Fixing a Trenton Disconnect on Higher Education Funding

 

Daily Record

Darryl G. Greer, CEO, NJ Association of State Colleges & Universities

May 8, 2011

 

A recent scientific poll sponsored by the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities strongly indicates that 95 percent of New Jersey's likely voters believe that it is important for the state to have a plan to connect higher education with jobs and economic development.  The poll further shows, consistent with prior studies, that New Jersey voters want to keep talented citizens here in the Garden State, and are willing to invest more, by a 2:1 margin, to expand the physical capacity of public colleges and universities.

 

Clearly, citizens with high aspirations to achieve in New Jersey tie college opportunity directly to jobs and their future prosperity here.  In short, citizens get it:  the important connection between education and future liberty and prosperity, embedded in our state seal.

 

Many state officials in Trenton understand this.  But many still do not get it.  Policy to make higher education a priority for investment lags behind the will of citizens.

 

Here is an agenda we need to start on immediately to make the connection.

 

Make state college opportunity a priority.  Higher education is not viewed as being among the institutions in New Jersey that are "broken."  In our poll, more than four out of five likely voters say that the state college/university educational quality is good or excellent (67 percent say good; 14 percent say excellent).  Moreover, New Jersey students seem to value them:  more than 20,000 students are applying for 11,000 fall freshman slots at our eight traditional state colleges and universities.  Meanwhile, our nontraditional innovation college for adults, Thomas Edison State College, is growing rapidly.  College opportunity, to many, is the key to a good job, especially during a time of economy uncertainty.

 

What's needed is more opportunity supported by a more robust state policy vision, and investment.  We need to form a statewide coalition of business and nonprofit leaders, state officials, labor, educators and others to set forth larger purposes and priorities tied to a state strategic agenda, and coordinate with the new Secretary of Higher Education and Advisory Council on policies that support success.

 

Start now on a facilities investment strategy.  State colleges have done their best to meet critical academic facilities, unfortunately, often paid for through student fee increases, but also funded by private donations and partnerships with the private sector.  Regarding responsible debt levels, most are at the end of their ability to borrow.  It is no mystery why they have reached this point.  New Jersey, unlike other states, does not provide annual capital support for facilities renewal and maintenance.  In addition, there has been no general obligation bond issue for higher education since 1988.  Conversely, the state has invested billions in K-12 school construction.

 

Our poll, which was conducted by Washington, D.C.-based Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates, shows that citizens are very likely to support a multibillion-dollar bond issue for higher-education facilities, even in tough economic times when a majority of our citizens have suffered from job displacement or pay loss.  The next realistic opportunity for putting a facilities bond issue on the ballot is November 2012.  Legislative action to bring this to the voters in 18 months should be framed as an economic imperative.  It could be one of the state's critical chances to remain competitive in the 21st century.  It would be a major step in sustaining college access and affordability.

 

Take state college autonomy, productivity and accountability to the next level.  Not only has New Jersey's 25-year-old path toward state college self-governance been a success, but the state has become the nation's foremost model regarding how trustee-governed colleges lead to greater productivity and efficiency, freedom from partisan interference and direct accountability to the public.  Does the public understand that self-regulation is better than central state control from Trenton?  Our poll shows they do:  likely voters say, 4 to 1, that greater Trenton control would mean more political interference.  On decisions about institutional matters, for example, planning and construction, and management of employees, trustee boards are favored over state entities by ratios of 2 to 1 and 3 to 1, respectively.  With less regulation from Trenton (and declining investment), the state colleges have increased enrollment and graduation rates, improved programs and are among the ranks of the nation's most productive set of public institutions.

 

Without steps toward self-governance taken thus far, it is highly unlikely that these institutions could have thrived as they have in the wake of the huge higher-education disinvestment by the state since the 1990s.  Today, the state colleges serve, with the same nominal amount of dollars they received from the state in the mid-1990s, about 25,000 more students than a decade ago.  They remain committed to serving talented middle- and low-income students, first-generation college students and returning adults.

 

Position New Jersey as a national model of success.  Other states, including Oregon, Ohio, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and New York, are looking at ways to free institutions from state control as a means of improving service in the face of declining state funding.  New Jersey, which boasts higher than average graduation rates and, nationally, a top three of 50 ranking in state college productivity, is a leader in this regard.

 

New Jersey can be a beacon regarding college access and attainment, affordability, mission development, quality improvement, productivity and accountability.  We can obtain philanthropic, business and federal funding to accelerate New Jersey's progress on college opportunity and success.  We can keep talented New Jerseyans here, working, contributing and helping to retain and attract business and create jobs.  We can do this as we serve an increasingly diverse population brimming with individuals who, if given the opportunity for higher education, can help New Jersey fulfill the promise of liberty and prosperity.

 

Dr. Darryl G. Greer of Pennington is CEO of the New Jersey Association of State Colleges & Universities, a nonprofit, nonpartisan higher-education policy advocacy organization to advance and support public higher education in New Jersey.  Its members are:  The College of New Jersey, Kean University, Montclair State University, New Jersey City University, Ramapo College of New Jersey, Richard Stockton College, Rowan University, Thomas Edison State College and William Paterson University.

 

Source:  http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20110508/NJOPINION03/110509009/GUEST-COMMENTARY-Fixing-a-Trenton-disconnect-on-higher-education-funding