These laws support the efforts of community colleges to expand basic needs services to students, to build new academic and workforce pathways that reflect a changing economy, and to expand partnerships with employers, workforce development programs, and human services organizations. Updating the law that created the NJCCC provides further support for the statewide systemic collaboration across community colleges that is currently underway and recognizes the Council’s important strategic role in working with the Governor, state agencies, the State Legislature, and other partners.
“The signing of these laws by former Governor Murphy marks a monumental step forward and the start of a new era for community colleges in New Jersey,” said Aaron Fichtner, President of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges. “We look forward now to working with Governor Sherrill and her administration on the implementation of these new laws, which we believe align with her goals of expanding opportunity and prosperity in the Garden State.”
“This achievement is a testament to what we can accomplish when our community colleges work together with strategic purpose and a strong commitment to collaboration,” said Jessica Purnell, Chair of the NJCCC and Camden County College trustee.
“These new laws recognize both the life-changing opportunities New Jersey’s 18 community colleges provide to more than 250,000 New Jerseyans of all ages and backgrounds and the pivotal role we play in our state’s economic and workforce development,” said Mark McCormick, President of Middlesex College and Chair of the NJCCC Presidents.
NJCCC’s Chief Innovation and Policy Officer Maria Heidkamp added: “We are incredibly grateful to the state legislators and their staff who worked tirelessly with us on these bills, especially the Chairs of the Senate and Assembly Higher Education Committees—Joseph Cryan and Linda Carter. We thank those Senators and Assembly Members who served as primary sponsors of the bills, including: Reginald Atkins, Margie Donlin, M.D., Mitchelle Drulis, Roy Freiman, Cody Miller, Carol Murphy, Luanne M. Peterpaul, Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, William B. Sampson, Heather Simmons, Troy Singleton, Lisa Swain, Michael Venezia, Anthony Verrelli, and Andrew Zwicker. We thank the following co-sponsors for their support: Rosaura Bagolie, James Beach, Renee C. Burgess, Patrick J. Diegnan, Dawn Fantasia, Shama A. Haider, Dan Hutchison, Gordon M. Johnson, Robert J. Karabinchak, Yvonne Lopez, Angela V. McKnight, William F. Moen, Carmen Theresa Morales, Gabriel Rodriguez, Shanique Speight, Britnee N. Timberlake, Shirley K. Turner and Benjie E. Wimberly.
Heidkamp continued: “We also recognize and thank the many partners from business, labor, education, social justice, and community-based organizations who lent their support and who will be critical to working with us and the new Sherrill Administration on next steps and implementation.”
