Menendez, Booker announce $18M in funding for NJ higher ed institutions

During a March 27 event at Kean University in Union, U.S. Sens. Robert Menendez and Cory Booker, both Democrats from New Jersey, were joined by the Kean community and other stakeholders to highlight $18.1 million in funding for Garden State colleges and universities from the Fiscal Year 2023 federal spending bill.

Officials say the funding makes critical investments in higher education programs, such as cybersecurity, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) research, entrepreneurship, pre-apprenticeship in advanced manufacturing and mechatronics, nursing and medical programs, and more.

Kean University will receive $4.25 million from the allotment for projects including: a higher education program for middle and high school students and their families; renovating and expanding the university’s research laboratories and incubator workspaces utilized by the faculty and Institute for Life Science Entrepreneurship (ILSE); and a neighborhood revitalization project in Trenton.

“Kean University, as a shining example of what a pioneering urban research university can do, will be able to provide their students, officials, and administrators the support they need to invest in these critical initiatives and higher education programs that will break down barriers of access for students all while making our state of New Jersey more competitive,” said Menendez. “This funding will provide faculty with research opportunities and offer students access to hands-on STEM training, while also helping to attract non-traditional students who will benefit from Kean’s pipeline development programs.”

“Kean University is grateful to Sen. Menendez, Sen. Booker and our other federal lawmakers for supporting projects that advance our mission as New Jersey’s urban research university,” said Kean President Lamont Repollet. “Through their advocacy, Kean received more than $4 million for three important projects that will strengthen the state’s innovation economy, build stronger communities, and expand access to higher education for more deserving students.”

Other higher education awardees of the FY2023 Congressionally Directed Spending Grants in N.J. include:

• Holy Name Hospital – $3.3 million to establish a Graduate Medical Education Center
• Seton Hall University – $1.14 million to expand and upgrade the Healthcare Simulation Center
• William Paterson University – $1 million for scholarships for students impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic
• Middlesex College – $1 million to implement a holistic student support model to improve retention and graduation rates for adult learners and address any equity gaps
• Stevens Institute of Technology – $960,000 to purchase equipment, a computer cluster and a satellite receiving station
• Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences – $950,650 for nursing simulation equipment
• New Jersey City University – $782,000 to provide equitable access to high-demand online nursing education
• County College of Morris – $720,000 to purchase equipment and create cybersecurity curriculum for the CCM Cybersecurity Center
• New Jersey Institute of Technology – $650,000 to develop, implement and test a comprehensive pre-apprenticeship skill-training program in advanced manufacturing and mechatronics; and $650,000 to develop and implement a Community College Pre-Engineering Network Initiative for four-year university bound community college students
• Monmouth University – $640,000 to develop, educate and accelerate entrepreneurs within Monmouth and Middlesex counties
• Seton Hall Law School – $632,000 for community-based reentry and support service
• Rutgers University-Camden – $140,480 for programming and staffing support for community centers in Camden

“New Jersey’s colleges and universities are incredible assets that expand opportunity and drive economic progress,” said Booker. “This funding provides them vital support as they provide our students the well-rounded education and resources needed to compete in the workforce and realize their potential, and help their communities thrive.”

“These investments will allow our institutions to provide meaningful programs and supports to our students and communities,” said Gene Lepore, executive director of the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities. “The programs funded will yield a broad array of benefits across the state, including equitable access to higher education, workforce pathways, upward socioeconomic mobility for students and families, access to health care, urban revitalization, scientific and technological innovation, and entrepreneurship.”