Rider University, it has achieved national and worldwide recognition as being one of best American colleges by prestigious surveys as reported in US News and World Report, Money magazine and other reliable guides. Located on 289 nicely kept acres in suburban Ewing Township, the college boasts a full time enrollment of nearly 5,500 students who are offered more than 40 degree programs in its five schools.

Technology studies are high on the list of student options with 23 distinct programs offered including creative design, energy systems, information technology, advanced writing in technology, computer systems and other courses that challenge young minds and gives them a fast start in a complex world.