Video on TESC/Rutgers merger

[taylor]

I just got this video emailed to me from TESC.

NJN - New Jersey Public Television and Radio

[alleycat]

Just watched the video. Very interesting. Thank you for sharing it.

[IrishJohn]

Interesting. I'm rooting for Mr. Pruitt and TESC to successfully fight this, at least till I can graduate.

[Lindagerr]

I just happened to have the NJN news on last night. Dr. Pruitt and the broadcast were well done I thought. I just wonder what has made Rutgers go from saying NO WAY to saying we'll see.

[nj593]

I just happened to have the NJN news on last night. Dr. Pruitt and the broadcast were well done I thought. I just wonder what has made Rutgers go from saying NO WAY to saying we'll see.

I would imagine that the concerns here are that the credit distribution would change if Rutgers takes over. But they would still I assume allow students that are enrolled currently to finish as TESC because thats how FAFSA and other aid has begun. They would only begin doing Rutgers methods there after. I only assume this because I was at a school a long time ago that was taken over and this was the method in which it happened.

[BrandeX]

I just wonder what has made Rutgers go from saying NO WAY to saying we'll see.

Being recorded on camera?

[taylor]

Initially, I think both schools were blindsided by this plan, so it's almost human nature to resist change. However, as more information has come out, it has become clearer that TESC has all to lose and nothing to gain other than more name recognition. While Rutgers gets a new campus and a library without giving up anything.

[TMW2010]

While Rutgers gets a new campus and a library without giving up anything.

They lose 37 million dollars, and gain the additional operating costs of TESC, the library, and the museum.

[skyfall123]

While Rutgers gets a new campus and a library without giving up anything.

The library is a complicated issue, I may be reading this wrong, but it looks like there is a set amount of state funding totally unrelated to this fight that goes to pay for the library based on # of persons served etc...TESC was given a set amount to oversee or supervise the operations. Although the employees of the library were considered TESC employees, money was set aside for that and the state contributed to those employees pension fund etc... full PDF here http://www.njstatelib.org/LDB/Library_Law/lwstlibr.pdf

So what does Rutgers have to lose? They would get a supervisory fee for running the library, without any risk. The problem for TESC is that anybody including armchair quarterbacks can see that you can make up for the shortfall of state funding fairly easily by either cutting payroll, raising tuition or some combination of both.

Unfortunately for TESC there is little downside for Rutgers, plus Rutgers has far more overall state funding at risk, so of course they are going to play politics with the governor.

If you read the accounts, TESC has done a great job with the library system. It really would be a shame if TESC was merely absorbed by Rutgers and their affordable and flexible program dissolved.