News & Opinion

NJ State Colleges Need Opportunity to Control Worker Compensation

New Jersey Newsroom

Michael W. Klein

September 1, 2010

"Doing more with less" is a recurring theme these days for families and businesses.  It's also true for New Jersey's state colleges and universities.  Step one is figuring out what you're spending in the first place.  In the case of the state colleges, their workers compensation costs are a surprisingly large expense.  Fortunately, the governor and the legislature are offering the institutions the authority to help themselves, while preserving and perhaps enhancing their workers' safety.

Read full story, here.

Liberal Education:  Not a Bad Thing at All

Otherwise, we lose understanding of the 'common good'

Asbury Park Press

Paul Shelly, Director of Communications & Marketing

August 8, 2010

The ironies of modern life in the United States -- and our need to make sense of them, or alter them -- to me, are among the best reasons why college-level, liberal education is vital to virtually all Americans.

By "liberal," I do not mean left-wing; I mean education that includes exposure to philosophy, ethics, history, the arts, language, literature -- collectively known as the humanities.

Education geared to a specific career is important, but in this day and age, career opportunities, and sometimes entire fields of knowledge, advance or lose importance.  On the other hand, it has been known, since the founding of this republic, that well-rounded education, which to me includes the ability to think both creatively and analytically and understand others' points of view, has enduring value for the individual, the community and the nation.

As Americans in the 21st century, we are encountering an unprecedented era, full of possibility, full of irony, full of concerns.  Meanwhile our understanding and appreciation of the idea of "the common good" is in jeopardy.  Read full story, here.

Similar appeared in The Times, August 16, 2010 "A liberal arts education answers today's challenges," and in The Press of Atlantic City, "Well-balanced college education beneficial to all Americans."

One Year After the Passage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, State Colleges Median Enrollment Increases by Nearly 60%

Several More than Double Veteran Enrollment

Press Release - August 4, 2010

Wendy A. Lang, Project Director, Operation College Promise

Enrollment of servicemember and active-duty populations has surged at New Jersey's nine state colleges and universities in the year following the enactment of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, according to a survey conducted by the Operation College Promise (OCP), the veterans project of the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities.  With a median of approximately 60%, three schools logged increases of 90 percent or greater -- Rowan University (94%), Montclair State University (161%), and Richard Stockton College (192%).  Read full press release, here.

There are Signs N.J. is Starting to Value State's Colleges

New Jersey Newsroom

Darryl G. Greer

July 21, 2010

Expanding the state's competitiveness by providing more college opportunity in the Garden State has not been a high priority for New Jersey.  This has been the case for many years, for many reasons, not just because of the economic recession, as some have maintained.

Those opinion leaders willing to accept the low priority given to higher education tend to minimize the effect of an exodus of 36,000 New Jersey high school graduates each year to attend college in other states -- the nation's highest number.  This loss reflects not just students choosing to leave the state, but also an appalling lack of adequate in-state capacity at four-year public colleges for students who want to study here.  The Garden State ranks 47th in the nation in four-year, public college seats per capita.  The cost of the student exodus can be counted in billions of dollars lost to our economy; it includes a brain drain making it harder for businesses and families to prosper here.  Read full story, here.

Similar article appeared on app.com as "Is higher education finally on NJ's radar?," see story here.

Similar article appeared on NJ.com (Trenton Times) as "Five Signs of Hope for Higher Education in New Jersey," see story here.

NJ Colleges, Universities See Summer Enrollment Spike Due to Economy

The Star-Ledger

Meredith Galante

June 29, 2010

Essex County College freshman James Fraga will be spending his summer in the classroom.  Not because he failed a course, but to save money.

Like a growing number of New Jersey college students, Fraga is skipping his summer break and enrolling in classes to help cut his tuition costs and speed up the process of obtaining his degree.  Read full story, here.

