William Paterson University Receives $1M in Federal Funding to Support Students Continuing their Education After They Experienced Hardship Caused by Pandemic


William Paterson University has received $1 million in federal funding to support students whose finances were heavily impacted by COVID-19, thanks to the incredible support provided by its NJ representatives, particularly Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) and U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ).

The University requested strategic community funding from the federal government via New Jersey legislators, who supported the request from inception and ensured the institution’s needs were met. Rep. Sherrill and Sen. Menendez were at the forefront in advocating for the funding.

“I am proud to have led efforts in the House to cut through bureaucratic red tape and secure direct federal funding for local projects like this one for William Paterson University in Wayne. This funding will ensure students who have been financially impacted by COVID-19 can continue their studies and have access to programming to help them thrive in and outside the classroom,” says Rep. Sherrill. “I want to thank William Paterson University for all of the work they do in our community and for proposing this project that will make college more affordable for New Jersey families.”

“The fiscal year 2023 funding bill we passed at the end of last year contains significant wins and critical funding for New Jersey, including $181 million for community projects throughout the state that I helped secure,” says Senator Menendez. “I was proud to advocate on behalf of William Paterson University to deliver $1 million to provide critical support to students who were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic so they can continue their academic pursuits.”

The federal funding received will be used to support William Paterson students in numerous ways, including:

  • Need-based scholarships
  • Campus housing and meal grants
  • Book and transportation grants
  • Completion incentives/grants for students who were a year away from graduation and needed to discontinue their studies due to extreme financial difficulty
  • On-campus support programming to ensure impacted students continue their studies and graduate

“We are grateful to Representative Sherrill and Senator Menendez for helping to secure this vital funding to support William Paterson students financially impacted by the pandemic,” says William Paterson University President Richard J. Helldobler. “Both Rep. Sherrill and Sen. Menendez are strong allies of public higher education in New Jersey and of William Paterson, in particular, as this latest funding demonstrates. By allowing more students to remain enrolled at William Paterson University and ultimately attain their degree, these funds are an important investment in the future of these students, their families, and in New Jersey.”      

01/26/23