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Provide Adequate and Predictable State Funding

“Greater funding for New Jersey’s colleges and universities is critical to expand college opportunity, decrease student costs, and ensure the prosperity of the state’s economy.”

Report of the New Jersey Higher Education Task Force

While recognizing the state’s severe fiscal hardships, the report makes a strong case for increasing the state’s contribution to capital financing, operating support, and student financial aid. New Jersey’s public colleges and universities have seen a precipitous decline in state funding over the past two decades. “Continuing down a path that bypasses higher education will lead New Jersey to a fragile economy, fewer good jobs, and a vulnerable future,” the task force warns.

The report recommends that, as soon as fiscally possible, New Jersey should:

  • Stabilize and enhance its financial support of Rutgers;
  • Issue general-obligation bonds to support a revolving fund for capital improvements;
  • Issue a higher education bond to provide a significant infusion of financial resources for capital construction;
  • Provide annual capital support to state colleges and universities;
  • Provide greater financial support for operating budgets;
  • Reinstitute Challenge Grants;
  • Restore the Higher Education Incentive Funding Program to attract private donations;
  • Increase funding for the Educational Opportunity Fund; and
  • Make the NJSTARS program broader based and more comprehensive to retain New Jersey’s brightest students.

In addition, the report states:

  • “The governor and legislature should not impose tuition caps on Rutgers and the other senior public colleges and universities.”