The Aspen Institute’s Ascend Parent Advisors awarded Hudson County Community College a $50,000 Parent-Powered Solutions Fund grant.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Student parents inspire us daily with their determination and resolve in navigating unique and complex challenges. Our Hudson County Community College family is committed to using data and best practices to address the holistic needs of our students,” HCCC President Dr. Christopher Reber said in a statement.
“We are enormously grateful to the Parent-Powered Solutions Fund for supporting college-wide initiatives to empower HCCC student parents with transformational opportunities and outcomes.”
The Parent-Powered Solutions Fund provides financial resources to initiatives that support student parents in completing postsecondary programs, including workforce development, career and technical education, and baccalaureate degree programs.
The fund will support and advance solutions, practices, and innovations that facilitate student-parent engagement and postsecondary completion.
HCCC is one of only six institutions in the United States to which Ascend is awarding a grant.
Ascend received a record 144 proposals, totaling over $6.5 million in requests representing higher education institutions, workforce development entities, and community-based organizations across the United States.
Furthermore, HCCC’s initiative will address student parents’ unique challenges by removing barriers to success and providing the necessary resources to help them complete postsecondary programs and acquire valuable workforce skills.
They will partner with the Jersey City Housing Authority (JCHA) to create a comprehensive support system for student parents that leads to postsecondary credential attainment, placement on a degree pathway, and gainful employment.
This isn’t the first time the College has partnered with the Aspen Institute.
HCCC was a Workforce Leadership Academy partner of the Aspen Institute’s Economic Opportunities Program in 2019-2020, participated in the Aspen-AASCU Transfer Intensive, and counts two Aspen Rising President Fellows program graduates among the ranks of its college leadership.
