Bloomfield College’s Call to Action: Seeking Major Institutional and Financial Support to Continue its Critical Mission

BLOOMFIELD, N.J. – Bloomfield College is seeking strategic partnerships and philanthropic support from the higher education and corporate communities to enable the four-year institution to continue its vital mission — creating educational pathways that are often not otherwise available for minority and low-income students. More than 85 percent of Bloomfield College students are people of color, nearly 71 percent are Pell Grant eligible and the median family income is below $32,000. Bloomfield College is the only four-year college in New Jersey recognized as a Predominantly Black Institution (PBI), Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), and Minority Serving Institution (MSI).

Bloomfield College, which was founded in 1868, is in a difficult financial situation after declines in enrollment, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Because tuition is the College's primary source of revenue, the reduction in enrollment has resulted in severe financial challenges that are expected to last for years to come.

The College is actively exploring solutions and welcomes inquiries from potential strategic partners, including higher education institutions and corporations. Bloomfield College also is urgently seeking expanded philanthropic support from foundations and philanthropists who want to make a powerful impact on underserved student populations and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). "The Board of Trustees and Bloomfield College's administration are exploring all options to support our students and remain open in order to continue the College's core mission. We seek institutions or philanthropists that share the values around our mission and will see us as a valuable partner," said Vernon M. Endo, Chair of the Bloomfield College Board of Trustees.

"At Bloomfield College, we change the future for our students, many of whom did not traditionally see college as their future," said Bloomfield College President Marcheta P. Evans, Ph.D. “More than half of our students are the first in their families to attend college. Most of our students work multiple jobs while studying and face much adversity. Segments of our student population suffer from food insecurity or homelessness, living in our residence halls year-round. Our College strongly supports its students as individuals and gives them pathways not otherwise available to them.”

Bloomfield College is nationally ranked for the impressive social mobility achieved by its graduates. The U.S. News & World Report 2022 Best Colleges listings of Top National Liberal Arts Colleges ranked Bloomfield College the highest in New Jersey for Social Mobility (#27 nationally), Campus Ethnic Diversity (#25 nationally), and Economic Diversity (#1 in the Northeast and #13 nationally) among 223 national liberal arts institutions in the country. The school boasts vibrant fields of study, including nationally recognized undergraduate programs in nursing and creative arts and technology.

Bloomfield College advances not just the lives of its students, but also their families. After graduation, many of its students and their families move from the bottom economic quintile to the second economic quintile. "We are unique in how we reach and support our students by offering a personalized approach to a quality education," Evans added. "And, everyone benefits from the contributions our graduates make within their communities and to our larger society."

Evans today addressed students, faculty and staff at a Town Hall meeting held on the Bloomfield campus. "By publicly announcing our situation, we hope to attract the attention of potential partners and major philanthropic donors who are passionate about making an impact on advancing opportunities for underserved student populations." Evans told the College community, "We are committed to doing all we can, as quickly as possible, to find a solution."

Bloomfield College's leadership team encourages prospective partner institutions to visit www.bloomfield.edu/partnership to learn more about the College and the value in partnering with the institution.