The New Jersey City University Board of Trustees approved an annual budget of $149,107,000 that comes with a 3.5 percent tuition increase at last night’s meeting.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
NJCU Chair Luke Visconti participated virtually and began by stating that they ran into technical issues that did not give them their full scope of enrollment information,
NJCU Interim President Andres Acebo noted the budget was presented at their June meeting, reiterating that they have reformed their operations, and enrollment has increased by double digits. He also indicated they were waiting for money from the state.
“The governor signed that budget into law, which an additional three-and-a-half million dollars in additional funds allocated to NJCU … Only our revenue projects have been slightly modified … We are imposing a three-and-a-half percent fee tuition increase,” he explained.
He noted they will be absorbing the cost of textbooks and other classroom materials for all students.
“We have been very deliberate notwithstanding our needs to right-size our organization and to do so at the expense of our student body,” Acebo said, pointing out that some public universities have raised tuition by four to six percent.
He also indicated “this budget speaks to values” since it incorporates their Master Plan and other operational strategies approved this year.
Trustee Carlos Lejnieks commended the fact that the school was covering classroom costs, however, he was curious about an increase in employee fringe benefits of about 15 percent.
“Over 95 percent of our workforce is unionized. So most of those wage benefits are collectively bargained,” Acebo replied.
NJCU Vice President of Administration and Finance Brian Kirkpatrick said they received grant money to help with the budget and had to cover benefits and new hires.
“The three-and-a-half percent increase is $241. But on average, the cost of books is $1,200 for the year. So you’re looking at a $900 decrease in tuition as a net by us absorbing the cost of the books,” he stated.
“These are substantial numbers that really improve things for our students,” noting that NJCU also absorbed an increase in utility costs.
Later, Acebo said working with the state monitor on shovel-ready projects they’re pursuing funding for.
“Today we gather in the shadows of critical decisions … “Our path forward is fraught with challenges,” Chief Negotiator of AFT Local 183 Bill Calathes said during the public comment period. He continued that they have to seek a partnership and make tough decisions.
“Our community is primarily composed of Black, brown and socio-economic challenged students … We cannot stand idly by as our students’ futures are jeopardized,” Calathes declared. He also called the faculty and staff “the lifeblood of our institutions.”
State monitor Henry Amoroso said they were making progress in addressing the college’s fiscal issues, again pushing for a state partner such at a larger higher education institution or community college.
“The board should engage in a process to move forward with the possibility of finding a partner,” he said.
Amoroso said they’re starting a process to decide on a partner that will include significant input from the college and the community. He added that they could look at the budget again at their September meeting.
“The financial circumstances … dictate that we be proactive in dealing with external challenges both economically and otherwise,” Amoroso said, indicating that he is confident the board was doing so.
“The board is very acutely aware of the impact our decisions make. We’re trying our best to do our responsibilities,” Visconti added.
The consent agenda that included the budget and tuition increases was approved unanimously.
