Powered by a dedicated team of online learning professionals, the Center for Online Learning (COL) at HCCC supports faculty across the College’s four Academic Schools in designing, developing, and delivering an innovative, interactive, and accessible online curriculum.
The addition of these six new fully online programs raises the total number of fully online programs offered through Hudson Online to 16. Notably, these programs are offered across a wide range of disciplines.
Newly added programs include a Certificate in Accounting, an Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education (Liberal Arts), an Associate of Arts in Elementary/Secondary Education (Liberal Arts), an Associate of Arts in Special Education (Liberal Arts), a Proficiency Certificate in Community Healthcare Navigator, and an Associate of Science in Health Services Option in Public Health.
In addition to these fully online programs, most of the College’s 90+ programs can be completed partially online, and Hudson Online’s 150+ online and hybrid courses include a variety of online labs and electives. This affords students tremendous flexibility in scheduling their classes by removing barriers students often encounter in finding a course section that meets their needs. Over one-third of HCCC’s students take one or more courses online each semester, and approximately 12% of students take their entire course load online.
Hudson Online continues to build momentum. Enrollment in online courses has more than doubled from pre-pandemic levels, and the number of students taking all or most of the courses required for their degree online has increased by 400%. The College’s “new normal” following the pandemic demonstrates that demand for online learning in Hudson County and beyond continues to grow. HCCC President Dr. Christopher Reber stated “We firmly believe that online learning is a long-term opportunity that enriches lives and empowers our students and member of our community. We are proud to be a leading institution in this endeavor, and we are committed to continuing to expand our online offerings in the future.”
HCCC’s online programs and courses meet the needs of various populations, including working professionals who are seeking career advancement and first-time students who prefer the convenience of online coursework.
Additionally, the Center for Online Learning (COL) offers an array of service options to students and faculty, including technical support and training, professional development workshops, and course design and maintenance. The COL also provides access to a wide variety of teaching and learning technologies used to deliver content and assessment, promote student engagement, encourage academic integrity, and ensure accessibility in our online courses.
Executive Director of HCCC’s Center for Online Learning Matthew LaBrake states that “Expanding access to online learning is essential to our mission as a community college, providing members of Hudson County with equitable access to an education they might not be able to obtain otherwise. We are providing students who are working multiple jobs and raising children with a way to take classes in their free time. We provide students with health concerns or lack of transportation with a means to access an education from the comfort of their home.”
With full access to all support services that on-site students enjoy, online students don’t miss out on HCCC’s student-centered and supportive approach that led students to coin the College’s motto, “Hudson is Home.” These services include use of the College Library’s digital resources, 24/7 on-demand virtual writing and tutoring, accessibility services, personal mental health and wellness counseling, IT assistance, academic advising, and career coaching. Online students are also welcome to visit HCCC’s two campuses in Jersey City and Union City to take advantage of community spaces and in-person support services.
At a time when many students are concerned about college affordability, Hudson Online provides significant value by offering the same high-quality educational experience that HCCC is known for at an economical price. No matter where students live, they can take advantage of the same in-county tuition rates as Hudson County residents, making online learning at HCCC a cost-effective option for students outside our community who may be looking to obtain a degree in a discipline not offered at their local community college. Online students are also eligible for financial aid, just like in-person students.
The successful launch of so many new online courses is a testament to the strong spirit of collaboration between the Center for Online Learning and HCCC’s dedicated and supportive faculty who author the content for online courses. Reflecting on this productive relationship, Dr. Alison Wakefield, Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, explains, “our administration and faculty have had a long and fruitful relationship working alongside the COL. The Executive Director and I came to our positions at approximately the same time and have been in sync from the beginning. Our vision for student success and our ability to assist students along their pathway to graduation is personally very gratifying. I could not be prouder to work with such dedicated colleagues.”
The breadth and depth of Hudson Online programming continues to grow, as does the quality of online courses, and LaBrake and the COL team aren’t slowing down any time soon. Additional online programs are on the way, including niche programs that will be nationally competitive in cutting-edge, in-demand areas, so stay tuned for more news about online learning at HCCC in the months ahead.
To find out more about HCCC’s online programs, click here.
About Hudson County Community College
Hudson County Community College serves more than 20,000 credit and non-credit students annually. The College offers over 90 degree and certificate programs, including award-winning English as a Second Language; Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); Culinary Arts/Hospitality Management; Nursing and Health Professions; and Humanities and Social Sciences. The HCCC Culinary/Hospitality Management program was ranked number six in the U.S. by Best Choice Schools. The College’s School of Continuing Education and Workforce Development offers cutting-edge, industry recognized, stackable credentials in alignment with high-priority workforce needs.
HCCC has partnerships with major four-year colleges and universities in the greater New Jersey-New York area and beyond, accommodating seamless transfer of credits for further undergraduate and graduate education.
The College’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has been recognized with the 2021 Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Northeast Regional Equity Award; the “INSIGHT Into Diversity” 2021, 2022 and 2023 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, this year honoring HCCC as one of six community colleges nationally to be named “Top Colleges for Diversity;” and the “INSIGHT Into Diversity” 2022 and 2023 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award. HCCC was a recent finalist for the American Association of Community Colleges’ (AACC) “Advancing Diversity Award of Excellence.”
For the second consecutive year, HCCC was selected as one of 20 community colleges in the United States to be named among the “2023 Most Promising Places to Work in Community Colleges” by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) in collaboration with “Diverse: Issues in Higher Education.” HCCC was one of 22 community colleges in the nation, and the only college in New Jersey, to be recognized by ModernThink LLC and “The Chronicle of Higher Education” as a 2022 and 2023 “Great College to Work For®,” this year achieving Honor Roll status for top ratings in seven of ten categories.
HCCC is one of two colleges in the United States to be named a Top Ten Finalist in all three program categories for the nationally recognized 2023 Bellwether Awards, and received the 2023 Bellwether Award for the College’s cutting-edge “Hudson Scholars” program. The College’s exemplary work in advancing student success has been recognized with 2023 “Leader College” designation by Achieving the Dream, the national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing community colleges as catalysts for equity and mobility in their communities. HCCC was also recognized with the Campus Prevention Network Seal of Prevention by Vector Solutions for demonstrating leadership in digital prevention programming focused on student safety, well-being, and inclusion.
