Lawmakers blind to peril of higher education cuts | Home News Tribune Online

Lawmakers blind to peril of higher education cuts | Home News Tribune Online: "There is the slim hope that about $100 million to $120 million in higher education aid might be restored to the budget, as some members of the Assembly have proposed. But again, the chance of that happening appears weak — as does the long-term outlook for higher education in New Jersey — so long as state lawmakers treat it with such disdain."

South Jersey Colleges Bracing for Budget Cuts

With the July 1st deadline looming, South Jersey colleges may be force to make some very tough choices. Tuition increases, employee layoffs and elimination of some programs are all part of this grim scenario. The administration at Rowan University and Richard Stockton College are working hard to deal with the proposed reduction in state funding

“We had a committee that looked both at cuts and additional revenue sources,” Rowan spokesman Joe Cardona said. “The president has reviewed the list and will present his recommendations to the board of trustees in July.”

Herman Saatkamp Jr., President of Richard Stockton College announced at this month's Board of Trustees meeting, that salary increases based on performance would be eliminated and that he also would not accept an increase.

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/story/6481239p-6333343c.html

Kean University Welcomed as iTunes U Campus

Education Within Reach: Kean UniversityWelcomed as iTunes U Campus - As early as the next academic year, students strolling the Kean campus will be able to pop in their ear buds, hit "play" on their iPods and enjoy not only their favorite songs and videos, but their latest class lectures and presentations. This latest advance is literally within their grasp as Apple welcomes the University as an iTunes U campus, earning Kean the distinction of being the first higher-education institution in the state to be admitted to the program.

NJCU Receives Smart Growth Award

NJCU’s West Campus Redevelopment Plan Receives New Jersey Future Smart Growth Award - New Jersey City University has received a 2006 New Jersey Future Smart Growth Award for its West Campus Redevelopment Plan, a community-university partnership with the City of Jersey City.

William Paterson University Voices Concerns

William Paterson University Voices Concerns Over Proposed State Budget - The proposed state budget for fiscal year 2007 calls for the largest cut to higher education funding in history and would be devastating to our state’s public universities and colleges. We recognize that the state is in a difficult financial position; however, we oppose the dramatic decreases in funding for higher education. State support for higher education has steadily declined for years and the proposed reduction would return William Paterson University’s state appropriation to the level experienced in 1998.

Sources: Some state aid to colleges will be restored | Home News Tribune Online

Sources: Some state aid to colleges will be restored | Home News Tribune Online: "Lawmakers hope to ease the pain faced by colleges and universities in Gov. Jon S. Corzine's proposed budget by restoring about $100 million to $120 million of proposed cuts in state aid, according to legislative sources.

The restoration, like much of the budget, is still the subject of last-minute negotiations that include wrangling over a proposed sales tax hike."

Officials Warn Double Secret Probation Is Next

Money, management woes bring probation for UMDNJ: "The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey has been placed on probation by a key accreditation agency over continuing financial and management problems at the state medical university.

The move will not affect the university's ability to grant degrees, but is another black eye for an institution that remains the focus of an ongoing federal investigation."

Philadelphia Inquirer | 06/26/2006 | N.J. colleges brace for new cuts

Philadelphia Inquirer 06/26/2006 N.J. colleges brace for new cuts - Yet another round of cuts - tied to the budget - could mean larger classes, higher tuition, and hiring freezes next year. Read more about the impact of proposed cuts to higher education.

Brookdale Instructor Questions Necessity of Kean-OCC Partnership

In an editorial appearing in today's Asbury Park Press, Arthur Z. Kamin, an adjunct instructor at Brookdale Community College, criticized Kean University and Ocean County College for a new joint venture which he believes will burden state and county taxpayers. "That's not what Gov. Corzine wants to hear with New Jersey in such deep financial trouble," says Kamin.

The partnership will feature the construction of a $60 million dollar classroom building which will support a variety of degree granting programs. Kamin also points out that the Kean-OCC alliance may duplicate programs already offered by the New Jersey Coastal Communiversity, a consortium of local colleges such as Brookdale Community College and Georgian Court University.

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060623/OPINION/606230423/1030

Corzine Says He Will Veto Budget With No Tax Rise - New York Times

There has been no alternate proposal that would raise as much money as Corzine's idea to rase the sales tax, and a recent poll finds New Jerseyeans prefer cutting services to a raise in the sales tax. There is now talk of a government shutdown.

Corzine Says He Will Veto Budget With No Tax Rise - New York Times:

Report :: Flunking Out: New Jersey's Support for Higher Education Falls Short by Anastasia R. Mann and Mary E. Forsberg

Report :: Flunking Out: New Jersey's Support for Higher Education Falls Short by Anastasia R. Mann and Mary E. Forsberg - In light of the budget cuts proposed for higher education by Gov. Corzine, it may be a good time to revisit this report. Prepared by New Jersey Policy Perspective, it is available as an Adobe PDF.

