Budget Restoration Thank You

July 3, 2003

Members of the Rutgers Community:

During the past five months, thousands of you have spent considerable time and effort advocating for the restoration of Rutgers' state funding. Faced with a proposed cut of 12 percent, members of the Rutgers community phoned, faxed and e-mailed legislators, sent letters and postcards to elected officials, met with key policy makers, wrote op eds and letters to the editors of prominent newspapers, staged demonstrations in Trenton and rallies on campus, and attended legislative hearings to voice the university's concerns. I am writing to let you know that your efforts have been successful and to THANK YOU for your support.

In the final budget appropriation approved July 1, Governor James E. McGreevey and the members of the state Legislature restored close to half of the $39.4 million budget cut proposed for Rutgers. The state budget also restores full funding for the Outstanding Scholars Recruitment Program, which is so crucial for keeping the best students from leaving New Jersey to attend college, and provides additional support for students of limited financial means through increases in the Tuition Aid Grant program. Nearly $8 million in funding for cutting edge research under the state's Commission on Science and Technology has also been restored.

These restorations would not have happened without the hard work of Rutgers students, faculty, staff, alumni, board members, parents and friends. You have shown our elected officials that the Rutgers family cares about higher education in New Jersey. I deeply appreciate your efforts on behalf of our university. Just as you joined me in the fight to restore Rutgers' funding, I hope you will also join me in thanking our governor and legislators, who listened carefully to our concerns and acted to ensure that New Jersey has the strong colleges and universities it deserves.

While the final budget avoids the serious damage threatened by the original funding proposal, the university will still need to take a hard look at its offerings and find ways to absorb the $20 million cut to its budget. We understand that the state's financial situation requires sacrifices from all state agencies. Some reductions in university programs along with a tuition increase will be required at Rutgers.

In the years ahead, Rutgers will need and will seek additional state support to strengthen its top priorities of offering an excellent education to our students, conducting innovative research that contributes to the state's competitiveness in the global economy, and serving the people of New Jersey. We remain committed to becoming a top-ranked national research university. New Jersey deserves no less.

It is gratifying to know that I can rely on you to help move Rutgers forward. I am optimistic about the future, largely because so many of you have demonstrated a real commitment to your university. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Richard L. McCormick
President
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey