Trenton, NJ ― Cristina Rojas reports for NJ.com that, with Thomas Edison State University’s new nursing school as his backdrop, Governor Chris Christie on May 12 touted the state’s investment in campus construction projects at its colleges and universities, saying it helps stem the tide of students leaving New Jersey for college.
“We need our colleges and universities to be responsive to the needs of the folks in our community if we want to keep them here,” Governor Christie said. “Because if we don’t respond, they’ll go to another state that is responding and they’ll not only get their education there, but they’ll work there and that brain drain for the state of New Jersey is not something that we want to happen.”
In 2013, the state announced that it would provide financing to 176 projects at 46 institutions with the help of $1.3 billion in bond proceeds, including the $750 million Building Our Future Bond Act that was approved by voter referendum. It marked the first capital investment in higher education since 1988 under former Gov. Tom Kean.
“Now those projects that we started just a few years ago are cropping up on campuses all over the state of New Jersey and that’s incredibly important,” Christie said.
“We need our colleges and universities to be responsive to the needs of the folks in our community if we want to keep them here,” Governor Christie said. “Because if we don’t respond, they’ll go to another state that is responding and they’ll not only get their education there, but they’ll work there and that brain drain for the state of New Jersey is not something that we want to happen.”
In 2013, the state announced that it would provide financing to 176 projects at 46 institutions with the help of $1.3 billion in bond proceeds, including the $750 million Building Our Future Bond Act that was approved by voter referendum. It marked the first capital investment in higher education since 1988 under former Gov. Tom Kean.
“Now those projects that we started just a few years ago are cropping up on campuses all over the state of New Jersey and that’s incredibly important,” Christie said.
“While I’m certainly not a fan of debt, I am a fan of investment in things that will pay off much beyond what we’ve invested,” the Governor continued. “[I] hope that future governors will learn from this experience and that they won’t wait another 25 years to invest capital money in our colleges and universities.”
On Thursday, the governor toured the soon-to-be-finished nursing center at Thomas Edison. The 34,360-square-foot building will house the university’s W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing and include a state-of-the-art nursing simulation laboratory, lecture halls, conference rooms and a testing center.
For the full story, click here.
On Thursday, the governor toured the soon-to-be-finished nursing center at Thomas Edison. The 34,360-square-foot building will house the university’s W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing and include a state-of-the-art nursing simulation laboratory, lecture halls, conference rooms and a testing center.
For the full story, click here.
