Hudson County Community College Named a ‘Most Promising Place to Work in Community Colleges’
June 7, 2022
HCCC is the only college in New Jersey to receive this national award from NISOD and Diverse: Issues in Higher Education.
June 7, 2022, Jersey City, NJ – Hudson County Community College (HCCC) was selected as one of 24 community colleges in the United States – and the only community college in New Jersey – to be named among the “2022 Most Promising Places to Work in Community Colleges” by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD), in collaboration with Diverse: Issues in Higher Education.
The “2022 Most Promising Places to Work in Community Colleges” recipients were recognized for exceptional commitment to diversity in all forms, including race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, class, and veteran status. A team examined recipients’ focus on workplace diversity, staffing practices, and work environment, and categories such as family friendliness, salary/benefits, professional development opportunities, and more.
Pictured with HCCC President, Dr. Christopher Reber (center), are, from left, Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Yeurys Pujols; Assistant Director of the North Hudson Campus, Diana Galvez; Tutor, Carlos R. Dunn-Fernández; alumnus, Warren Rigby; Assistant Professor, Lester McRae; alumnus, Bladimir Quito; Lecturer, Sharon Daughtry; and alumnus, Cesar Orozco.
In his letter notifying HCCC of the recognition, Dr. Edward J. Leach, NISOD Executive Director, stated that HCCC was honored for the College’s “best-in-class student and staff recruitment and retention practices, inclusive learning and working environments, and meaningful community service and engagement opportunities.” He concluded: “Thank you for serving as a beacon for diversity.”
“This is another point of pride for all of us at Hudson County Community College,” said HCCC President Dr. Christopher Reber. “All members of our HCCC family, working together to live and breathe our mission, make recognitions such as this possible. I am grateful to our Trustees, our faculty and staff, and our friends for all they do to support our students, our College, and our community,” he stated.
Hudson County Community College serves one of the most ethnically and racially diverse areas of the United States. The nation’s sixth most densely populated county, Hudson is New Jersey’s fastest growing and most ethnically diverse county. The HCCC student body is 87% non-white, and HCCC has a long, proud history as an Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI).
In 2019, HCCC established the President’s Advisory Council on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (PACDEI); added, expanded, and enhanced programs, services, and academic offerings to further remove barriers to retention and completion; ensured access to more and greater opportunities for students to achieve academic goals and rewarding, sustainable careers; and, most importantly, deepened understanding and respect for all.
In July 2021, HCCC appointed a Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, a cabinet-level position reporting directly to the President. In order to create a fully operational Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) grounded in best practices, additional professional and support staff services were added. This divisional office assumed oversight for the Office of Accessibility Services, Department of Cultural Affairs, and institutional leadership for Title IX, among other College-wide activities, programs and services.
Principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion are embraced by the entire HCCC community and interwoven into every aspect of HCCC operations, particularly the Achieving the Dream and Hudson Helps Resource Center initiatives. In response to the protracted challenges of the COVID-19 and racial and social injustice pandemics, the HCCC family came together to support one another and ensure the community’s safety and students’ success over the past more than two years.
NISOD is a membership organization committed to promoting and celebrating excellence in teaching, learning, and leadership at community and technical colleges. NISOD provides budget-friendly, high-quality, and faculty-focused programs and resources for community and technical colleges that want to make the most of their professional development dollars. For over 40 years, NISOD has aligned a wide array of benefits with the needs of its members, which explains why the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) named NISOD, “The country’s leading provider of professional development for community college faculty, staff, and administrators.”
Since 1984, Diverse has been the only bi-weekly national news magazine focusing on matters of access and opportunity for all in higher education and remains a preeminent source of critical news, insightful and provocative commentary, and interviews on a range of issues affecting all higher education professionals, especially underrepresented populations.