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Raritan Valley Community College has received two generous Opportunity Meets Innovation Challenge Grants from the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) that offer expanded educational opportunities for students. The grants together total over $983,000.

The “Creating On-ramps to College” grant helps support the needs of students. It focuses on such areas as accelerating completion, removing barriers, and creating pathways to education and work. It also includes much-needed support services for students.

The “Promoting Safe and Inclusive Learning Environment” grant focuses on ensuring that all students receive inclusive and equitable access to a college education in a safe and welcoming environment, where they can feel a sense of belonging and be their authentic selves.

“The OSHE grants enable Raritan Valley Community College to better serve our students, especially our under-represented populations, many of whom have been severely impacted by the pandemic, both personally and economically. The ‘Creating On-ramps to College’ and ‘Promoting Safe and Inclusive Learning Environment’ grants offer our students critical services and programs to help facilitate their success while they’re at RVCC and after they graduate,” said Jacki Belin, RVCC Vice President for Student Affairs and Outreach.

Some of the plans for the “Promoting Safe and Inclusive Learning Environment” grant include:

•    Addressing policies and procedures related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)

•    Creating additional gender-neutral bathrooms

•    Purchasing technology to better assist students with disabilities

•    Improving campus signage in Spanish

•    Hiring staff to develop and oversee programming in the area of DEI

•    Developing programs related to mental health issues

Some of the initiatives the “Creating On-ramps to College” grant will address include:

•    Creating Summer Immersion Programs for high school and adult students

•    Developing viable educational pathways from non-credit programs to credit programs, including alternative pathways for veterans

•    Offering peer-to-peer mentoring programs to support student services

•    Increasing marketing and recruitment efforts to better reach under-employed adults and at-risk students

•    Placing students in apprenticeship, employment, and workforce programs

•    Expanding current student support technology to better assist returning, at-risk students

Ranked by WalletHub.com and Niche.com as the #1 community college in New Jersey, Raritan Valley Community College has been serving as an academic and cultural center for Somerset and Hunterdon County residents for over 50 years. The College has been nationally recognized for its service to the community, environmental stewardship, and commitment to diversity. It is home to  a Planetarium, Science Education Institute and 3M Observatory; a Theatre offering professional performances for all ages; and an Honors College for high achieving students.

The College offers more than 90 associate degrees and certificates, as well as career training, small business assistance through the Small Business Development Center, and professional development courses. RVCC is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.



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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 9, 2022

Media contact: Donna Stolzer, 908-526-1200, ext. 8383

PR #86