Senate panel to hear from universities
Written by Bob Jordan. Statehouse Bureau
TRENTON — A state Senate committee on Monday will receive a wish list of needs from college presidents, just as Gov. Chris Christie says he’s warming up to the idea of providing more money for campus construction and renovation projects.
The leaders of the state’s 31 junior and senior colleges have been pushing for a bond issue to pay for capital projects such as new classrooms, laboratories, dorms and libraries.
The Senate Higher Education Committee will hear from representatives of the New Jersey Presidents’ Council on the current issues facing colleges and universities. The committee will also receive testimony on revising the NJ STARS scholarship programs
Christie during a town hall visit to Irvington last week said he is contemplating how to pay for such projects, though he didn’t specifically mention asking voters in November for permission to borrow the money.
“News Jersey has had an awful record on higher education spending over the last 10 years. My first year as governor I participated in that,” Christie said.
“I’ve been saying all along, when we have more money to spend — which we‘re starting to have a little bit more now — that we’re going to look at higher education first,” he said.
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