State College Association CEO Calls Higher Ed Task Force Report a Much-Needed Vision

Press Release - January 4, 2011

 

According to the head of an association representing nine state colleges and universities serving 105,000 students, Governor Christie's Higher Education Task Force report provides a much-needed vision for the future.  Said Darryl Greer, CEO of the NJ Association of State Colleges and Universities, "I am pleased that it outlines steps, policies, and investments needed to assure New Jersey's future prosperity through higher education, transforming the lives of our citizens, and ensuring that all can successfully live and work in the Garden State."

 

Greer said today he believes that the recommendations could form the foundation of a new government-higher education partnership, for a challenging new era, built on:

 

• Institutional autonomy, coupled with institution-based accountability for results;

• Increased institutional effectiveness and productivity through deregulation;

• Enhancement of quality and degree attainment through expanded cooperation among institutions; and

• Expansion of opportunity and affordability characterized by more responsiveness to families and students as well as global competition for jobs and commerce.

"Achieving the recommendations can be a huge step forward that will help preserve public college affordability and access and accelerate New Jersey's reaching the top, among the 50 states, regarding a college-educated population, economic prosperity, workforce competitiveness, educational opportunity, and quality of life."

 

"At first blush, the recommendations squarely address many of the areas where we, in New Jersey, have danced around issues or improvised for far too long -- the need for state support for facilities, for example.  I am also pleased that the longstanding misperceptions, such as mission and program duplication, may be cleared up in the report.  I am certain we will be busy over the coming months looking at the recommendations in detail and working with the governor and legislature to implement many of these; their leadership and leadership from the business sector and the institutions themselves will be essential."