First Lady, Education Secretary Praise Bergen Community College's Support Of Students

PARAMUS, NJ — First lady Jill Biden and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona praised Bergen Community College's work to support students during the pandemic in a visit Wednesday night.

Biden and Cardona visited the college to announce $198 million in federal funding for higher education institutions with “the greatest needs,” such as community colleges or institutions in rural areas.

Such colleges will also receive guidance on how federal money can best be used to help students with things like housing, child care and food security. Money will also be used to help fight COVID-19.

Gov. Phil Murphy and U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-5th District) were also present.

Bergen County Community College subsidized child care for students with Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund grant funds. Removing barriers to student success is important, especially for students who have children, Biden said.

“The child care center here at Bergen is so important,” Biden said. “I hope more schools will follow your lead.”

Bergen also paid outstanding tuition balances for more than 2,000 students last year and provided more mental health resources for students, Biden noted in her remarks.

“In speaking with students from across the country at all different types of higher education institutions, I have heard consistently that the pandemic has exacerbated challenges in meeting students’ basic needs, from housing, to food, to transportation, and more,” Cardona said in a news release. “We cannot let this be a barrier to student success, particularly for students who have contended with these issues for far too long.”

Gottheimer said he was proud to represent the college in a statement.

“After getting hit hard by COVID-19, we passed the American Rescue Plan, which helped save the day for students, ensuring that they had the systems and resources to keep preparing for their futures," Gottheimer said. "And, of course, no one knows the value and critical importance of community colleges more than our First Lady — a remarkable community college educator herself, who somehow still finds the time to teach.”