Message from the President
It has been a year like no other at Bloomfield College, where difficult circumstances were faced head on. A bold and strategic decision to publicly navigate the College's financial challenges has steered our 154-year-old institution onto a more promising financial footing.
Our transparency and plea for help over these critical months resulted in our witnessing tremendous support for our mission and legacy as New Jersey's only Predominantly Black Institution (PBI), Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and Minority Serving Institution (MSI).
In the spring of 2022, a financial support agreement was forged with Montclair State University that permitted Bloomfield to happily announce that we will remain open through at least the 2022-23 academic year to graduate our Class of 2023. Montclair's commitment to minority and traditionally underserved student populations, and the breadth of its academic, athletic and arts offerings align with Bloomfield's long-held mission, makes it a particularly good fit for our community.
Since then, our two institutions have been working together to earnestly chip away at the many complexities involved in establishing a permanent relationship. This work is anticipated to continue over several months, and as key progress is made, we will keep our Bloomfield College family informed.
What's more, in June, Governor Murphy and members of the New Jersey legislature demonstrated their support of the innovative collaboration between Bloomfield and Montclair with a $12.5 million appropriation to Bloomfield to support the College as it works to advance this potential historic partnership.
I am also very excited to share that, for the fourth year in a row, Bloomfield College was highlighted in the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges listings of Top National Liberal Arts Colleges. Specifically, Bloomfield College is ranked #18 nationally (in a tie) in the publication's listing of Top Performers on Social Mobility among 210 national liberal arts colleges. The data also recognizes Bloomfield College as the top private college for social mobility in the state of New Jersey. Also for the fourth year in a row, The Princeton Review has named Bloomfield College a top undergraduate school for Game Design. These accomplishments have a tremendous impact on students' lives and the BC community, and I congratulate everyone on the key roles you each played in the College receiving each of these outstanding external validations!
As well, our entire campus community is exceedingly thrilled with the work of our new Bloomfield College Alumni Association (BCAA) leadership. The BCAA executive team has been very busy hosting numerous events in collaboration with student-centered campus units to establish networking opportunities between alumni and current students. At these well-thought-out events, alumni are eagerly sharing their career and life experiences with a focus on the steps students need to take now, while still students, to plan for their future. And, the plans they have for connecting with students during this upcoming academic year continue to be impressive.
Finally, I want to extend my sincere appreciation to all of our trustees, donors, faculty, staff, alumni and students who have remained steadfast in their dedication to Bloomfield College. Together, we are making a transformative difference in the lives of our students and for the generations that follow. This culminates in inspired and improved communities wherever our alumni eventually work, volunteer and call home. What's more, we know that many of our graduates remain and work in New Jersey after earning their degrees, thus Bloomfield alumni are perpetual contributors to an improved economy for our state.
These are just some of the reasons why continuing to graduate Bloomfield College students is important to us all!
Sincerely,
Marcheta P. Evans, Ph.D.
President