Artist rendering showing an arch with the new name of Thomas Edison University
Artist rendering showing an arch with the new name of Thomas Edison State University (courtesy of TESU)
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The former Thomas Edison State College in Trenton is now a university.

The name change, announced Monday, culminates a year-long process to gain university status and took effect on Dec. 21. after a unanimous vote by the New Jersey President's Council approving the change.

“We have 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,” school president Dr. George A. Pruitt said a statement. “For us, being known as a university is important because it more accurately describes the type of institution we have become and better reflects the success we have had expanding our graduate programs.”

The school said in its statement the word "university" better represents what the school is about now.

"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," the school said.

The school said it will present the first diplomas with the new name in June. Alumni can order duplicate diplomas with the new university seal for $35 each from the school's website.

One new addition to the school campus will be the new Nursing Education Center ,which is scheduled to open in the spring. It is currently under construction on the site of the former Glen Cairn Arms apartment complex, which was demolished in 2013.  Videographer Gary Gellman of Gellman Images recorded the demolition, which took six months to complete, using time lapse photography.

Gellman Images also creates video for the Big Joe Talent Show every summer.

About 18,000 students are currently enrolled at at the school, which was founded as Edison College in 1972.

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