The Board Bulletin is a twice monthly publication for the Board of Trustees that highlights
Ramapo College of New Jersey news and achievements.
January 30, 2012
Kiplinger's Says Ramapo is "Best
Value"
Ramapo was recently named to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance’s list of 100
Best Values in Public Colleges for 2011-12. The ranking cites four-year
schools that combine outstanding education with economic value.
Ramapo advanced in ranking this year to #48 for in-state tuition. This marks
the seventh consecutive year the College has been included in the list.
The College is one of only three New Jersey public institutions of higher
education on the list, which was released earlier this month. The report
features institutions that deliver a high quality education at an affordable
price, and Ramapo College was included due to its high four-year
graduation rate, low average student debt at graduation, abundant financial
aid and low cost.
Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Capital Campaign Surpasses $40 Million
Goal
The Ramapo College Capital Campaign, Further Our Promise, pushed its
own boundaries and surpassed its $40 million goal last week.
This accomplishment, nearly 18 months ahead of schedule, prompted
Cathleen Davey, vice president of Institutional Advancement and executive
director of the Foundation to comment, "This is our moment to push
boundaries; to further the promise of today’s student as well as that of each
student who will someday walk beneath the College’s historic arch,” she
said. “There is unmistakable momentum. There is no denying that this is
Ramapo’s moment.”
Further Our Promise had raised $38.8 million, prior to last
week's announcement. In November, the College announced a $3 million
gift from Allendale residents Lawrence C. and Theresa Salameno.
Gifts have been made by alumni, members of the Ramapo College Board of
Governors and area corporations to fund capital projects, endowments for
students and programs, and support faculty development and research.
The Further Our Promise campaign will continue until June 2013.
Governor Christie to Parents and
College Grads: You Too Deserve the
Earned Income Tax Credit
Governor Chris Christie delivered the State of the State address on January
17. The welfare of public employees, employment, and educational reform,
were among the issues he addressed.
Noting a pension system that was $54 billion in debt at the start of 2011, the
governor reported that pensions of state workers, teachers, and retirees are
now more secure. Christie said he was able to improve the system by
raising the retirement age, focusing on COLAs, and implementing new
formulas for employee pension and health contributions.
The governor reflected on Rutgers University data that reported, "2011 was
the best private sector job growth year inNew Jersey since 2000." He
followed his comments about job growth adding that he proposed to fully
restore the earned income tax credit for all New Jersey residents including,
but not limited to parents trying to afford to send their son or daughter to
college and new college graduates getting their first job.
Christie also discussed education reform. He called upon the state to move
promptly on tenure reform, teacher compensation and placement, the
authorization of charter schools, and the establishment of tax credits to
provide scholarships for low income students in the worst-performing
schools in the state.
Full Transcript of the Address
Ramapo Captures Savings and
Attention for P3 Project
The aging roof of Ramapo's main academic building has been in need of
repair, and the College needed millions of dollars to fix it. Instead of
borrowing the money, Ramapo took advantage of the state’s Public-Private
Partnership legislation and partnered with multiple companies on the
roughly $9 million re-roofing project.
In exchange, National Energy Partners of Mount Vernon and Amberjack
Solar of Oakland will install a 5-megawatt solar panel system on the new
roof, carports, and on berms along Route 202, and then sell back the
generated electricity to the College.
The College's re-roofing and
photovoltaic project formally
commenced in January.
The project was approved by the Economic Development Authority last
week, the third such partnership advanced under the New Jersey Economic
Stimulus Act of 2009. The law allows state and county colleges to bypass
public bidding laws and hire a developer to finance construction and
operation of campus facilities.
The law expires February 1, but colleges in the state are supporting a bill
carrying an 18-month extension that moved out of the Senate Economic
Growth Committee last week.
News of Ramapo's project was carried in The Star-Ledger, NJ.Com, and
NJASCU's Legislative Priorities.
President Obama Delivers Warning to
Higher Education While Calling for More
(example of photovoltaic roof
panels)
Sources: Rockroofing Inc.,
University of California, Irvine
State Support
A large group of students gathered on Wednesday night in J. Lees as part
of the Civic Engagement Center’s “State of the Union Watch Party.”
President Obama’s State of the Union address touched on employment and
education reform at the secondary and post-secondary levels.
The president called for more support of higher education at the state level,
"States also need to do their part, by making higher education a higher
priority in their budgets. And colleges and universities have to do their part
by working to keep costs down."
The president went on to warn those colleges and universities that if
they can't harness technology and redesign courses to help
students graduate more efficiently, they will face less taxpayer funding.
Noting current unemployment, the president added that he wants to train 2
million workers with skills that will "lead directly to a job" via community
college and local business partnerships. He then urged Congress to stop
interest rates on student loans from doubling as scheduled in July, to extend
the tuition tax credit, and to double the number of work-study jobs in the
next five years.
In a departure from the national focus on K-12 standardized test measures,
the president said, "Stop teaching to the test and replace teachers who just
aren't helping kids learn." He then called on every state to require students
to stay in high school until they graduate or turn 18.
Full Transcript of the Address
Real Roadrunner: Maritza N.
Guananga '11
Maritza N. Guananga '11, of Garfield, NJ, is employed at Goldman Sachs
in New York City as a Product Controller.
Ms. Guananga earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business
Administration from Ramapo’s Anisfield School of Business.
Before graduating from Ramapo and accepting employment with Goldman
Sachs, Ms. Guananga commented, "During my summer internship, I
acquired skills and insights that I know will benefit my future career. I
learned how to interact professionally with other employees and other
departments. I became aware of the complexities of today's business
environment, which requires more than just classroom knowledge. An
internship gives you a glimpse of your life after college."
Maritza N. Guananga '11
Contact Details
Brittany A. Goldstein, Special Assistant to the President
(201)684-7609, bwillia1@ramapo.edu
Have you visited the President's Post lately?