Latest News

NJ Association of State Colleges & Universities' Update on the Proposed FY 2009-2010 State Budget
June 2009

The austere budget originally proposed by Governor Corzine contained a cut of 5% in state appropriations to the nine state colleges and universities. Collectively, the colleges/universities stood to lose $13.8 million, bringing the state appropriations down to the same level (in dollars, not adjusted for inflation) as the institutions received in FY 2000. In May, a budget revision indicated that the institutions would have funding restored to its FY 2009 level, utilizing federal economic stimulus funds, and based, on certain expectations about cost-savings steps and below-average tuition increases. It is now expected that tuition increases at state colleges and universities will not exceed 3% stemming from a June 5 accord among presidents of the nine state colleges and universities; this is pending no unexpected changes in the budget.

The budget proposal is positive in addressing college affordability by increasing funding for New Jersey's key student aid program that reaches many low and middle income students: the Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) program.

Funding in the budget proposal for employee fringe benefits, often displayed as a budget "increase" for higher education, does not come to the colleges, but stays in state accounts to pay for mandated health, retirement and other benefits.

While college leaders acknowledge the governor's earnest efforts in difficult economic times, and important new support for student financial aid, this budget has little promise for the increased investment needed to move New Jersey in the positive direction envisioned by President Obama: making the United States number one globally in college degree production, within ten years.

Read the full release, here.

SGA Fights Budget Cuts
William Paterson University Pioneer Times - March 6, 2009

If all goes according to plan, New Jersey politicians will be flooded with faxes and e-mails asking them to support funding for higher education before Gov. Jon Corzine announces his proposed 2010 budget on March 12.

As part of the Student Government Association's campaign, "Against the Budget Cuts!", SGA is urging students to visit www.njcollegepromise.com where they can send a message to their NJ state legislators, Jess Pepe, SGA president said. Legislators will receive the messages via fax and e-mail. The process takes two minutes, and she is strongly urging students ask their parents visit the website and send letters as well.

To read full story, click here.

Nine State Colleges and Universities Suffer Sudden, Additional Cuts
Press Release - March 3, 2009

While state and college leaders are struggling to protect public higher education opportunity during a severe economic downturn, the presidents of New Jersey's nine state colleges and universities learned Monday that the state will withhold additional salary funds, amounting to at least $2.75 million, collectively, from the institutions for the remainder of fiscal year 2008-2009.

The funds being withheld would have helped pay, in part, contractual salary obligations negotiated by the State of New Jersey. The institutions are obligated by law and contract to pay bargaining unit employees these monies.

Overall, this fiscal year, the colleges may be expected to make up as much as an $18.5 million shortfall in salary funding. This is on top of a loss of about $30 million this year through cuts in direct state funding for college/university. Other senior public universities are facing similar cuts.

The state colleges and universities are operating with about the same amount of direct state funding as they received in fiscal 1999, 10 years ago, even though student enrollment has increased by about 25%, or 20,000 students. This is the sixth funding cut since FY 2001.

To read entire press release, click here.

State College/University Group:
We Will Work with Trenton and Washington to Maximize New Jersey Share of Federal Stimulus Funding for Higher Education
Press Release - February 6, 2009

New Jersey should not be jeopardized in its eligibility for federal stimulus funding by a reduction in the state's higher education investment.

So says Dr. Darryl G. Greer, executive director/CEO of the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities (ASCU), pointing to current House and Senate versions of the federal economic stimulus package. These bills contain a "maintenance-of-effort" provision that in order to receive some of the federal stimulus funding for higher education, states must maintain, over the next two fiscal years, at least the same level of higher education funding as in FY 2006. Under both the House and Senate versions, New Jersey would stand to gain a greater share of about $79 billion nationally, currently allocated for "public safety and other public services," including such services as public institutions of higher education, if it meets the maintenance-of-effort standard.

"Maintenance-of-effort" provisions are being increasingly employed in federal higher education funding legislation to ensure that federal investment does not supplant state investment or facilitate disinvestment. To read the full article, click here.

NJ State College Group Launches Effort to Serve Veterans: Extensive Web-Guide and Support to Expand Services - Seeks to Become National Model
Press Release - November 10, 2008

New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities (ASCU) today is calling upon the nine state colleges and universities "to be all they can be" when it comes to serving members of the military, including recently retiring military service members. ASCU has launched a web-based guide for veterans and members of the armed forces dubbed Operation Promise for Servicemembers (OPS). The site is one of the most extensive provided by any group of public colleges in the nation.

The Garden State is home to more than 500,000 veterans, although it is estimated that only 1% (5,000) take advantage of current tuition benefits. The US Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that an additional 5,000 returned to the state after completing their active military service in 2007. Experts predict that the expanded benefits provided under the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act (or Post 9/11 GI Bill) coupled with a steady stream of retiring veterans will substantially increase the number of student veterans seeking higher education opportunities. The Post 9/11 GI Bill will go into effect in August 2009.

To read entire press release, click here.
To visit the Operation Promise for Servicemembers web portal, click here.


NJ Colleges Form Alliance to Highlight Their Role
Associated Press - September 17, 2008

(Trenton, New Jersey) – Nine of New Jersey's state colleges and universities are joining forces to try to push higher education to the top of the state's political agenda in the face of state budget cuts.

The "Nine Strong for a Stronger New Jersey" campaign includes The College of New Jersey, Kean University, Montclair State University, New Jersey City University, Ramapo College of New Jersey, Richard Stockton College, Rowan University, Thomas Edison State College, and William Paterson University.

The New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities said it is forming the alliance to improve programs, combat funding cuts and strengthen private sector ties, among other goals.

State Colleges/Universities Vow to be “Nine Strong for a Stronger New Jersey”

Presidents Sign Pledge, New Websites Launched

September 16, 2008 (Trenton, New Jersey) – The nine state colleges and universities of New Jersey today launched a major statewide campaign, “Nine Strong for a Stronger New Jersey,” to underscore the collective value and critical role of the state colleges and universities. As part of this effort, the college and university presidents signed a pledge to the State of New Jersey expanding their commitment to educating the next generation of the state’s students.

The statewide commitment will be centered around a new web portal: www.njascu.org/NineStrongforNJ, managed by the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities (ASCU), of which the nine institutions are members.