New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education

10/31/2023

Students have a right to feel safe and included on their campuses.

Our guidance on preventing bias and fostering safe and inclusive learning environments �https://nj.gov/highereducation/documents/pdf/Addressing%20Bias%20on%20Campus_February%202023.pdf

Now more than ever, it is critical that New Jersey’s educational institutions respond immediately to bias-based harassment. Guidance from New Jersey Department of Education, New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, and New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education help institutions take the immediate action required by law. bit.ly/45RdseD

10/31/2023

Have a safe and happy Halloween, New Jersey! 🎃

10/20/2023

An important moment as Lieutenant Governor Way signed legislation to strengthen mental health and su***de prevention supports on our college campuses. The new law provides a clear, actionable roadmap for institutions with requirements for training of professors and RAs, greater student awareness of help hotlines, crisis response planning and more.

"Our collective goal must always be to ensure that a continuum of care, from immediate crisis intervention and counseling to everyday wellbeing support, is available, accessible, and responsive to the needs of postsecondary students from all backgrounds," says Secretary Bridges.

If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org

https://nj.gov/governor/news/news/562023/approved/20231019b.shtml

10/18/2023

As we grapple with what is happening in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank, we are committed to the safety, inclusivity, and respect of diverse student communities.

Hate and discrimination have no place in our great state nor on our campuses.

A message from Secretary Bridges to New Jersey’s higher education community:

10/16/2023

Today 350,000 students in New Jersey, across 44 colleges and universities, have 24/7 around the year access to free virtual therapy and wellness tools!

Wherever you are in your mental health journey, if you are a college student in New Jersey these tools are for you.

10/16/2023

Strengthening opportunity through higher education for the diverse communities of New Jersey is how we thrive. And making sure we hear from students while doing that work is important to us.

During we were grateful to engage Latinx student leaders at New Jersey City University alongside NJCU Interim President Andrés Acebo to hear about their experiences, aspirations, and the roads they have paved to get to where they are today.

10/11/2023

10/11/2023

Meeting of the minds with leaders from CCA + New Jersey, the newest CCA Alliance state! CCA President Yolanda Watson Spiva connected with New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education Brian Bridges today at an Institute for Higher Education Policy meeting. We can't wait to start sharing the results of New Jersey's work in the CCA Alliance.

10/11/2023

On we are proud to celebrate New Jersey's important efforts to bring diverse mental health supports to college students statewide. From partnering to make free virtual therapy and other wellness tools accessible to students through Uwill's platform to grants helping campuses form community partnerships and build multicultural competencies among faculty and staff, we work with the goal of helping students succeed.

And there was no better way for us to mark the occasion than by showing our support and commitment to students, so that's what we did! Grateful to have participated in William Paterson University of New Jersey's mental health and wellness walk alongside students, practitioners and all those who gathered.

Because, mental health matters and it's okay to seek help.

Learn more about our efforts at https://www.nj.gov/highereducation/mentalhealth.shtml

10/04/2023

"Realizing a college dream should not mean being saddled by insurmountable debt. Grateful to President Joe Biden & Secretary Miguel Cardona for continuing to take unprecedented steps to fix the student loan system for students and their families. Opportunity relies on us removing barriers," said Secretary Bridges of today's announcement.

I promised you that my Administration would continue to use every tool at our disposal to ease the burden of student debt so more Americans can be free to achieve their dreams.

Today, we're sharing an update on that progress.

10/04/2023

A big announcement from The White House today as the Biden-Harris Administration brings the total approved debt cancellation to $127 billion for millions of Americans.

More than 40,000 borrowers in New Jersey are getting more than $2 billion in life-changing student debt relief.

The Biden administration has approved debt relief for an additional 125,000 student loan borrowers, totaling $9 billion in forgiveness, the White House said Wednesday.

09/28/2023

Meet the team making college opportunity a reality for more students through GEAR UP 🎓💪

09/19/2023

"Economic prosperity and educational attainment are two sides of the same coin," says Secretary Bridges speaking with NJBIZ.

State Secretary of Higher Education Brian Bridges is focusing on affordability and helping encourage residents who have some credit – but left school – earn their credentials.

09/18/2023

As Secretary Bridges writes, our goal is to guarantee that New Jerseyans know their investment in a high-quality degree or credential will pay dividends for the rest of their lives. Read on at NJ.com

College education depends on our commitment to equity, affordability and access,

09/15/2023

This we acknowledge the generations of contributions by Hispanic and Latinx Americans to our nation and their meaningful influence within the Garden State. By celebrating our diversity and making a commitment to cultivate it, we are stronger.

09/13/2023

Some highlights from our time at the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association - SHEEO policy conference📸

As the public wages its debate on the value of college, Secretary Bridges joined Diane Cheng and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's David Troutman to discuss an action agenda that would help set the record straight.

Our Senior Advisor, Stefani Thachik, spoke on a panel discussing collaborative state approaches to re-enrollment and completion, highlighting New Jersey's strategies and goals such as our Some College, No Degree initiative.

And, joined by Suchir Govindarajan, Secretary Bridges presented on New Jersey's efforts to protect student and state investments with policies to ensure the fiscal health of institutions and student access to high-quality, career-relevant programs.

09/12/2023

There are more than 500 Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) across the U.S. – colleges or universities where Hispanic students make up at least 25% of full-time undergraduate enrollment.

