Dr. Reber highlights the unique location of HCCC: “We’re not just any college, we’re in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty, a symbol of freedom and opportunity that we see from our Journal Square campus. That’s the essence of our mission.” HCCC serves approximately 20,000 students annually, with about an equal split of credit and non-credit students. The institution prides itself on being a diverse, urban, comprehensive community college, drawing students from all walks of life. The student body at HCCC is exceptionally diverse, with approximately one-third of the students born outside the United States.“More than one thousand of our students begin here in English as a second language,” Dr. Reber notes, highlighting the college’s role in supporting newcomers to the country. Many of these students are the first in their families to attend higher education, and they often juggle full-time jobs and parenting responsibilities while pursuing their studies.“Two-thirds to three-quarters of our students face significant challenges such as housing insecurity, food insecurity, and sometimes homelessness,” he adds, emphasizing the resilience and determination of the student population. Despite these hurdles, HCCC students achieve remarkable success. They transition to prestigious universities, including Ivy League institutions and Research One universities, and some return to the community with advanced degrees. Dr. Reber highlights the college’s commitment to student success, explaining, “We’re focused on getting all of our students to the finish line.That means partnering with them to remove barriers and help them navigate life challenges while earning a degree.” HCCC has implemented two key strategic planning priorities to support this mission: student success; and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The college community uses data and best practices to remove obstacles and support students in completing their degrees. Additionally, the Hudson Helps Resource Center provides a comprehensive array of wraparound services to address the holistic needs of the students. The commitment toDEI is evident in thedemographics of the student body, with 87% identifying as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and 56% as 89 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 06 HUDSON COUNTY COMMUNI TY COLLEGE
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