Hudson County Community College Receives National Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award
August 21, 2025
“Insight Into Academia Magazine” spotlights the College’s commitment to integrated, campus-wide programs and services for students, faculty and staff.
August 21, 2025, Jersey City, NJ – Wraparound services that provide assistance to students who would otherwise drop
out or delay completion of their college degree requirements are a lifeline. With
the click of a link, a phone call, or a walk-in visit, students at both Hudson County
Community College (HCCC) campuses can access free, 24/7 social services and mental
health supports.
Moreover, access to free mental health and well-being services, flexible work schedules,
resource groups, career planning, up to $9,000 annually for professional development,
paid maternity/paternity/adoption leave, and more are available to HCCC faculty and
staff, and have earned the College nearly a dozen national workplace awards.
Hudson County Community College (HCCC) is the recipient of the “Insight Into Academia Magazine” 2025 Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award. Pictured here, HCCC students at a mental health event.
Insight Into Academia Magazine has recognized Hudson County Community College with the 2025 Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award. The national honor is awarded to institutions that demonstrate outstanding commitment to fostering a culture of mental health wellness and belonging by providing innovative support for the well-being of students, faculty, and staff.
“We thank Insight Into Academia for recognizing our comprehensive support services. We believe that everyone who makes HCCC home deserves to enjoy the physical, emotional, and mental good health that allows them to succeed in pursuing their goals and dreams,” said HCCC President Dr. Christopher Reber. “Our ‘Hudson Helps Resource Center’ provides a complete roster of wraparound services, including emergency funds, a Career Closet, food pantries, Chromebooks loans, and the Mental Health Counseling and Wellness staff that help students balance college and whole life challenges. Our faculty and staff also have access to a wealth of services for their wellbeing and their personal and professional growth.”
Hudson County Community College provides comprehensive programs to all campus community members. Lactation Pods for breastfeeding empower new moms. Generation Hope and FamilyU collaborate with the College to support student parents. Student Success programs like First Year Experience equip freshmen for the journey to graduation. Navigate360, the college-wide student success platform enhances the student experience through targeted communications, referrals to support services, and faculty progress reports.
The HCCC Mental Health Counseling and Wellness Center supports students in managing stress, anxiety, and depression by offering a variety of confidential services within a safe, stigma-free environment. These services include mental health screenings; in-person and remote counseling with licensed professionals; specialized support groups; and 24/7 peer support through TalkCampus, available in multiple languages. Additional resources include Uwill Teletherapy, the Every Mind Matters campaign, and HCCC’s partnership with the JED Foundation.
Comprised of faculty, staff, and social work interns from five partnering universities, the Hudson CARE(S) Team meets weekly to coordinate referrals and collaborate, ensuring that students’ needs are comprehensively addressed through a holistic, triaged approach. Additionally, the Mental Health Counseling and Wellness Office has trained more than 100 faculty and staff in Mental Health First Aid and Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR), with social work interns playing a vital role in expanding these initiatives.
Creating an environment where everyone is acknowledged, valued and encouraged to fully participate has earned HCCC national recognition as an educational institution and as an employer. The College has also been recognized for family friendliness by offering paid maternity, paternity, adoption and bereavement leave; providing a wide array of opportunities for professional growth including a professional development program ($9,000 annually per full-time employee to pursue advanced degrees and/or attend conferences); supporting employee engagement in workshops, regional and national conferences, speaker series, and other events; and funding the nationally recognized eCornell Diversity and Inclusion Certificate Program.
“We know that institutions are not always recognized for their dedication to their mental health and well-being services and support for their students and employees,” said Lenore Pearlstein, owner and publisher of Insight Into Academia magazine. “We are proud to honor Hudson County Community College as a role model for other institutions of higher education.”
Click here to learn about the “Hudson Helps Resource Center” and its extensive offerings!