Higher Education Report: Give N.J. Colleges Funding Freedom

The report recommends allowing schools to find ways to raise and save money.

 

Atlantic City Press

Diane D'Amico

January 5, 2011

 

A report released Tuesday says the state's public colleges should get more freedom to find ways to make and save money and students should get more funding to pay for college.

 

The Higher Education task Force's 140-page report includes 70 recommendations covering such broad topics as the future of medical education in the state, and more specific issues such as how to better help students finance their education.

 

Gov. Chris Christie said the report confirms the state's higher education system is in need of improvement.  But while he promised to make the colleges a priority when the economy improves, he could not promise any additional money in the future.  He did sign two new executive orders creating the Governor's Higher Education Council and an advisory committee on graduate medical education.

 

The task force, headed by former governor and Drew University President Tom Kean, said the state Legislature should not try to micromanage the colleges.  The task force opposed tuition caps but said the colleges themselves must establish policies to control tuition.  It noted the high cost of a four-year public college in the state -- about $11,000 per year for tuition and fees -- and said the state must continue to support adequate financial aid for needy students. 

 

The task force also recommended disbanding the current NJSTARS scholarship program, replacing it with a program that would provide a grant to all high school graduates in the top 5 percent of their class that could be used at any two- or four-year college in the state.  The current program requires students to attend their local community college for the first two years.

 

Richard Stockton College President Herman J. Saatkamp said that while funding remains a huge issue for public colleges, many of the recommendations, if implemented, could help them better cope with dwindling state funds.  He said the ability to create more public/private partnerships and look for other revenue sources could help both the colleges and the region's economy.

 

He said unfunded state mandates are a huge problem.  This year, Stockton will spend $5.7 million for salary increases and tuition subsidies required by state programs.  Saatkamp also supports developing a new method to allocate state aid to colleges.  The current system is outdated and does not take into consideration enrollment increases or program expansions, Saatkamp said.

 

Contact Diane D'Amico:  (609) 272-7241, DDamico@pressofac.com