This article is from Bergen Community College, and it tells how community colleges will benefit from the stimulus plan.
The federal plan allocates $3.95 billion for job training, including grants for programs providing assistance to adult, dislocated workers and youth, and a number of provisions for initiatives in viable growth fields, such as grants for “green jobs.” $15.5 billion will be applied toward increasing the maximum Pell Grant by $500, expanding access to higher education to students in economic need.
“Community colleges are well suited to fulfill this key mission of economic recovery and to help people become gainfully employed in high growth areas,” Bergen President Dr. G. Jeremiah Ryan. “As the largest community college in New Jersey, Bergen Community College, partners with state and local unemployment agencies and Workforce Investment Boards to extend free workforce training and affordable tuition for continuing education and degree-seeking students.”
Unemployment
Working in cooperation with an array of local and regional partners, Bergen Community College was awarded a near $2.3 million Community-based Job training grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. This grant supports the College’s new “North Jersey Retail, Hospitality and Entertainment Pathway Initiative,” expanding retail and hospitality curricula, employment training and job placement programs offered by the College and through its partners. Bergen Community College at the Meadowlands serves as the primary focus for the project.
Another facet of this community-based grant is the Regional Center for Disability Employment known as the MOSAIC Center. This initiative seeks to empower people with disabilities by helping them to secure employment, retrain for jobs, and advance in their careers. The Henry H. Kessler Foundation donated $500,000 to establish this worthy endeavor to counter the impact the economic downturn has had on disabled individuals.
Green Jobs
Economic incentives are an integral part of the stimulus program, which includes $20 billion aimed at green jobs. Green courses offered through Bergen Community College’s Continuing Education program appeal to professionals in the construction trades and interior design, as well as homeowners interested in learning about environmentally-friendly practices. In addition, the College offers degrees in environmental technology and horticulture. Such academic offerings increase a students’ awareness of the environment and prepare them for careers in environmental technology, preservation and horticulture.
Financial Aid
The stimulus package extends the monetary reach of the lowest-income students. The Pell Grant maximum will increase from $4,731 to $5,350 beginning July 1, 2009 and will be raised to $5,550 in 2010 – 2011. In 2008 – 2009, 3,809 students at Bergen Community College received Pell Grants, nearly a 27 percent increase over the number of students who received Pell Grants in 2006 – 2007.
The stimulus package also provides a $2,500 tuition tax credit, with a 40 percent refund, and earmarks $200 million for work-study programs.
Infrastructure Improvements
A portion of the stimulus package’s $54 billion state stabilization fund - $39 billion - is targeted toward infrastructure projects at community colleges.
Health Professions Training
The stimulus package will provide $200 million to address health professions workforce shortages; Bergen’s Division of Health Professions is a leader in the field of career training. The $200 million allotment is expected to provide scholarships, loan repayments and grants for equipment.
