Hudson County Community College Recipient of National Science Foundation STEM Grant for Urban Youth
November 8, 2017
November 8, 2017, Jersey City, NJ – Hudson County Community College (HCCC) President Glen Gabert, Ph.D. announced the College is the recipient of a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant that will benefit academically talented students with demonstrated financial need who are pursuing associate degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) studies.
The grant, which is titled, “Sustainable Pathways from Community College to Bachelor’s Degree for Urban Youth In STEM, Northern New Jersey,” is sponsored by and in partnership with Rutgers University Newark. Essex County College and Passaic County Community College are also recipients of this grant. Hudson County Community College will be awarded $413,938 over a five-year period to provide $4,000 per year scholarships and academic support to qualified students.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, STEM-related employment is projected to increase to more than 9 million jobs by 2022.
“STEM studies provide the greatest opportunities for stable, well-paying, long-lasting careers and economic growth,” Dr. Gabert said. “However, many Hudson County Community College STEM students must juggle their studies with part-time or full-time jobs, and this often results in them delaying – or in worse-case scenarios, abandoning – the completion of their degree work. This grant will ease the financial burden for some of our most gifted and determined students, and will allow them to complete their degree coursework in a timely manner.”
The “Sustainable Pathways from Community College to Bachelor’s Degree for Urban Youth In STEM, Northern New Jersey” builds upon two existing programs: the Garden State Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Preparation project, which seeks to increase the number of underrepresented minority students who graduate with degrees in STEM; and the Northern New Jersey Bridges to Baccalaureate alliance, a partnership of five, associate-degree granting Hispanic Serving Institutions committed to assisting underrepresented minority students in successfully transferring into STEM baccalaureate degree programs.
Scholarship recipients from the “Sustainable Pathways from Community College to Bachelor’s Degree for Urban Youth In STEM, Northern New Jersey” grant program will participate in a model that is designed to encourage success, persistence, and transfer to STEM baccalaureate programs after earning their associate degrees.
To qualify for participation in this grant program, students must (1) be citizens of the U.S., Nationals of the U.S. (as per Section 101 (a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, or meet specific INA criteria as defined in the grant; (2) be enrolled full time in one of the NSF-specified STEM degree programs; (3) demonstrate academic potential and ability; and (4) demonstrate financial need as defined by the U.S. Department of Education rules for need-based Federal financial aid.
In September, HCCC officially opened its new 70,070 square-foot STEM Building at 263 Academy Street in Jersey City. Each of the top five floors of the six-story structure is dedicated to a specific course of study: Chemistry and Organic Chemistry on the sixth floor; Biology, Microbiology and Histology on the fifth floor; Physics, Engineering and Electronics Engineering on the fourth floor; Geology and Environmental Studies on the third floor; and Mathematics on the second floor. The floors include lecture halls, classrooms, science labs, prep rooms, clean rooms, dirty rooms, STEM computer labs and stations, conference rooms, breakout rooms, suites of administrative and faculty offices, and student lounges. The main floor includes a lecture hall, exhibit/event space, and student lounge.
Complete information on the “Sustainable Pathways from Community College to Bachelor’s Degree for Urban Youth In STEM, Northern New Jersey” grant program may be obtained by contacting Dr. Ferdinand Orock at (201) 360-4268 or forockFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE.