Ridgefield High School Competitors

More than 740,000 students have taken classes at Bergen, with countless others visiting for community and cultural events. The College ranks No. 1 in the State for associate degree graduates; alumni have attended the country’s most prestigious universities, including all eight Ivy League institutions. Bergen currently enrolls approximately 13,000 credit students in A.A., A.S., A.A.S., certificate and certificate of achievement programs. Approximately 5,800 students are enrolled in noncredit, ESL or professional courses through the Division of Continuing Education and Workforce Development, the Institute for Learning in Retirement and the Philip Ciarco Jr. Learning Center. Governance The College’s 12-person board of trustees governs the institution, providing policy and fiscal oversight, while the College president implements board decisions and direction. Budget, Funding and Expenditures With a total operating budget of $156.4 million — and approximately 90 percent (not including student aid/grants) allocated to academics, academic support, institutional support and student services — the College relies heavily on student tuition and fees due to systemic declines in State/county funding. Academic Year The College offers a flexible, accessible schedule for its students. A year-round slate of courses, including winter and summer sessions, enables students to begin (or continue) their educational advancement at their own pace – and on their own schedule. The College’s personnel represent an institutional strength, highlighted by the 2015 U.S. Professor of the Year, as named by the Council for Advancement of Teaching. Bergen maintains strong labor leadership and a tradition of fostering a collaborative environment within a collectively-bargained, shared governance model. Faculty and staff remain active in research and public service, and, in 2018, secured new grants totaling over $13 million.

The mission of the Fairfield Public Schools, in partnership with families and community, is to ensure that every student acquires the knowledge and skills needed to be a lifelong learner, responsible citizen, and successful participant in an ever-changing global society through a comprehensive educational program.