Previous News & Opinion Articles 

Operation College Promise Concludes with Visit to 177th New Jersey National Guard Fighter Wing - NBC40 (June 24, 2010)

Nation's First Certificate Program for Veterans' Service Providers, Sponsored by Operation College Promise (OCP) and Stockton College, Begins Today - More than 80 Professionals from Six States Participate (June 22, 2010)

How NJ Colleges Can Cope with Economic Pressures - The Record, Richard F. Keevey and Darryl G. Greer (June 2, 2010)

Public Colleges, Universities Grapple with Tuition Hikes - USA Today (May 25, 2010)

Governor Christie Takes First Steps Toward Long-Term Higher Education Reform by Creating New Jersey Higher Education Task Force - GovNetNJ.com (May 7, 2010)

Affordability U - North Jersey Record (May 6, 2010)

No Money for Merit-Proposed State Budget Cuts Funds for 1,800 Students - Atlantic City Press (May 5, 2010)

State Colleges Facing Predictable - In Fact, Predicted - Problem of Unaffordable Tuition - Atlantic City Press (May 2, 2010)

State Budget Cutbacks Endanger College Opportunity on the Line - Trenton Times (April 28, 2010)

College Tuition Caps, Huge Aid Cuts are Counterproductive and Ultimately Make NJ Less Competitive - Herman Saatkamp, New Jersey Newsroom (April 23, 2010)

New Cuts Ahead for NJ Colleges - Tuition Hike Cap, Less Aid Floated - The Bond Buyer (April 19, 2010)

TCNJ President Makes Case for Funding Higher Education - Trenton Times (April 15, 2010)

College Heads Say Cuts Hurt State's Future - Atlantic City Press (April 15, 2010)

NJ College Presidents Criticize Higher Ed Cuts - Associated Press (April 14, 2010)

Public Colleges Brace for Even Tougher Times - Christie wants to cut $173 million in aid - The Star-Ledger (April 14, 2010)

Colleges Being Squeezed - The Record (April 11, 2010)

Public Higher Education in Trouble:  "How Do You Fix a Broken System? - Princeton Packet (April 7, 2010)

NJ Governor Christie Proposes 4 Percent Tuition-Increase Cap for State Colleges - The Record (April 7, 2010)

Forum Confronts NJ College Funding Issues - CentralJersey.com (April 5, 2010)

Can We Afford Our State Colleges? - The Chronicle of Higher Education (April 3, 2010)

William Paterson University Names a New President - Record (March 11, 2010)

$15M Rowan Budget Deficit Sliced - Gloucester County Times (April 22, 2010)

Rutgers University Students Protest Higher Education Cuts from Gov. Chris Christie's Budget - The Star-Ledger, April 13, 2010

Schools in Tuition Squeeze - Courier Post (April 9, 2010)

Christie Seeks Cap on NJ Public College Tuition - Philadelphia Inquirer (April 9, 2010)

College Officials Condemn Proposal to Cap Tuition Increases as Parents, Students Praise It - The Press of Atlantic City (April 9, 2010)

Budget Puts College Opportunity on the Line - New Jersey Newsroom (April 1, 2010)

N.J. State Colleges Claim Christie's Budget Proposal a Blow to Higher Education - New Jersey Newsroom (March 23, 2010)

NJ Colleges Brace for More Cuts - Philadelphia Inquirer (March 23, 2010)

Christie's Proposed College Merger Given Cold Reception: Governor Wants to Join Thomas Edison and Rutgers without Increasing Aid to Schools - Star Ledger (March 22, 2010)

Colleges Trying to Find Ways to Save NJ STARS - Press of Atlantic City (March 22, 2010)

Christie Budget Would Damage Higher Education - Central Jersey (March 18, 2010) Paul Shelly

Thomas Edison President Takes Dim View of Proposed Rutgers Merger - Trenton Times (March 18, 2010)

Bold Budget Gamble Could Transform New Jersey  - Press of Atlantic City (March 18, 2010)

Higher Education Spending Plan Puts College Opportunity at Risk, Hurts Economy (March 17, 2010)

Tuition Hikes, Service Cuts Likely at State Colleges - The Record (March 17, 2010)

Mercer Colleges Face Heavy Losses - The Times of Trenton (March 17, 2010)

State's Spending 'Addiction' Must End, Governor Says - Atlantic City Press (March 17, 2010)

State Legislator Praises College Trustees - CentralJersey.com (March 4, 2010) Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson-Coleman

New Jersey Schools, Colleges Brace for State Aid Cuts - Record (February 12, 2010)

Aid Freeze Costs Colleges $62 Million

Local Residents Offer Advice in Assembly Hearing - Associated Press (February 3, 2010)

New Jersey College Tuition Caps Hide More than They Help - Trenton Times (February 1, 2010)

Archive News & Opinion Articles - 2009 and earlier, click here.

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