BLOOMFIELD— Standing with President Richard Levao on the campus of Bloomfield College, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-08) today announced a $600,000 federal grant to help increase enrollment for minority students in science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), international affairs and health education degree programs.

“African Americans are under represented in America’s scientific, technological and medical health workforces,” stated Pascrell.  “With this grant funding, Bloomfield College and the federal government have partnered to enhance the opportunities available to this diverse student body and increase the number of African American nurses, engineers and scientists.”

Bloomfield College will use a number of strategies to increase the number of undergraduate students and retention rate in STEM disciplines, nursing and international affairs programs.  They include improving support in gateway courses like algebra and biology, enhancing preparation for nursing education, modernizing biology labs, extending global study abroad opportunities and advancing faculty-student mentoring programs.

“As the first person in my family to graduate from college, I fully understand the challenges that first generations college students face when they get to campus.  With so many first generation students here at Bloomfield, it is important that resources be in place to help them excel in whatever field they chose.  I commend Bloomfield College for working with the federal government to help establish its student body as the next generation of leaders in sciences, technological innovation and health care,” concluded Pascrell.

###