Skip to Main Content

Atlantic Cape - Did You Know?: Home

A history and description of the Atlantic Cape Community College campus buildings and libraries

Welcome

Welcome to Atlantic Cape Community College. This guide describes the history of the campuses and the people who helped to establish the College.

In December 1963, the State Department of Education granted approval for the establishment of Atlantic Community College, which became the second college to be organized by the state. The college opened to students in September 1966 in rented classrooms at Atlantic City High School. The groundbreaking for the nine building campus on 541 acres in Mays Landing took place in November 1966, with the first classes starting in the fall of 1968.

In the spring of 1982, major work was completed on a two-year, $7 million expansion project. This project included two new buildings, expanded student service facilities, the Academy of Culinary Arts and additional classroom and office space. 

In that same year, the former Atlantic City Electric Company building, located in Atlantic City, was purchased by Atlantic County for the College. By 1984, a $4 million renovation project transformed the aging building into a beautiful modern facility. In 2001, the campus was named for the first County Executive (1975-1979) as the Charles D. Worthington Atlantic City Center.

Since 1973, the College has been the main provider of community college education to Cape May County residents. In July 1995, the New Jersey Higher Education recommended that it enter into a partnership with a neighboring community college. Cape May County requested joint proposals which were due in February 1997 and, as a result, on January 1, 1999, ACC officially became a joint college between Atlantic and Cape May counties. The Board of Trustees approved a new name for the joint college: Atlantic Cape Community College (Atlantic Cape) in February, 1999.  Located in Cape May Court House, adjacent to the Rutgers University Cooperative Extension Service Facility across from the Cape May Zoo, welcomed students to the new 68,000-square-foot facility in August 2005.

Atlantic Cape's 60th Anniversary April 14, 2024

Presidents of the College

Atlantic Cape Presidents
Dr. Barbara Gaba 2017 - Present
Dr. Pete Mora 2005 - 2016
Dr. John May 1993 - 2005
Dr. William Orth 1987 - 1993
Dr. Ronald Bush 1984 - 1986
Dr. Lawrence Winchell 1973 - 1984
Dr. Wallace Appleson 1970 - 1973
Dr. Luther Shaw 1966 - 1970
Dr. Walton Brown 1964 - 1966

 

Libraries of Atlantic Cape

All three campuses of Atlantic Cape Community College have a full service library. 

  • William J. Spangler Library (Mays Landing Campus)
    • The William J. Spangler Library, on the Mays Landing Campus, located in D Building, includes a large print collection of books and magazines, computers on two levels with access to the Internet, the library's digital collections and online databases, and a suite of office applications.  Study rooms, for individual or small group study are located on both levels of the library. A computer classroom is available for library instruction or special events. Tutoring rooms are located on the main level. 
    • The library is also home to the Atlantic Cape Art Gallery. 
  • Information Commons / Library (Worthington Atlantic City Campus)
    • The Information Commons / Library is located on the first floor, and houses a special print collection for English as a Second Language students, a print collection of books and magazines, over 30 computers with access to the Internet, the library's digital collections and databases, and a suite of office applications. Tutoring services and a classroom for library instruction or special events are available.
    • The Non-Profit Resource Center contains the resources from Candid's nonprofit research service. Find funding sources for your nonprofit organization, locate other nonprofits and search for scholarships and grants for individuals. 
  • Mullock Family Library (Cape May Campus)
    • The Information Commons is located on the second floor, and houses a print collection of books and journals. All computers have access to the Internet, the library's digital collections and databases, and a suite of office applications.. Tutoring services and a classroom for library instruction or special events are available.
    • The Non-Profit Resource Center contains the resources from Candid's nonprofit research service. Find funding sources for your nonprofit organization, locate other nonprofits and search for scholarships and grants for individuals. 

The Rewites Archive contains digitized copies of Atlantic Cape's award winning literary and art magazine that publishers poetry, drama, fiction, photography, drawings and paintings created by members of the college community. Issues are edited and published by students, with the support of the English department. The magazine has existed since the inception of the college; the first yearbook, published in 1968, lists the Laureate club among student activities.

Credits

This guide was developed by Robert Mast, Leslie Murtha, and Janet Hauge,  Atlantic Cape Community College Libraries.
Published October 2021