Caldwell College President Nancy H. Blattner, Ph.D. testifying May 17 in Newark at the Assembly Budget Committee public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2011 State Budget.

Caldwell College staff and students joined college president Nancy H. Blattner, Ph.D. at the Assembly Budget Committee public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2011 State budget. The hearing took place May 17 in Newark. Speaking on behalf of Caldwell College and the independent sector of higher education, Blattner urged the committee to delete the footnote that caps students’ Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) awards and to restore funding to the Independent College and University Assistance Act.
From left to right: Caldwell College Director of Residence Life Albert Cardona; Caldwell College students Vanessa Treus and Johanny Caraballo; Dr. Nancy H. Blattner; students Khalian Douglas, Margaret Mullen and Amberly Hernandez-Nunez

President Nancy H. Blattner, Ph.D. testifies at Assembly Budget Committee public hearing

Caldwell College President Nancy H. Blattner, Ph.D. testified Monday May 17 at the New Jersey Assembly Budget Committee Public Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2011 State Budget. Speaking on behalf of Caldwell College, the independent sector of higher education, and the thousands of New Jersey students who rely upon State aid to obtain degrees from independent colleges and universities Blattner pointed out that New Jersey’s independent colleges and universities contribute over $4.9 billion to the State economy each year. Caldwell College students who are Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) recipients stood behind Dr. Blattner while she testified.

Dr. Blattner said that about 9,000 TAG awards were granted to students at independent institutions in FY 2009, and 422 of these recipients chose to enroll at Caldwell College. This support to students at independent colleges and universities through TAG awards conveys New Jersey’s “belief in the importance of educational choice while keeping students in New Jersey and minimizing the brain drain,” she said.

“Unfortunately, the proposed FY 2011 State Budget does much to undermine the partnership between independent higher education and the State of New Jersey. Eliminating 100% of direct aid to independent institutions signals a profound shift in our relationship and indicates that we are no longer viewed as vital partners with the State of New Jersey.”

Dr. Blattner also stated that by capping TAG awards at the State college award levels for first-time recipients at independent institutions, “our financially disadvantaged students will receive less aid than required to cover tuition—tuition that must be significantly higher than State levels, since our institutions receive far less funding from the State.” She urged the Assembly to “restore our working partnership with the State of New Jersey by deleting the footnote that caps our students’ TAG awards and by restoring funding to the Independent College and University Assistance Act.”