With the Governor’s recent budget announcement, the work of the “Nine Strong for a Stronger New Jersey” campaign is integral to delivering a clear message about the importance of public higher education in New Jersey. Recently, I sat down with Ramapo Magazine to talk more about the campaign and the future of public higher education in New Jersey.
(This can also be found in the Ramapo College of New Jersey Winter 2009 magazine)
Q: What is the Nine Strong for a Stronger New Jersey campaign all about and who is its audience?
The Nine Strong piece of the campaign refers to the nine State colleges and universities in New Jersey including Ramapo College, Rowan University, The College of New Jersey, Montclair State University, New Jersey City University, Kean University, Richard Stockton College, William Paterson University and Thomas Edison State College. Together we account for nearly half of all the students who attend four year institutions of higher education in the State and award 45% of all bachelor’s degrees in the State.
The purpose of the Nine Strong campaign is to advance public higher education as a kitchen table topic around the State. We need parents, students, alumni and business leaders alike to take a harder look at the prospects for New Jersey’s economic prosperity. Specifically, we need those key constituents to initiate discussion with elected officials about public higher education’s importance to the future well-being of the State and its citizens in a knowledge-based economy.
I, along with my other colleagues on the Council, understand the Herculean challenges faced by the State, but cannot continue to accept public higher education’s place at the bottom of the priority list. It is a fact that economic innovation and productivity are directly linked to the strength of a State’s education system and thus the need for greater priority to be placed on public higher education.
Q: How can readers of Ramapo Magazine take a more active interest in public higher education and how can they get involved?
An integral piece of the Nine Strong campaign has been the launch of the New Jersey College Promise Action Network. This network is designed to link those interested in the future of higher education with one another to strengthen their voice in the State Legislature. The College Promise network will provide those constituents I mentioned earlier, and our readers in particular, with a forum to discuss issues and obtain information. The website, www.NJCollegePromise.com provides templates to draft letters to legislators and further informs visitors on the current state of public higher education.
Q: What are issues that NJASCU is confronting?
The state colleges and universities cannot maintain, much less enhance, campus facilities given high debt loads due to inadequate funding. The demand by New Jersey high school graduates for full-time freshman spots at our nine institutions exceeds capacity by more than 10,000 annually yet there has been no state support for capital projects since 1988. This is particularly detrimental to Ramapo given its short history and tremendous growth in enrollment. We desperately need to upgrade our science facilities but cannot assume more debt because we have had to shoulder the cost of increasing capacity and consequently already spend 13% of our operating budget on debt service. And you will find similar stories at a number of our sister institutions. .And obviously, the volatility of today’s economy continues to send shockwaves through the entire sector of higher education. Colleges around the State and the country are developing strategies to cope with the effects of tumultuous market conditions and reduction in investment returns.
Q: Specifically, how is Ramapo positioned to endure these volatile times?
Historically, when the country is in recession, public colleges tend to fare relatively well. What we are seeing at Ramapo is that price is playing a more significant role in students’ decision making and those that would have otherwise been drawn to expensive independent colleges are seriously looking at Ramapo College. In fact, an October survey done by MeritAid.com of more than 2,500 prospective college students showed that 57% of prospective students were considering cost as a significant factor.
Operationally, the next few years will continue to be challenging. As the State revenues are projected to be $1.2 billion short this year, and significantly more next year, we are already beginning to model budgets that anticipate significant deficits. We will continue to identify ways to reduce expenditures and enhance revenue. In the next three years, strategically linking budgeting and planning will even in difficult times enable Ramapo to achieve the vision and goals outlined in our strategic plan.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish during your tenure as Chair of the Presidents’ Council?
I hope that we can continue to work together, and with our colleagues in the other institutions of postsecondary education, to improve the educational opportunities for students in New Jersey.
