Association Staff
Directors


Darryl G. Greer, Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer
 dggreer@njascu.org
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Paul R. Shelly
Communications & Marketing prshelly@njascu.org
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Michael W. Klein
Government & Legal Affairs mwklein@njascu.org
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Wendy A. Lang
Programs & Policy Initiative
walang@njascu.org

Support Staff
Patricia A. Stearman

Budget & Administration
pastearman@njascu.org
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Charlene R. Pipher

Executive Assistant
crpipher@njascu.org
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Theresa M. Toth
Secretary
tmtoth@njascu.org

 

New Jersey's Growing Capacity Crisis
2010 Update

As Predicted... Enrollment Demand Exceeds Capacity

Student demand for a full-time, residential experience at one of New Jersey's eight traditional state colleges and universities is higher than ever before.

Applications for the fall 2009 full-time freshman class reached an unprecedented level:  over 57,000.

There is strong demand for student housing despite new construction.  Currently, there are over 20,000 students living on campus at the eight residential schools, up from about 15,000 a decade ago.

Graduate enrollment in fall 2009 was about 14,500 students.

Meanwhile, Thomas Edison State College continues to grow to meet the needs of mature students who want to obtain a baccalaureate or master's degree on a part-time basis.  The institution now serves over 17,000 undergraduates.

ASCU officials emphasize that demand is likely to continue to grow rapidly in the area of full-time, residential undergraduate education.

The Public Favors Expansion

Since 1999, the Association has been sponsoring public opinion polls to research the direction and strength of public opinion about expanding the capacity of colleges in New Jersey in order to serve more students.  The results are consistent.  Time and again residents and likely voters have shown that they favor, and strongly favor, expansion of opportunity and facilities at New Jersey colleges and universities.  Responses to an array of questions indicate New Jersey residents "connect" increased capacity with access to affordable colleges and universities and are willing to support a major public investment, such as a multi-billion dollar higher education facilities bond issue, even at a time of state budgetary stress.

All polls were based on scientific, random sampling of New Jersey adults and conducted by Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates, Washington, DC.    

Consequences of Underdeveloped Capacity

Since 1961, New Jersey has worried about the exodus of high school graduates to colleges in other states and the inability to educate more of its college bound students.  In the late 1960's, the state took major steps to address the problem but since then, nothing significant has been done -- despite some dismal statistics.  The numbers which follow tell the story best.

By the Numbers
1 New Jersey's rank among the states in annual net out-migration of high school graduates to attend college.  (Source:  US Department of Education)
10

Times more likely science and engineering graduates are the first work in the state where they attended both high school and college.  (Source:  Southern Technology Council)

47

New Jersey ranks among the state's in four-year public college/university enrollment in the state on a per capita basis.  (Source:  ASCU calculations - based on data from the US Consensus Bureau and US Department of Education)

30,000

Annual net loss of college-bound students caused by high out-migration of NJ high school graduates (and limited in-migration of other states' high school graduates).

70,000

Additional students New Jersey would have to enroll at four-year public colleges and universities to reach the national per capita enrollment mean.

1.5 billion ... and counting
  Estimate, in 1992 dollars, of the revenue -- from tuition, room and board, and other miscellaneous student spending -- New Jersey loses each year because of high out-migration.  (Source:  Joseph Seneca and Jeffrey Rubin, Rutgers University, 1992)

What the State Can do in Partnership with the Institutions and Others

Solutions

Lead the nation in making higher education a top priority for strategic development

Broaden college opportunity by de-mystifying college funding, and investing in innovative student aid programs and new incentives for colleges to meet state needs.

Invest regularly in first-rate facilities and technology, and stronger partnerships with schools and businesses.

 

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