Stockton College

Richard Stockton College President Herman Saatkamp is pictured in 2003.

(Mary Godleski | The Associated Press)

The signs at Richard Stockton College in Galloway will soon bear a new name: Stockton University.

The name change will take effect Wednesday at the public school in Atlantic County, less than a week after the state approved its application for university status.

The move was given the green light by both the New Jersey Presidents' Council, the advisory board that represents the state's public and private colleges and universities, and Rochelle Hendricks, the state's secretary of higher education.

"I congratulate the new university and know it will continue its strong commitment to academic excellence," Hendricks said in a statement Friday after the approval.

The Board of Trustees at the school is scheduled to formally approve a new college seal at its meeting Wednesday. That will be followed by a celebration on campus later in the day.

Stockton, which opened in 1971, has about 8,500 full- and part-time students. The school's trustees voted in September to petition the state for the status change.

Colleges tend to be smaller and offer only undergraduate and some graduate degrees. Universities also offer masters and doctorate degrees.

According to a Q&A on its website, Stockton will become a comprehensive university — meaning its emphasis will be more on teaching than research — like Kean University in Union and William Paterson University in Wayne. Faculty research and faculty-mentored student research would continue, but the change would not result in increased demands for faculty research and publication.

New Jersey has three public research universities: Rutgers, Rowan in Glassboro, and the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark.

Stockton officials have said they hope university status will help raise the school's profile, attract more students and faculty, and boost fundraising.

Graduates in May will be the first to receive a diploma from Stockton University, according to a report by The Associated Press.

Stockton College President Herman Saatkamp said the school has already begun preparing new signs and logos, though they will be phased in gradually, the report said.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.