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The Board Bulletin is a twice monthly publication for the Board of Trustees that highlights
Ramapo College of New Jersey news and achievements.
March 13, 2012
Stiglitz Praises Liberal Arts, Deans
Welcome the Politics of 2012
The Eastern Economic Association, located at Ramapo, recently presented
“Where Economics and Politics Collide: The Uncertain Future of the Euro
Zone,” featuring guest speaker and Nobel Laureate Joseph E. Stiglitz. After
welcoming the crowd and praising the values of a liberal arts education,
Stiglitz went on to caution the crowd that the common euro currency is in
big trouble.
Continuing along the tradition of welcoming great current speakers to
Ramapo, The Deans Lecture Series will host two upcoming events.
"Race, Law and Politics" will take place on March 14 at 3pm in SC 219.
Professor Randall Kennedy of Harvard Law School will speak.
"Occupy Wall Street and Class Divides" will take place on April 11 at 5pm in
H129. Professor Todd Gitlin of Columbia University will speak.
Joseph E. Stiglitz
"This lecture series is an opportunity for Ramapo College students and
members of the public to come together and learn about the issues
influencing Politics of 2012 through engaging with political experts and
experiencing their insights into the political process," said Ramapo Provost
Beth Barnett. "Ramapo College is known for pushing boundaries and on our
campus we are discussing the deeper and more significant influences on
politics and voter behaviors."
The World (of the NJ State Budget and
Higher Education) is Flat
It seems Thom Friedman was right. At least higher education in NJ will
receive flat funding, contrary to Governor Chris Christie's comments at the
state budget address. "...this budget proposes a nearly 6 percent increase
in direct aid to our senior public colleges and universities," Christie said.
A close review of the budget, however, reveals that the Governor's 6%
increase is not actually an increase in direct aid. The budget increases
spending only on college employees' health benefits and such benefits have
not traditionally been counted as direct aid.
Senate President Stephen Sweeney commented, "The claim on higher ed
was just bogus. It's not true. It's just smoke and mirrors."
The Governor's budget, however, did make notable increases to student
aid. Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) funding will increase 10.45%, part-time TAG
funding will increase 7.8%, and EOF funding will increase 1%. In addition,
the senior public colleges will no longer be required to cover tuition
expenses for STARS II residents, a yield of approximately $180K for
Ramapo.
The Governor's address did not mention the facilities bond proposal for the
senior public instituions, but did increase debt service funding for county
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colleges by 16%.
Governor's FY13 Budget Summary
Ramapo Named Disability Friendly
College
Ramapo College was one of only three New Jersey institutions of higher
education listed as a disability firendly college in the publication "College
Success for Students with Physical Disabilities."
Year after year, the College's Office of Specialized Services (OSS) has
attained the TRIO grant, a Federal grant that assists individuals with
disabilities and others from a disadvantaged background to progress in
academia. OSS has been noted for the success of its affiliated students.
Ramapo's retention and graduation rates of students with disabilities are
comparable to the College's overall rates and are higher than similar
programs elsewhere.
"College Success for Students with Physical Disabilities" addresses the
concerns of students with physical disabilities about living arrangements,
classroom necessities, transportation and other college campus-related
issues.
The book includes a list of colleges across the country that provide
accommodations for such students that go above and beyond the
requirements set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act. It also offers
students guidance in choosing a college and includes checklists, forms,
advice from disabled college students and disability services personnel,
interview with other students, and profiles of disability-friendly colleges.
State Funding: A Race to the Bottom
In 2011, Ramapo actually received the same level of support from the state
that it received in 1994. Ramapo has not received any capital support from
the state since 1988.
2079 is the projected year in which state appropriations for higher education
in New Jersey will reach zero, according to Thomas G. Mortenson, a senior
scholar at the Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education
in Washington, DC.
In a recent article in the Winter 2012 issue of The Presidency, Mortenson
reported, "Based on the trends since 1980, average state fiscal support for
higher education will reach zero by 2059, although it could happen much
sooner in some states and later in others."
If state appropriations continue to decline at their current rate, state
appropriations in Colorado and Alaska will reach zero in the 2020's. New
Jersey, ranked 31st in the order of states to reach zero funding, will follow
suit in 2079.
Mortenson notes that the immediate impact of declining state support for
higher education includes: surging inflation-adjusted tuition and fee charges,
greater competition among institutions for students with the capacity to pay
for their tuition, and a public college shift to recruiting out-of state students
at higher tuition rates.
Source: Postsecondary.org
Longer term impacts of declining support point to the stewardship of
institutions. Mortenson asked, "If these public institutions are no longer state
supported, who owns them? Who should govern them? Who should they
serve?"
Such questions are relevant as Governor Christie moves forward with plans
to merge Rutgers Camden with Rowan University, and to rename UMDNJ
and give greater autonomy to some of its schools (University Hospital would
be managed by a not-for-profit entity but remain a teaching hospital owned
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by the state). UMDNJ currently carries approximately $670 million in debt.
The Race to Zero
Roadrunners Make History
For the first time in College history, the Ramapo College women's indoor
track and field team won the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship
held February 29 at the New York Armory.
With 198 points, the Lady Roadrunners snapped a win streak held by The
College of New Jersey dating back to the 1997-98 season. The Lions, who
had won every NJAC indoor title since the first one in 1998, finished second
with 188.5 points.
NJAC Champions: Women's
Indoor Track and Field
Six individuals earned championship crowns for Ramapo adding to the
day's overall success. It is the first overall team championship for Head
Coach Mike Jackson. "Today was a great performance by our women's
team, as well as our men," he said. "To know that our women's track and
field team is the first women's team to ever win a NJAC conference
championship in college history is quite special."
Real Roadrunner: Carly Dobrin '11
Carly Dobrin '11, of Tinton Falls, NJ, is currently pursuing dentistry studies
at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ.
Ms. Dobrin earned her Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry from
Ramapo's School of Theoretical and Applied Sciences. While at Ramapo,
she enrolled in a joint program offered by Ramapo College and the
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Having completed her
undergraduate coursework in three years at Ramapo College, she will have
four years of medical training at UMDNJ.
Carly Dobrin '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?
This message was sent to afarnesk@ramapo.edu by bwillia1@ramapo.edu
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