January 6, 2014
January 6, 2014, Jersey City, NJ – The Spring semester at Hudson County Community College (HCCC) begins January 24, bringing a world of possibilities for students to start their studies towards Bachelor degrees at savings, or to improve their career prospects with an Associate degree or certificate in one of today’s growth industries.
A recent study by the Pew Charitable Trust showed that individuals 21 to 24 years of age who possessed an associate or bachelor’s degree did better throughout the recent economic downturn than those without degrees. Data shows that college graduates earn hundreds of thousands of dollars more throughout their lifetime than those individuals who have just a high school diploma, with college graduates earning about $35,000 more a year than individuals with just a high school diploma.
Hudson County Community College has tapped into the industries that are showing high growth as well as those that continue to be strong economically. The College has long been known for its Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management programs as well as its Nursing, Paramedic Science, Respiratory Therapy and other courses in the healthcare field, Criminal Justice, and a complete roster of courses in the liberal arts, education, sciences, technology, business and social sciences. The College has also added a new degree program — Associate in Science in Environmental Studies — that integrates social sciences, humanities and natural sciences.
HCCC Board of Trustees Chair William J. Netchert, Esq. explained that by pursuing studies at Hudson County Community College, students can save thousands of dollars on college tuition while earning credits that will transfer to a four-year college or university because tuition is just a fraction of what a student would pay elsewhere.
“We have a top-rate financial-assistance program, one that has helped nearly 80% of our students to be awarded scholarships, grants and other financial aid,” Mr. Netchert said.
HCCC has received national acclaim the past few years as recipients of several awards, including the American Association of Community Colleges’ Student Success Finalist, and the Association of Community College Trustees’ 2013 Northeast Regional Chief Executive Officer Award (to President Dr. Glen Gabert) and its 2012 Regional Charles Kennedy Equity Award and Regional Professional Board Staff Member (to Jennifer Oakley). In addition, the College was awarded New Jersey Business & Industry Association New Good Neighbor Awards for the HCCC Culinary Conference Center (in Jersey City) and the North Hudson Higher Education Center (in Union City).
“The awards are wonderful, but what they really do is underscore the value of the education that Hudson County Community College provides to students,” said HCCC President Dr. Glen Gabert. He explained that HCCC students benefit from smaller classes where they receive more personalized attention as well as several innovative programs that provide the one-on-one counseling, tutoring and mentoring that help students successfully complete the coursework for their degrees.
Hudson County Community College enjoys articulation agreements with several of New Jersey’s and New York’s and the colleges and universities and as a result, credits earned at HCCC are completely transferable to these institutions.
Full details on Hudson County Community College may be obtained at the Jan. 15 Information Sessions, which will be held at the College’s Culinary Conference Center — 161 Newkirk Street in Jersey City, just two blocks from the Journal Square PATH Station. On Wednesday, Jan. 15, there will be two sessions, one starting at 11 a.m. and another starting 5 p.m. Each session will run for approximately two hours.