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From College to University

Thomas Edison State College became Thomas Edison State University on Dec. 21, 2015.

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Being known as a university more accurately describes the type of institution Thomas Edison is today, especially in the minds of prospective students, potential donors and the general public. It also reflects the success the school has had expanding graduate programs and its plans to develop new programs in the coming years.

Thomas Edison has evolved into a large, comprehensive institution with diverse academic offerings that serve a wide range of students and organizations – in New Jersey, throughout the country and around the world. A university is what Thomas Edison has become.

Alumni: Order a New Diploma

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FAQs

Graduates who are approved by the University Board of Trustees at its March 2016 meeting will be the first new graduates to receive their diplomas from Thomas Edison State University. These graduates will be sent their diplomas shortly after the March meeting of the Board of Trustees.

Alumni can also order a duplicate diploma that says “Thomas Edison State University” and features the new university seal.

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Yes. Alumni can order a duplicate diploma online that says “Thomas Edison State University” and features the new university seal.

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Thomas Edison State College decided to seek university status because being known as a university more accurately articulates the type of institution we are today, especially in the minds of prospective students, potential donors and the general public. It also reflects the success we have had expanding graduate programs and our plans to develop new programs in the coming years. Thomas Edison has evolved into a large, comprehensive institution with diverse academic offerings that serve a wide range of students and organizations – here in New Jersey, throughout the country and around the world. A university is what we have become.

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There should be no change for students with relation to their academic programs and student services. The University does not intend to reduce the number of courses, exam programs or degree programs.

However, students should take note of two changes:

  • Website: The institution’s web address has changed to tesu.edu. The University has set up permanent redirects so visitors who type the old tesc.edu address into a browser will still get to the Thomas Edison website. Students who bookmark specific pages of the website should create new bookmarks using the new web address.
  • Student Email Addresses: Students will be issued new Thomas Edison email addresses, which will follow the same format as their current institutional email addresses but with the tesu.edu suffix. (Example: first name.last name@students.tesu.edu). The University expects to begin issuing new student email addresses in the coming months and aims to complete the process by July.
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There should be no change for graduates of Thomas Edison State College. The University plans to continue its alumni and student networking events and its Alumni Ambassador program. Alumni can order a duplicate diploma online that says “Thomas Edison State University” and features the new university seal.

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Emails will be sent confirming receipt of order.

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Diplomas will be mailed approximately 8 weeks after date of order.

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Higher education standards indicate that diplomas issued prior to an institutional name change contain a statement to that effect. As such, diplomas re-ordered to indicate the Thomas Edison State University name for previously earned degree will contain the following statement in small text under the heading: Prior to December 21, 2015 degrees were issued under the former name of Thomas A. Edison State College.

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The "A" of Alva in Thomas A. Edison State College was removed as part of the name in the transition to Thomas Edison State University.

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Yes, you may list Thomas Edison State University on your resume.

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The normal cost of diploma replacement is $35. This covers the cost of reordering the diploma and providing it to the graduate.

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As of December 21, 2015, Thomas A. Edison State College became Thomas Edison State University and all documents produced by the University are issued under the official name. All diplomas ordered after December 21, 2015 will be issued by Thomas Edison State University.

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University Status Timeline

Jan. 11, 2016

  • The institution announces its new name: Thomas Edison State University.

Dec. 11, 2015

  • The College's Board of Trustees approves changing the College's name to Thomas Edison State University, effective Dec. 21, 2015.

Dec. 1, 2015

  • New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education Rochelle Hendricks notifies the College that it is has been granted university status effective Dec. 21, 2015, when the amended regulations appear in the New Jersey Register.

Nov. 25, 2015

  • Proposed amended regulations by the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education are approved by the New Jersey Governor's office and forwarded to the New Jersey Register for December 21, 2015 publication. The requirement that colleges seeking university status have a full-time faculty is no longer included in the approved amended regulations.

Nov. 23, 2015

  • Based on the review by the Academic Issues Committee, the New Jersey Presidents' Council recommends approval of the College's petition to the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.

Nov. 6, 2015

  • The Academic Issues Committee of the New Jersey Presidents' Council reviews the College's petition and related documents.

Oct. 9, 2015

  • The College submits its response to the consultant's report to the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.

Oct. 7, 2015

  • Consultants submit their report on the College's petition to the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.

Sept. 29, 2015

  • Consultants and the director of the Office of Licensure from the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education conduct a site visit at Thomas Edison State College's campus.

Sept. 8, 2015

  • College submits its petition for university status to the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.

July 29, 2015

  • New Jersey Administrative Code Title 9A – Higher Education Regulations sunset.

May 1, 2015

  • First draft of the College's petition for university status is completed.

February 2015

  • College appoints a Renaming Committee to plan and coordinate the logistics and operational changes of becoming a university.

Dec. 12, 2014

  • Thomas Edison State College's Board of Trustees approved a resolution authorizing College to begin the process of seeking university status.

Toni M. Terry, BA

"I am 67 years old, soon to be 68, and to be able to say I did this at this day in my life is just gratification for my own self."

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