Soaring College Costs Could be Controlled: 
NJ Doesn't Offer Enough Aid to Colleges

 

Courier-Post - November 16, 2008
Darryl G. Greer, Executive Director/CEO, NJASCU

 

Today, students are paying a larger share than they should for an education at New Jersey's state colleges and universities.  Tuition is now roughly 16 percent of the state average family per capita disposable income.  Here is one major reason why:  The state, over many years, has curtailed its investment in college operating support, plummeting New Jersey to 50th among the states in positive funding change between the fiscal years 2006 and 2008.

 

This dramatic reduction in investment has been compounded by the perennial absence of support for facilities projects and new, Trenton-negotiated, mandated labor costs.

 

It should upset taxpayers that New Jersey is among the top five states in spending on K-12 education, yet among the bottom five measured on higher education spending, given the size and wealth of our population.  Further, New Jersey ranks 46th in public, four-year college enrollment capacity, helping to explain why too many talented students leave the state.

 

The leaders of the nine institutions understand the dilemma for students and their families.  They have responded by managing limited funds prudently.  Collectively, the nine New Jersey state colleges and universities are the third most productive among peers in the 50 states (according to the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems).

 

With increased state investment, more can be done to make college more affordable; yet, until better state investment becomes a reality, steps can be made to improve college affordability:

 

n	For example, to increase efficiency, Rowan University and Richard Stockton College have saved millions of dollars by reducing energy consumption through technology, cooperative purchasing and various other cost savings steps.  But more will be done in this arena.
n	The state can do more to cut red tape enabling the colleges to save money and complete facilities projects more promptly.  Other steps, such as allowing colleges to manage their own workers' compensation program, should be done; it should not cost the state anything, but will save the campuses hundreds of thousands of dollars.  The New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities is working actively with the legislature on these issues.
n	Institutions will do more to increase academic productivity to reduce the time it takes for students to complete the degree programs, and to help all students complete academic requirements in a timely manner.  The colleges will continue to find ways to invest more resources to help low and middle-income students with college and university funded financial aid.
n	The institutions will expand partnerships with business and other higher education institutions to strengthen programs and effectively meet student career and state workforce needs.  For example, Ramapo College, Montclair State University and The College of New Jersey have partnered with UMDNJ on advanced degree programs in health care and medicine.  William Paterson University, Kean University and New Jersey City University are leaders in K-12 collaboration, while Thomas Edison is a convener of innovative urban initiatives.

 

There is a role for citizens.  They can lend their voices to New Jersey College Promise Action Network, a brand new effort to advance state colleges and universities and broaden college access and affordability by visiting www.njcollegepromise.com.

 

The colleges and universities need the people's support to fulfill the promise of high quality, high value, and affordable education.  After all, these are the people's colleges, held in public trust by volunteer boards.  Working together, we can keep more of our talented citizens in New Jersey, broaden oppor