Governor's Budget Proposal Would be Devastating for Rutgers

March 21, 2006

Members of the Rutgers University Community:

While we do not have the full details of the budget proposal for next year that Governor Jon Corzine presented today, the cuts to higher education he has proposed would be unprecedented and devastating for Rutgers, as well as for all the colleges and universities in New Jersey.

Our preliminary estimate is that the combined effect of the budget proposals would approach $100 million for Rutgers alone, including a stunning 15 percent cut in our current state operating aid, zero funding for salary and benefits increases, and a number of other significant reductions.

We at Rutgers anticipated losses in state funding, based on the fiscal difficulties the Governor has discussed over the past several weeks. Nevertheless, cuts of this severity would go far beyond our ability to absorb them without enormous disruptions to the university.

If the Governor's proposed budget is enacted, state support for Rutgers would sink to the level it was almost a decade ago. The cuts the Governor has proposed—far worse than the deep cut that was proposed three years ago—would fundamentally affect our ability to educate students and would close the door on options for higher education to thousands of citizens of this state. Even with steep tuition increases, Rutgers would face layoffs, the cancellation of hundreds of classes, and reductions to services that our students require.

Rutgers is moving quickly to take action in response to the Governor's budget proposal. On Thursday I will hold an emergency meeting of the Administrative Council, whose members include provosts, vice presidents, and deans from across the university. I will be speaking with key committees of the Board of Governors this week and on Friday afternoon will address the University Senate at its meeting on the Newark campus.

Equally important, I am forming a Budget Advisory Committee of faculty, students, administrators, union leaders, and alumni, which will hold its first meeting next Monday and will help my administration develop solutions to the crisis Rutgers faces. I am also reaching out to the presidents of other New Jersey colleges and universities to discuss how we can work together to advocate for the higher education community.

It must be stated that the Governor's proposal is the beginning of a legislative process that will extend through June. As we learn the full details of the Governor's budget plan, the university will mount an aggressive campaign to fight these severe and devastating cuts. I will be in communication with you again soon about our campaign and will ask for your help in supporting Rutgers and the students and citizens we serve.

With your assistance, we will work with the Governor and the Legislature to develop a budget for higher education that recognizes the severity of the state's fiscal problems but that also makes sure New Jersey citizens are not deprived of the high quality higher education that they need and this state deserves.

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