Cryan, McKnight Bill Would Create Task Force to Examine Higher Ed Governance & Finances

TRENTON – The Senate Higher Education Committee today approved a bill, S-3771, sponsored by Senator Joe Cryan and Senator Angela McKnight that would establish a special task force to examine the state’s system of higher education, including its governance and funding. 

The 13-member panel would assess the ability of New Jersey’s public colleges and universities to meet current and future needs of higher education and make recommendations that address the state’s challenges and priorities, said Senator Cryan, the committee’s chair. 

“The future of higher education in New Jersey depends on the steps we take today,” said Senator Cryan (D-Union). “The next generation of learning will bring new challenges and opportunities, and we must have a clear vision and roadmap to ensure our colleges and universities remain among the best in the nation. This task force will help shape a forward-thinking strategy that meets the needs of students, families, and our state, ensuring a strong and competitive education system for generations to come.”

The proposed “Task Force on Higher Education Governance and Funding” would devote one year to its work and make its recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature.

“Higher education continues to be a pathway to opportunity for students from diverse backgrounds and financial circumstances,” said Senator McKnight (D-Hudson). “We have some of the best colleges and universities in the country here in New Jersey. We want those doors of opportunity to remain open to our students into the future.”

The task force’s agenda would include an in-depth examination of the organizational structure of each institution; an analysis of the role of governing boards and state oversight; a review of the federal and state laws and regulations that influence governance and funding; an analysis of the institutions’ funding mechanisms and its impact on student outcomes, and the identification of best practices in other states. 

Senator Cryan noted the inconsistent state funding and decentralized structure of the state’s higher education system as two prime factors for examination. 

“The decentralized management of higher education can create an environment where faulty financial decisions can exacerbate existing budget strains, which poses risks for students and taxpayers,” said Senator Cryan. “We need strategic foresight to determine what steps need to be taken to provide adequate financial support as well as safeguards to make sure the funds are used responsibly.”

State and local funding for the public colleges and universities decreased from $12,433 per student in 2001 to $9,194 in 2023, adjusted for inflation. The student share from tuition that comprised 20 percent of higher education revenue in 1980 increased to 44 percent in 2023, above the national average of 40 percent.

The members of the task force would include state higher education officials, representatives from state universities, county colleges and independent colleges, as well as alumni associations, students, and professors.

 The committee vote was 5-0.