Inside Higher Ed :: Pruning in the Garden State

Inside Higher Ed :: Pruning in the Garden State

In a year in which virtually all states are expected to increase spending on public colleges, some of them significantly, New Jersey’s colleges are facing proposed cuts of more than $300 million, which would reduce state support for some campuses by a third and have led at least one college to warn of furloughs and layoffs.

Philadelphia Inquirer | 06/22/2006 | Crucial colleges can't endure even a smaller aid cut

Philadelphia Inquirer 06/22/2006 Crucial colleges can't endure even a smaller aid cut: "Rowan and Rutgers Universities, Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, and other state four-year, public institutions that South Jersey high school students are clamoring to attend would not fare well next year under the proposed state budget."

Colleges Agree to Keep It Clean, Keep It Green

Georgian Court University and Camden County Community College are among the latest institutions to sign up for an environmental self-audit under the auspices of the Environmental Protection Agency. The audit is part of a federal program to raise awareness of environmental regulation compliance on campus.

In a statement at yesterday's signing ceremony held at Rutgers, New Brunswick, EPA Regional Administrator Alan J. Steinberg said, “Given that universities are preparing our future leaders and professionals, it is critical that they set a good example of responsible stewardship of the environment.”

http://www.thesop.org/index.php?id=1382

NJ.com: Search

NJ.com: Search: "Rutgers University's on-again, off-again plan to make over the center of its New Brunswick campus is back on again, thanks to a $1 million donation from Bank of America."

Rutgers approves land sale to Schiano

Rutgers approves land sale to Schiano: "Rutgers University's governing board approved an unusual deal yesterday to sell a portion of the school's ecological preserve to its football coach to build a house."

Rutgers students petition for funds

Rutgers students petition for funds: "Rutgers University students fighting proposed budget cuts presented a petition with nearly 7,000 signatures to two lawmakers Wednesday, renewing a push to restore state funding for higher education.

Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan, D-South Plainfield, said he hopes to restore about $150 million of the college cuts and supports Corzine's sales tax increase to help get the money."

Rutgers and Atlantic Cape Community College Reach Out to Shore Residents

Beginning September, 2006, Rutgers University will offer baccaulareate programs in hospitality management and liberal studies as well as graduate courses in education and business at ACCC's Mays Landing campus. Classes will be held in the evenings for the convenience of working students. For more information visit http://ur.rutgers.edu/medrel/viewArticle.html?ArticleID=5204.

Star Ledger/June 1, 2006/Monmouth U. Initiates Four-Year Degree in Real Estate

Star Ledger/June 1, 2006/Monmouth U. Initiates Four-Year Degree in Real Estate: Monmouth University in West Long Branch, NJ, plans to start a four-year real estate major in the fall of 2007. Students will take classes on real estate law, eminent domain, finance, development, construction, affordable housing and other topics.

Philadelphia Inquirer | 06/14/2006 | Creating jobs in a job-hungry city

Philadelphia Inquirer | 06/14/2006 | Creating jobs in a job-hungry city: "Besides providing higher education in its classrooms, Rutgers University is an active partner for economic growth in New Jersey and the region.

One example of that is the Rutgers-Camden Technology Campus Inc., a mixed-use business incubator that is generating the jobs, new business and innovations needed to create a diverse economic base."

WSJ.com - Science Journals Artfully Try To Boost Their Rankings

WSJ.com - Science Journals Artfully Try To Boost Their Rankings - Are the books, or in this case the journals, being cooked? According to a story by Sharon Begley in the Wall Street Journal, 5 June 2006, science journals may be trying to fudge the impact factors. Publishers may be trying to manipulate the factors since librarians rely on them in purchasing decisions. These decisions of course have an effect on the bottom line. Additionally, this practice may impact funding for research, relegating supposedly "less important" articles or publications to a funding dead zone.

TCNJ considers one-week layoffs

TCNJ considers one-week layoffs: "Faculty and staff at The College of New Jersey could be forced to accept temporary layoffs for a week next January to help the college balance its 2006-2007 budget as it faces a projected $12 million reduction in state funding."

Hope for Higher Ed?

Corzine's proposed budget now has to go through the Assembly and then on to the Senate by the end of the month. Assembly democrats have said they seek to restore proposed cuts to higher education. If you haven't already done so, email or call your Assembly rep and ask them to restore the funding for higher ed in New Jersey.

Nursing Program Flourishes at GCC

Monday, June 12, 2006

The future looks very bright for GCC nursing grads.

