A new report offers recommendations for making college
more affordable and easier to complete. The report, Finding Solutions, Building
Public Trust in an Era of Change, included a survey that found New Jersey
residents say they believe state colleges provide excellent/good quality (87%)
and high value (90%).
At the same time, it reported that 87% of respondents
felt there needed to be changes in educational and business practices to
increase value (87%), according to an article in eCampus News. The study was conducted
by the Higher Education Strategic Information and Governance Project (HESIG) at
Richard Stockton College of New Jersey.
The HESIG report recommended that colleges work with
high schools to help better prepare students and with community colleges on
transferring credits. It also suggested expanding partnerships with business to
combine workforce and academic skills; allowing students to earn credit for
knowledge gained outside of college; providing a clear set of skills students
are expected to master; and restructuring financial aid to increase
affordability and reduce debt.
“What’s at stake is citizens’ future opportunity to
compete and prosper in New Jersey,” said Darryl Greer, the HESIG senior fellow
who headed the project. “This initiative goes to the heart of fulfilling the
promise of the benefit of a college education.”