There are many different things that reduced the quality of higher education in New Jersey, according to Jay Eitner. This includes decentralized governance, the Great Recession and state funding cuts. As a result, we are looking at higher college costs, highly limited job opportunities and overhanging debt. The entire economic future of the state is now endangered.
It is preferred to see the economic and financial position of the state at a strength that supports operating support increase for public universities and colleges. Families that are struggling could be helped by reduced fees and tuition costs. Student grants could be increased and loans would become more affordable helping more become successful. Unfortunately, this is not possible at the moment. High education costs keep rising in New Jersey, at a rate that is faster than family incomes.
Having tight finances is not a good reason to negatively affect higher education. New Jersey has to start focusing on education and confront the difficult situations that are now present. Stakes are really high since New Jersey can only be put back on the right track to restore its economic strength through the help of public universities and colleges.
Basically, higher education in the state of New Jersey was neglected and the public is not even aware that this is happening. It is highly recommended that authorities and people of power think about various solutions that were already mentioned. This includes suggestions like:
Analyze performance of community colleges
The community college is the affordable option a struggling family has for higher education but this only applies in theory. A commission should be established to analyze public and community college performance, with the purpose of maximizing the number of opportunities available for low-income families.
Reduce college drop-out rates
Statistics show that just 2 of the 4-year institutions in New Jersey have a graduate rate of over 50% for first-year students, over 4 years. While students end up not graduating, there is also higher student debt that appears and the prospects for job opportunities are lower than they ever been for college graduates.
Increase attention given to education at a state level
The responsible administration needs to have a much more systematic approach to higher education and fully understand economic consequences of what is happening now, for non-graduating students, graduating students, businesses, families and the entire economy of the state.
Increased funding for education purposes
The lack of higher education funding in the state of New Jersey is a clear indicator of the fact the economic recovery is still not a reality. While the recovery is in direct competition with various interests and politically powerful problems, neglecting education can only make the situation a lot worse on the long rare. The scarce funds that are available need to be used to target specific opportunities and problems like persistent underfunding, rising student debt and increased student assistance when coming from working families and poor families. Basically, even if there is not much money available at a state level, a more careful planning with funds is needed.
