Montclair State University and Community Options Announce Education Partnership to Expand Opportunities for Employees

Montclair State University and Community Options, Inc. today announced a new education partnership designed to help Community Options employees pursue career-advancing undergraduate and graduate degrees.

The partnership also reflects Montclair State University’s and Community Options’ shared commitment to public service, community engagement and expanding access to opportunities that help individuals and communities thrive.

The agreement creates a streamlined pathway for eligible employees to continue their education at Montclair, one of New Jersey’s leading public research universities. The collaboration is part of Montclair Unbound, the University’s initiative to expand access to flexible, high-quality educational opportunities for today’s learners.

Through the partnership, eligible Community Options employees will receive tuition benefits toward select degree programs, along with a waived Montclair application fee. The scholarship is only available to newly enrolled employees.

“Community Options employees perform vital work that strengthens individuals, families and communities,” says Marc Austin, vice provost and managing director of Montclair Unbound. “Through this partnership, we are removing financial and logistical barriers and creating flexible pathways for employees to build their knowledge, advance professionally and achieve their educational goals.”

Headquartered in New Jersey, Community Options operates more than 60 offices across 12 states, where a team of more than 7,000 employees provides community-based residential supports, supported employment, day programs and other person-centered services to more than 7,000 people with disabilities and their families. 

“Investing in our employees is essential to our ability to provide high-quality, person-centered services,” says Robert Stack, President and CEO of Community Options. “Our teams support people with disabilities to live in homes of their own, work in their communities and lead full lives. Our partnership with Montclair State University gives employees greater access to advanced degree programs that can support their professional development while strengthening the talented workforce that advances our mission each day.”

Montclair will offer Community Options employees access to a range of online undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as select on-campus graduate programs.

Programs covered by the agreement include online graduate degrees in Accounting, Business Administration, Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence, Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence/MBA Dual Degree, Child Advocacy, Digital Marketing Analytics, Human Resources Analytics, Social Research and Analysis, and Social Work, as well as online undergraduate degrees in Business Administration with concentrations in Finance, Management or Marketing, Economics, Family Science and Human Development and Psychology. Select on-campus graduate programs include the MBA and Counseling.

The programs are designed to provide working professionals with opportunities to develop skills applicable to leadership, business operations, data-informed decision-making, social services and other areas relevant to their careers.

As part of the collaboration, Montclair will provide Community Options with a dedicated application pathway and an admissions liaison who can help employees explore programs and navigate the enrollment process. The University will also participate in employee events and educational fairs, offer information sessions and provide ongoing student support to help enrolled employees progress toward degree completion.

Community Options will promote the partnership through its employee communications and benefits resources while working with Montclair to provide webinars and other opportunities for employees to learn more about the available programs. The partnership’s first cohort will begin at the Feliciano School of Business in the spring of 2027.