Aid Freeze Costs Colleges $62 Million

 

 

The state's public colleges will lose about $62 million under the state's aid freeze announced in Trenton on Thursday by the governor, with $53.6 million of it coming from the four-year colleges.  

 

The cut amounts to about a 6.3 percent decrease in their state aid this year.

 

Local college presidents say they realize they will have to share the budget plan this year, and they have already been working to keep their budgets tight both this year and next.

 

Richard Stockton College President Herman J. Saatkamp, Jr. said he believes Gov. Chris Christie supports the colleges and has been fair.

 

"We realize there had to be some cuts," he said. Stockton will lose $1.4 million.

 

He said the state can take other steps to help the colleges. He cited allowing the colleges to enter into public/private partnerships, and engaging in projects like the solar canopies at Stockton, as examples of efforts that save money and benefit students.

 

Rowan University President Donald Farish agreed that giving the colleges more freedom to generate their own new revenue helps cushion the blow when state aid is cut. 

 

Rowan will lose $2.6 million in aid, but Farish said increased enrollment this year and new revenue from continuing education programs will compensate.

 

"The more independent we can be, the better off we will be," Farish said.