{"id":2576,"date":"2008-09-17T09:50:17","date_gmt":"2008-09-17T13:50:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/news\/article.php?ArticleID=2576"},"modified":"2018-11-02T13:19:55","modified_gmt":"2018-11-02T17:19:55","slug":"2576_state-colleges-universities-vow-to-be-nine-strong-for-a-stronger-new-jersey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/president\/2008\/09\/17\/2576_state-colleges-universities-vow-to-be-nine-strong-for-a-stronger-new-jersey\/","title":{"rendered":"State Colleges \/ Universities Vow to be \u201cNine Strong for a Stronger New Jersey\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

Underscoring the collective value and critical role of state colleges and universities, Montclair State President Susan A. Cole joined fellow state college and university presidents to launch a major statewide campaign, \u201cNine Strong for a Stronger New Jersey\u201d at a press conference at Thomas Edison State College on September 16. As part of this effort, the college and university presidents signed a pledge<\/a> to the State of New Jersey expanding their commitment to educating the next generation of the state\u2019s students.<\/p>\n

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The nine institutions, all members of the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities (NJASCU<\/a>), are ÌÇÐÄvlog, The College of New Jersey, Kean University, New Jersey City University, Ramapo College of New Jersey, Richard Stockton College, Rowan University, Thomas Edison State College, and William Paterson University. These nine institutions enroll nearly one-half of all students who attend a four-year college or university in New Jersey.<\/p>\n

Despite the importance of these institutions to higher education in New Jersey, state support has steadily declined over the years forcing the institutions to look elsewhere for the funds to continue operations. \u201cWhen my father graduated from Montclair State in 1974, state appropriations covered more than 87 percent of the institution’s operating budget,\u201d said Montclair State Student Government Association President Ron Chicken. \u201cNow, this year, when I\u2019m a senior at Montclair State, state appropriation covers only 27 percent of the University\u2019s operating budget.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chicken, who accompanied Dr. Cole and addressed the media representing the students of the nine institutions, also remarked that the state\u2014through its lack of funding\u2014had essentially left the students to build their own institutions. \u201cAt ÌÇÐÄvlog and at our sister state colleges and universities, the students have essentially built all these facilities,” he stated. \u201cWe have paid higher tuition and fees because we wanted\u2014and this state needs us to have\u2014the faculty and facilities and services that will assure us a high quality education.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Cole stressed the urgency of the situation with regard to the numbers of students who leave the state to attend college elsewhere. \u201cIf you look at all of the net out-migration in the whole country\u2014and by net out-migration we\u2019re talking about the difference between students who come into a state and students who leave the state\u2014New Jersey, this one state, accounts for 43 percent of the national net out-migration,\u201d she said. \u201cWe are so beyond the norm in this matter and what that constitutes is 26,000 people a year, year after year after year, leaving this state. That\u2019s our future workforce, that\u2019s our future tax-paying population, that\u2019s New Jersey\u2019s future economic health.\u201d<\/p>\n

NJASCU also used the occasion to announce the launch of the New Jersey College Promise Action Network. The network will link people who care about the nine state colleges and universities with those in a position to make these institutions a higher priority\u2014including the New Jersey Governor and Legislature. Participation in the network is purely voluntary and is open to students, their family members, alumni, staff, trustees, educators, and other friends of the institutions. To participate, visit www.njcollegepromise.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Read an article<\/a> on the event in The Star-Ledger<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Read the press release<\/a> from NJASCU.<\/p>\n

Attached Media<\/h2>\n