The proposed budget for the State of New Jersey for fiscal 2007 contains significant reductions in aid for institutions of higher education. Saint Peter’s College is one of 14 members of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in New Jersey (AICUNJ). If the proposed budget is enacted, our member institutions face a 50 percent reduction in aid, from $24 to $12 million. This reduction translates into a loss of approximately $770,000 for Saint Peter’s College.
AICUNJ institutions have made significant contributions to our State, enrolling more than 65,500 students or nearly 17 percent of all students in higher education as of fall 2004. Our schools awarded 23 percent of all degrees in our State and continue to play a major role in equipping students with the skills necessary in a highly-competitive economy. Of the advanced degrees awarded in 2004-2005, AICUNJ institutions granted 40 percent, with higher percentages in areas such as the Physical Sciences, Business, Nursing and Engineering.
As the budget negotiations continue over the next several weeks, I encourage you to participate in this discussion. For your information, I have listed below contact information for certain legislative leaders. You may also go to www.njleg.state.nj.us to find the name and contact information for the legislator from your respective municipality or district.
I urge all those associated with the mission of Saint Peter’s College and both public and private higher education in New Jersey – students, faculty, alumni, staff and others – to express your views on the importance of ongoing financial support to higher education.
Sincerely,
Fr. James N. Loughran, S.J.
President
Saint Peter’s College
New Jersey Senate
Senator Richard J. Codey (Senate President)
District Office: 449 Mount Pleasant Avenue, West Orange, NJ 07052
Phone: (973)-731-6770
Email: SenCodey@njleg.org
Senator Wayne R. Bryant (Chair, Appropriations Committee)
District Office: 501 Cooper Street, Camden, NJ 08102
Phone: (856)-757-0552
Email: SenBryant@njleg.org
Senator Shirley K. Turner (Chair, Education Committee)
District Office: 1440 Pennington Rd., 1st Floor, Ewing, NJ 08618
Phone: (609)-530-3277
Email: SenTurner@njleg.org
New Jersey Assembly
Assemblyman Joseph J. Roberts (Speaker of the Assembly)
District Office: Brooklawn Shopping Plaza, Rt. 130 South &
Browning Rd., Brooklawn, NJ 08030
Phone: (856)-742-7600
Email: AsmRoberts@njleg.org
Assemblyman Patrick J. Diegnan (Chair, Higher Education Committee)
District Office: 908 Oak Tree Ave., Unit P, South Plainfield, NJ 07080
Phone: (908)-757-1677
Email: AsmDiegnan@njleg.org
Assemblyman Louis D. Greenwald (Chair, Budget Committee)
District Office: 1103 Laurel Oak Avenue, Suite 142, Voorhees, NJ 08043
Phone: (856)-435-1247
Email: AsmGreenwald@njleg.org