Hudson County Community College to Receive Association of Community College Trustees Regional Equity Award
August 22, 2016
August 22, 2016, Jersey City, NJ – This month, the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) announced that Hudson County Community College (HCCC) has been named as the awardee for the 2016 ACCT Northeast Regional Equity Award.
The ACCT Equity Award recognizes exemplary commitment by a community, technical or junior college governing board and its chief executive as a group, to achieve equity in the College’s education programs and services and delivery of those programs and services.
As a recipient of the regional honor, Hudson County Community College is a finalist for the national-level recognition, which will be announced at the 2016 ACCT Annual Leadership Congress in New Orleans on Friday, Oct. 7, 2016.
In announcing this year’s regional awards, ACCT Chair and Alamo Colleges Trustee Roberto Zárate said: “Community colleges are uniquely committed to open-access, high-quality higher education for all Americans, as well as a vital pipeline to the jobs that support communities and keep our country going strong. This year's regional awardees represent the most outstanding people and programs across this great nation.”
ACCT President and CEO J. Noah Brown stated: “The 2016 awardees are among the best we’ve seen, reflecting our colleges’ tireless commitment to helping students succeed.”
HCCC President Glen Gabert, Ph.D. noted that the diversity of the community and the HCCC students is enormously enriching, and that meeting their needs is foremost in the College’s priorities and decision-making.
“Hudson County Community College continues to work to offer everyone in our community the finest, most affordable education and programming in the newest, best-equipped facilities,” he said. “The environment at HCCC is culturally sensitive and respectful. HCCC faculty and staff reflect the ethnic composition of our community and are multilingual. Our courses, student assistance programs, clubs, and cultural offerings are developed to educate, assist and build greater understanding for all.”
Dr. Gabert said this is not the first time the College has been recognized with an ACCT Award. The College was the recipient of the 2012 Northeast Regional Equity and Professional Board Staff Member (to Jennifer Oakley) Awards as well as the 2013 Northeast Regional Chief Executive Award (to Dr. Gabert).
“In working to make Hudson County Community College an institution of first choice that is better every year, we have been fortunate to be recognized with regional and national awards,” Dr. Gabert stated. In addition to the ACCT awards, the College has also received the following: American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) 2013 Awards of Excellence for Student Success Finalist (one of just five finalists); AACC 2015 Awards of Excellence for Advancing Diversity Finalist (one of just four finalists); AACC 2016 Awards of Excellence Exemplary CEO/Board Finalist (to Dr. Gabert); National Tutoring Association2014 Excellence in Tutoring Award; New Jersey Business & Industry Association New Good Neighbor Award in 2009 for the HCCC Culinary Conference Center, in 2012 for the HCCC North Hudson Campus, and in 2015 for the HCCC Library Building; Green Emerald 2015 Award for Urban Green Project for the HCCC Library Building; and the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) 2016 Excellence in Academic Libraries Award (the only New Jersey institution to be awarded to date).