June 26 2024 at 5:10 PM | Council news

New Jersey Community College Students and Presidents Advocate for the Governor and Lawmakers to Restore $20 Million in the FY 2025 State Budget

Since the Governor’s proposed budget was released in late February with a $20 million cut to NJ Community College operating aid, a record number of Community College students and presidents have taken on the challenge of writing and talking to their legislators, testifying at Assembly and Senate public budget hearings, and engaging in Legislative Days at the State House sponsored by the New Jersey Council of County Colleges (NJCCC). Students and other community college supporters have also emailed over 51,000 letters to the Governor and state legislators regarding the impacts of the proposed 12 percent cut.

We are confident that Governor Murphy and state legislature have heard the voices of students and college leaders concerning the critical role of community colleges. Any reduction in funding to community colleges would have significant negative impacts, and we ask the Governor and the Legislature to listen to these voices when they finalize the FY 2025 state budget.

Maria Heidkamp, Chief Innovation and Policy Officer, New Jersey Council of County Colleges

Recent media coverage regarding funding for NJ’s Community Colleges:

About the New Jersey Council of County Colleges

Governed by the presidents and trustees of the state’s 18 community colleges and enshrined in state law, the New Jersey Council of County Colleges (NJCCC) supports New Jersey’s Community Colleges and the more than 230,000 students they serve annually across 49 locations by fostering collaboration and developing solutions that expand access to college, promote equity and student success, and create a skilled workforce to drive economic growth.

NJCCC brings together the state’s Community Colleges to build a world-class, flexible higher education and workforce development system that can respond to the needs of local communities and employers while having statewide reach and impact. NJCCC promotes innovation and policy changes to help New Jersey’s Community Colleges in their efforts to achieve academic, social, and economic mobility for all residents. The Council’s New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development builds statewide industry, education, and labor partnerships that align education and training with the needs of a changing economy.

To learn more about NJCCC and New Jersey’s Community Colleges, go to www.njcommunitycolleges.org. Follow us @NJCommColleges on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube to learn more about our latest programs and initiatives.