Hudson County Community College Awarded $3 Million Title V Grant to Expand Educational Opportunities
September 30, 2021
September 30, 2021, Jersey City, NJ – Hudson County Community College (HCCC) has been awarded a $3 million, five-year Title V grant from the United States Department of Education (USDOE). The grant will enable the College to expand educational opportunities and promote the academic attainment of students, with a focus on Hispanic and Latino students, who comprise slightly more than half of the College’s student population.
The College’s transformational “The Golden Door/La Puerta Dorada” project aligns with the overarching priorities of the College’s new strategic plan – ensuring student success, and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. The project includes the development of an English as a Second Language (ESL) Pathway Academy, which will revamp the ESL curriculum offerings to better align with English-language learners’ needs; the redesign of student support services through the development of an ESL Resource Center; and the implementation of a Faculty/ Staff Professional Development Program with curricula that address equity, inclusion, and the educational needs of adult English-language learners.
HCCC President Dr. Christopher M. Reber stated that, “‘The Golden Door/La Puerta Dorada’ project will have a positive, enduring impact on student retention, graduation and the success of all HCCC students. It is a transformational project that is squarely focused on the College’s Mission, Vision and Values.”
Dr. Reber noted that the project was the outcome of several years of work by HCCC faculty, staff, and students. “Great things continue to happen thanks to the dedication and caring of our HCCC family,” he stated.
Recently, HCCC received the 2021 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. The annual award recognizes colleges and universities in the United States that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. HCCC is one of just eight community colleges in the nation to be named a “2021 Top College for Diversity.”
The College has also been selected to receive the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) 2021 Equity Award for the Northeastern United States. That award will be presented on October 14, 2021, at the 52nd Annual ACCT Leadership Congress in San Diego, California.