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Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) in Branchburg and Mason Gross School of the Arts (MGSA) of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, have entered into a new agreement that will assist RVCC students interested in pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree to continue their higher education in dance.

According to the agreement, students who complete an Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.) Degree in Dance from RVCC may seamlessly transfer into the MGSA Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Dance program with junior-year standing, as long as they complete certain degree and admission requirements. This includes participating in a dance audition at the required performance level.

“This transfer agreement with Mason Gross School of the Arts allows RVCC students to continue their passion for dance at one of the top-rated B.F.A./B.A. dance programs in the country. It reinforces the quality and professionalism of our students and offers them the opportunity to further develop and fully realize their potential as dance artists, leaders, and performers. The agreement reflects the high quality of dance and the arts at RVCC, and the value of creating transfer opportunities for all our students,” said Loretta Di Bianca Fois, Professor of Dance and Co-Chair of the Honors College at RVCC.

"The Mason Gross Dance Department looks forward to serving aspiring dancers through this new partnership with Raritan Valley Community College,” said Julia M. Ritter, Chair and Artistic Director of the Mason Gross School of the Arts Dance Department. “Students will be offered the opportunity to build on the strong foundation they receive through their training in the Arts & Design Department at RVCC and engage a wide range of creative exploration at Rutgers, a leading national research university.”

According to the agreement, students may transfer up to 60 credits earned at RVCC to the B.F.A. program at Mason Gross. RVCC students who successfully transfer into MGSA’s program should be able to finish their B.F.A. in two years by completing four, full-time consecutive semesters and one summer of studies at Mason Gross. RVCC students also would be eligible for merit scholarship based on their grade point average and audition results.

For information about the new agreement, contact Paul Michaud, RVCC’s Director of Transfer & Career Services, at 908-526-1200, ext. 8333. For additional information about RVCC’s A.F.A. Degree in Dance program, contact Loretta Di Bianca Fois at loretta.fois@raritanval.edu.

About the Mason Gross Dance Department

The Dance Department at the Mason Gross School of the Arts fosters excellence at the intersection of dance performance, creative achievement, and research. As professional artist-educators, dance faculty ensure expert direction in all three areas of the curriculum: technique and performance, choreography, and theoretical studies, with a focus on cultivating a community of high-caliber, collaborative, and multidimensional dance artists. The department offers five degree programs: bachelor of fine arts, bachelor of arts, master of fine arts, master of education in dance, and dual bachelor of fine arts/master’s in dance education. Students have opportunities to audition for and perform with the department’s outreach program, University DanceWorks. In addition, they may collaborate with professional companies and choreographers in residence and participate in master classes with notable industry professionals.

About Mason Gross School of the Arts

Established in 1976, Mason Gross School of the Arts is the flagship public arts conservatory of New Jersey and a division of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Founded in 1766, Rutgers is the nation’s eighth-oldest institution of higher learning, a leading Big Ten public research university with more than 71,000 students, and a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The Mason Gross School is home to the departments of Art & Design, Dance, Music, and Theater as well as Rutgers Community Arts, Rutgers Arts Online, the Rutgers Filmmaking Center, and the Rutgers Print Collaborative. The school has an enrollment of approximately 805 undergraduates and 257 graduate students across five disciplines, supported by approximately 390 faculty and 66 staff. Students at Mason Gross hail from 29 states and territories and 21 countries. Mason Gross is one of the most selective schools at Rutgers–New Brunswick, ensuring that students have the opportunity to work closely with accomplished artists in their fields.

About RVCC

Ranked by WalletHub.com and Niche.com as the #1 community college in New Jersey, Raritan Valley Community College has been serving as an academic and cultural center for Somerset and Hunterdon County residents for over 50 years. The College has been nationally recognized for its service to the community, environmental stewardship, and commitment to diversity. It is home to a Planetarium, Science Education Institute and 3M Observatory; a 1,000-seat Theatre offering professional performances for all ages; and an Honors College for high achieving students.

The College offers more than 90 associate degrees and certificates, as well as career training, small business assistance through the Small Business Development Center, and professional development courses. RVCC is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 24, 2020

PR #37