Hudson County Community College Construction Management Students Conduct Work at Historic Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery

December 9, 2021

December 9, 2021, Jersey City, NJ – Students, faculty, and staff in Hudson County Community College’s (HCCC) Construction Management Program began a maintenance project at Historic Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery on Sunday, November 21, 2021.

Located at 435 Newark Avenue in Jersey City, the Historic Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery was created in 1829, although its historical significance dates back to the 1700s. The scene of Revolutionary War skirmishes, an active Ammunition Bunker from the War of 1812 still stands within the six-acre site that is the final resting place to some of Jersey City’s founders, earliest leaders, residents, and soldiers from the American Revolutionary and Civil Wars, the Spanish-American War, and World Wars I and II.

Although the Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery was abandoned and long neglected, area volunteers began work in 2008 to revitalize and preserve the grounds, caretaker house, and historic monuments.

 

Construction Management

 

“This project demonstrates the College’s commitment to our community and to preserving our heritage landmarks,” said HCCC President Dr. Christopher Reber. “The project is being conducted as an experiential education/service-learning component of the $300,000 ‘New to Advanced Technical Education’ grant awarded to the College by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The grant supports community partnerships and career opportunities that lead to a better educated and more skilled workforce for area businesses.”

Dr. Azhar Mahmood, Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the HCCC Construction Management Program, leads the HCCC team of 20 students and three faculty members – Professors

Khan Khursheed, Javaid Raja and Hala Shahida. The HCCC team works with cemetery management, surveys the site, performs basic cleaning and preparatory functions, and estimates what is needed to restore damaged parts of the cemetery. Students gain exposure to practical field work and apply the skills they learned in the classroom by creating a formal report of their field work.

Construction Management is the planning, coordinating, and building of a project from conception to completion. The HCCC Associate in Applied Science degree program trains students to coordinate and supervise all phases of modern-day construction including all types of public, residential, commercial, and industrial structures, as well as roads, memorials, and bridges. Students are exposed to new construction methods, protocols, materials, testing procedures, cost estimation and management principles. The HCCC Construction Management degree program also provides students with externship opportunities for practical hands-on experiences.