Bloomfield College Gets $3M Grant To Educate Black Students

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Bloomfield College in Essex County has been awarded a $3 million federal grant that will help the school recruit – and graduate – African American students.

According to its website, Bloomfield College is the only New Jersey institution to be recognized as a Predominantly Black Institution (PBI) and Hispanic Serving Institution. More than half of its students identify themselves as “first-generation,” and are the first in their families to enroll in college.

Rep. Donald Payne Jr., who represents the state’s 10th Congressional district, said the five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education is “great news” for the entire region.

“Bloomfield College does an exceptional job educating African-American students to prepare them for high-paying jobs in the future,” Payne said. “But studies have shown that we are not getting enough African-American males to attend college and get degrees. This grant will help the school get more of these students into college, encourage them to stay and graduate, and give them a top-notch education so they can have fulfilling careers.”

Payne said the grant will be used to fund Bloomfield College’s Coaching Habits for African-American Male Students to Promote Success (CHAMPS) program. The program increases the retention and graduation rates of African-American men who attend the school.

In addition, the funding will support a variety of programs and activities to help students succeed, such as academic coaching, peer and online tutoring, and leadership workshops, Payne said.

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