As we kick off , learn how ED supports HSIs & helps provide higher education opportunities for Hispanic students: https://sites.ed.gov/hispanic-initiative/hispanic-serving-institutions-hsis/

09/11/2023

Remembering and honoring all who tragically lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

Together, we are reminded of their courage and the resilience of our nation.

And pledge to .

09/08/2023

By 2025, we aim to see 65 percent of New Jerseyans holding a postsecondary credential of economic and educational value. Becoming a Complete College America alliance partner helps us build our momentum towards that goal.

According to Gov. Phil Murphy, taking part in the Complete College America Alliance "reflects our belief that economic prosperity and educational attainment are two sides of the same coin.”

09/07/2023

New Jersey is proud to strengthen our commitment to improving and advancing educational and economic opportunity! By joining Complete College America's alliance, we become part of a diverse network of partners engaging in bottom-up, top-down, and peer-to-peer collaborations for student success.

Complete College America is proud to announce today that New Jersey is the 50th member to join the Complete College America Alliance, a coalition of states, systems, institutions of higher education, and other organizations committed to improving credential attainment and college completion rates across the country.

“New Jersey is firmly committed to ensuring that every student in our state has the financial, academic, and social support needed to successfully complete college with a high-quality credential. Joining the Complete College America Alliance reflects our belief that economic prosperity and educational attainment are two sides of the same coin.” – New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy

Read more about today's announcement in partnership with the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education: https://completecollege.org/resource/new-jersey-joins-cca-alliance/

07/27/2023

A little Jersey pride with NJ State House Tours! 🤝

07/19/2023

Investments to expand the New Jersey , to build on the foundational work of our ‘Some College, No Degree’ initiative, to help our colleges remain competitive, to develop the next generation of New Jersey’s workforce, and more, put New Jersey on the path to a brighter future.

Read what Secretary Bridges says about the $3.3 billion investment New Jersey’s Fiscal Year 2024 State Budget makes in higher education here: https://tinyurl.com/bdct7r8k

06/29/2023

As we work with Governor Phil Murphy to promote equitable admissions within the constraints of this ruling, we want to assure our students most affected by this decision that our priorities for higher education will continue to focus on equity, access and affordability.

06/13/2023

Student mental health impacts academic success. Today Secretary Brian K. Bridges joined Governor Phil Murphy to talk about how New Jersey is putting federal funds to work to meet the needs of our students and campus communities statewide.

06/08/2023

Secretary Brian K. Bridges talks with Higher Ed Dive about New Jersey's first-of-a-kind partnership with Uwill which is bringing accessible, no cost virtual mental health support to students on 44 campuses across the state. The significance? We're meeting students where they are.

State officials are working with telehealth platform Uwill on the project they say is the first of its kind in the country.

06/06/2023

06/06/2023

05/24/2023

It’s being funded by $10 million in coronavirus relief funds from the American Rescue Plan approved by Congress, Gov. Phil Murphy's office said.

05/05/2023

Our progress investing in New Jersey higher education is motivated by the knowledge that postsecondary pathways transform lives. This week Secretary Bridges, joined by OSHE staff, came before the Legislature to share how the 2024 state budget will continue our work to minimize barriers and maximize student potential.

05/04/2023

“We can potentially change the lives of thousands,” says Secretary of Higher Education Dr. Brian K. Bridges.

Helping New Jerseyans regain the confidence to return to school and complete their degree is just one of the ways we are working to keep students at the heart of everything we do.

An estimated 750,000 New Jersey residents can benefit from a new program that encourages students to re-enroll in higher education.

05/02/2023

Attention New Jersey college students📢Still looking for a paid summer internship? Over 100 employers participating in our Career Accelerator Internship Grant Program are still seeking qualified candidates!

Browse opportunities & learn how to apply👉http://bit.ly/40ZymFY

05/01/2023

It's , congratulations and best wishes to students who will start their college career on one of New Jersey's campuses this fall!✨

04/10/2023

04/06/2023

Getting high school and college credits at the same time through dual enrollment programs helps to boost success, empowering students to:

📈Earn higher grades in high school
🎓Graduate high school
📈Pursue postsecondary opportunities
🎓Earn a postsecondary degree

This week the New Jersey Department of Education and our Office released the New Jersey Dual Enrollment Study Commission's report, which calls for expanded access to dual enrollment programs ➡ https://nj.gov/education/cte/dualenrollment/

By identifying common goals around the expansion of these programs, the report provides a promising framework to ensure more New Jersey high school students and their families have the opportunity to benefit from these transformational programs which will help us reach our state's '65 by 25' postsecondary attainment goal.

04/06/2023

04/05/2023

In New Jersey, we are working to leave higher education better than we found it. Today Secretary Brian K. Bridges joined Governor Phil Murphy and students from Rutgers University—Newark for a roundtable discussion to share just how we're doing that by investing in more equitable and affordable pathways to and through college.

With over 70,000 awards already given out through the New Jersey College Promise programs, thousands of students and families have been able to access a debt-free degree. Expanding these pathways sends a clear message that we are invested in access to opportunity for all students and maximizing New Jersey's potential.

Catch the recorded discussion ➡https://lnkd.in/dE-SmzSd

03/30/2023

Over 750,000 New Jersey residents have some college credit, but no degree. We're excited to announce that ReUp Education and 17 of New Jersey’s higher education institutions will work together to provide outreach and coaching to stopped-out students! 👉 bit.ly/3KjNZ5N

03/22/2023

To all our students and campus communities across New Jersey entering this time of reflection, we extend our wishes for peace and happiness this Ramadan!