FDU President Avaltroni and Rider President Dell’Omo Testify Before Assembly and Senate Budget Committees
As the State Senate and State Assembly reviewed Governor Murphy’s proposed FY 2024 State Budget, hearings were held by each house on the proposed budget for higher education. These hearings include the Secretary of Higher Education, the Executive Director of HESAA, and representatives from each of the sectors of higher education – public 4-year research universities, public 4-year colleges and universities; public 2-year community colleges and non-profit public mission independent 4-year institutions.
Approximately one week after being named president FDU President Michael Avaltroni represented ICUNJ at the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee hearing on May 2nd (https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/publications/budget/governors-budget/2024/avaltroni_testimony_05022023.pdf). Topics of discussion from the committee included the concern that the independent colleges and universities received less than 6% of the announced capital funding recommendations from the Secretary and that NJIT and NJCU did not have any projects recommended; need to make the Summer TAG program permanent, the need for more funding for minority serving institutions and the importance of continuing increases in operating aid to the independent colleges and universities.
Rider President, and incoming Chair of ICUNJ, Greg Dell’Omo represented our sector at the Assembly Budget Committee hearing on May 9th (https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/publications/budget/governors-budget/2024/dellomo_testimony_05082023.pdf). Topics were similar to the Senate hearing with the addition of the importance of the EOF program and how additional funds could help students succeed.
The testimony attached includes background on the independent sector as well as specific budget request to increase operating aid, extend Summer TAG, increase funding for EOF and consideration of additional capital funding. Supporters of ICUNJ and all NJ students can assist by urging legislators to provide the funding we have requested.