According to a recent article published in the Gloucester County Times, "In 2005, of GCC graduates seeking employment, 100 percent reported job offers within 2 to 3 weeks after licensure, according to college officials. Starting salaries for nurses range from $42,000 to $50,000 per year, college officials reported. "

Among the reasons cited for the program's success is instructor Nancy Hall's unique curriculum which includes preparation for the NCLEX-RN exam. Hall's curriculum now serves as a model for other programs at GCC and for nursing schools in Delaware.

Gloucester County Times

Social Software and Libraries 6/2/06

Social Software and Libraries 6/2/06
Originally uploaded by Marc Meola.

Edward Corrado (TCNJ) and Jim Robertson (NJIT) provided a useful overview of some new technologies often referred to as "social software" or Library 2.0 at a program sponsored by the Technology Committee of the NJLA College and University Section/ ACRL-New Jersey Chapter on June 2.

Social Software is "software that supports group interaction" such as instant messaging, RSS, blogs, wikis, folksonomies, podcasting, photo sharing, and social bookmarking.

Some features that social software have in common are: they are collaborative and leverage the widsom of crowds; there's a low barrier to use and adoption; they are open and can be expanded linked or "mashed;" they foster community; they're fun.

While some of the new software can be frivolous, some creative librarians have come up with some interesting and innovative library applications. Check out how users can tag their own items and write mini reviews in the University of Pennsylvania's catalog for example (see how "jarson" tags the book Broadcasting it).

What are the implications for cognitive authority and user privacy? As Bob Dylan says, the answers are blowin' in the wind and the times they are a changin'!

Presidents Argue Against Budget

Four NJ College and University presidents articulate a forceful and convincing argument against Corzine's proposed budget that will be devasting to NJ higher ed. I'm extremely disappointed in Corzine's budget; I'm glad my college president is speaking up.

Fairleigh Dickinson Vancouver

Fairleigh Dickinson University is opening a campus Vancouver. Iniside Higher Ed says the campus will have no dorms and no athletic facilities. They will offer 2 bachelor's degrees in business and information technology and cater mainly to students from Asia. I wonder how they'll handle library services. Will they provide access to databases and librarians, just databases, or just point students to Yahoo Finance?

Council NJ State College Locals: Legislative Action Center

Council NJ State College Locals: Legislative Action Center: "SUPPORT GOVERNOR CORZINE'S BUDGET with conditions!
Restore negotiated contract funding for higher education
Take Action!

Restore funding to NJ Public Higher Education
Contact Governor Corzine, your State Senator and Assemblyperson Now!
Take Action!"

The Library: Next Best Thing to an MBA

The Library: Next Best Thing to an MBA: "'I had always worked for other people,' he says. 'To become an entrepreneur was very challenging, I wasn't in that mindset.' So he enrolled in an online workshop for budding entrepreneurs and came across a librarian who told him about the resources available at the public library."

Spelling Champ From Spring Lake NJ

A "millenial" who can focus as well as multitask.

Spelling champ in limelight | Home News Tribune Online:
On her fifth and final attempt, the 13-year-old Spring Lake eighth-grader had won the Scripps National Spelling Bee, this time in front of millions of television viewers in North America. She beat Canadian Finola Hackett in the 20th round by correctly spelling "ursprache," which means a parent language.

Kerry bested 10 million children who began vying for the spelling bee title in the fall; 274 finalists competed Wednesday and Thursday in the national rounds. She represented Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex counties in the national event after winning the March 9 regional spelling bee sponsored by the Home News Tribune and the Asbury Park Press.

Kerry's key to victory was memorizing 99 percent of the 23,000 words on a master list used by contest judges. Learning them over five years, despite earlier setbacks at the contest, taught her the value of persistence. Kerry tied for seventh last year.

Every day, according to her mother, Paula, the straight-A student would come home from school, have snacks and milk or sometimes her favorite mint-chip ice cream, walk the dogs, do her homework, listen to music or relax, and study the word list for an hour or two.

"Kerry, said years of preparing for the bee have taught to stay focused on whatever task she undertakes.

'You realize that to excel you have to work hard,' she said. 'And not give up.'"

Sweeney D-Gloucester Calls For Union Givebacks

North Jersey Media Group providing local news, sports & classifieds for Northern New Jersey!: "Three South Jersey lawmakers demanded Thursday that unionized state employees give up raises, scale back benefits and work longer hours with fewer holidays to help balance the budget and avoid tax increases."

Reaction to the lawmakers' proposal was swift and pointed. Union leaders said state workers already have done their share, the Corzine administration said the time to discuss wages and benefits was at the bargaining table, and fellow Democrats called them "demagogues."

"I think it's pretty shameful that a guy that comes out of labor is trying to make a name for himself by vilifying middle-income state workers and attacking the collective bargaining process," said Bob Master, legislative and political director for Communications Workers of America District 1, referring to Sweeney. "I think it's a diversion from the real fiscal issues of the state."