NJ Community Colleges Launch Statewide Programs for the Unemployed

TRENTON, N.J.—Responding to Governor Jon Corzine's call to make the economy "priority number one, priority number two and priority number three," New Jersey's 19 community colleges have announced several statewide initiatives to serve people who have lost their jobs, or are uncertain about their future employment status.

"New Jersey's unemployment rate has risen to 7.1 percent and our community colleges realize that our state is going through tough economic times," NJCCC Chairman Ronald Winthers said. "We are committed to serving as the road to economic recovery by helping residents get back into the workforce."

Tuition Waivers
New Jersey's 19 community colleges are offering tuition waivers for unemployed residents who have been in the workforce for at least two years and are now unemployed. Individuals can register for classes on a space-available basis, and community colleges will waive tuition. To qualify for tuition waivers, unemployed residents must first contact their county's employment and training facility, also known as the One-Stop Career Center.

In 2008, nearly 2,600 unemployed residents attended community colleges using tuition waivers, and community colleges waived nearly $2.2 million in tuition. During the first two months of 2009, over 1,000 unemployed residents are attending community colleges using tuition waivers, and community colleges have waived $1.2 million in tuition for these individuals.

Workshops and Seminars
In addition, many of New Jersey's community colleges are hosting job-hunting workshops for unemployed residents. Topics include preparing résumés and cover letters, and improving interview skills.

Teacher Education and Certification
For individuals who hold a bachelor's degree and now want to consider a teaching career, community colleges offer New Pathways to Teaching in New Jersey. Community colleges, in partnership with New Jersey City University, offer this alternate route teacher certification program, which contains 200 hours of focused training.

Program for Potential Entrepreneurs
Many of New Jersey's community colleges are offering the Self Employment Assistance Program, sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, which helps someone test his or her idea of opening a business and developing a business plan, before jumping in and going into debt.

Computer Training
With the help of the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development, created by the state's 19 community colleges in 2004, community colleges have been able to better coordinate the delivery of statewide training. Since its inception, the Consortium has trained over 12,000 workers at over 300 companies throughout the state.

Drawing on the expertise of the Consortium, many community colleges are offering an Intermediate and Advanced Microsoft Office computer course that provides advanced Microsoft Excel, Word and Outlook training to those who have general skill levels. The course also covers e-mail etiquette.

Program for Unemployed Managers
In addition, a new management course, Translational New Century Management, is being developed with New Jersey Institute of Technology to teach displaced managers from large companies how to apply their skills in project management, leadership, communications, strategic planning, and problem solving in small and mid-size companies.

Community College Contact Person
"Each community college has identified one contact person so that residents can easily call or e-mail their local community college to get more details on these programs designed to get them back into the workforce," NJCCC President Dr. Lawrence A. Nespoli said.

Affordability and Financial Aid
Over the last five years, community colleges have experienced unprecedented record enrollments. At the same time, community colleges are cost-effective providers of higher education, charging an average annual tuition of about $2,600.

By keeping costs down, New Jersey's community colleges are able to offer an affordable, high-quality college education for families looking to send their children to college. Both the state and federal government offer need-based financial aid, such as Tuition Aid Grants and Pell Grants, and merit-based scholarships, such as the New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Rewards Scholarship (NJ STARS). In addition, community college foundations provide millions of dollars in scholarships and grants to help students pay for college.