With Governor Mikie Sherrill beginning her term, Michael Bernstein, president of The College of New Jersey, has called for the new administration to prioritize greater investment in public colleges across the state.
In an op-ed published in NJ.com, Bernstein outlined several challenges confronting New Jersey’s four-year public colleges and argued that investments in these institutions result in positive returns. “Public higher education is not a cost center,” Bernstein wrote. “It is a proven economic development engine and one of New Jersey’s greatest public assets. But assets only deliver the strongest returns when they are maintained and strengthened.”
Bernstein believes increased funding could help New Jersey attract top students nationally and internationally, while encouraging graduates to remain in the state after completing their studies. He noted that about 30,000 students from New Jersey leave to attend college elsewhere each year. This aligns with previous research indicating that New Jersey is among the largest exporters of college-bound students.
He identified cost as a key factor driving students out-of-state, with other colleges offering more competitive tuition and financial aid options. “At the same time, New Jersey’s public colleges and universities are facing a convergence of challenges that threaten affordability and competitiveness,” Bernstein said, citing unpredictable budgets, inconsistent student aid from year to year, and deferred maintenance on aging facilities.
Bernstein urged lawmakers to commit to multi-year funding plans that would enable institutions to plan effectively and invest in academic programs aligned with workforce needs. “It requires a long-overdue commitment to capital investment, addressing deferred maintenance while modernizing labs, classrooms, exhibition halls, performance venues, and research facilities essential to workforce preparation and economic innovation,” he wrote.
He also called for stronger support for students through expanded internships, apprenticeships, and experiential learning opportunities aimed at connecting education with employment prospects within the state. “And it demands stronger support for students, including expanded access to internships, apprenticeships, and experiential learning that connect education to opportunity and encourage graduates to build their lives in New Jersey.”
The full op-ed by President Bernstein can be found online.
The New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA), established in 1910 as the state’s largest employer organization representing businesses across multiple sectors such as manufacturing and services, facilitates partnerships among businesses, government agencies, and educational institutions. It provides advocacy efforts as well as resources designed to support member prosperity through collaborations between different stakeholders statewide.
Michele Siekerka currently serves as president and chief executive officer of NJBIA according to its official website. The association maintains its headquarters at 10 West Lafayette Street in Trenton.
