N.J. Governor Wants to Merge Thomas Edison Into Rutgers

[TMW2010]

N.J. Governor Wants to Merge Thomas Edison Into Rutgers

New Jersey's governor on Tuesday proposed an austere budget for higher education (and most everything else), recommending a cut of about 15 percent in operating funds and a reduction of nearly 5 percent in financial aid for students. But the most stunning aspect of the governor's 2011 budget plan for public college officials was its proposal (see page 33) to strip Thomas Edison State College of $5.6 million in state funds and merge the online education institution into Rutgers University. The governor's budget plan bills the merger as a logical way to bring Rutgers's brand of classroom-based learning to Trenton, which is home to Thomas Edison, while "leveraging the two institutions' distance learning programming." Under the merger, Rutgers would also take over the State Museum and Library that Thomas Edison now oversees, for a total savings of $8.4 million. Public college officials, though, note that Trenton already has a classroom-based public institution, the College of New Jersey, and that enormous, research-oriented Rutgers would make an unlikely and discordant overseer of Thomas Edison's unusual brand of personalized education for adult students and overseas military personnel. Thomas Edison officials reportedly did not learn about the proposed merger until early Tuesday, and could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.

Thanks to Scaredrain over at Dinfo for the link to this.

[creationstory]

N.J. Governor Wants to Merge Thomas Edison Into Rutgers

New Jersey's governor on Tuesday proposed an austere budget for higher education (and most everything else), recommending a cut of about 15 percent in operating funds and a reduction of nearly 5 percent in financial aid for students. But the most stunning aspect of the governor's 2011 budget plan for public college officials was its proposal (see page 33) to strip Thomas Edison State College of $5.6 million in state funds and merge the online education institution into Rutgers University. The governor's budget plan bills the merger as a logical way to bring Rutgers's brand of classroom-based learning to Trenton, which is home to Thomas Edison, while "leveraging the two institutions' distance learning programming." Under the merger, Rutgers would also take over the State Museum and Library that Thomas Edison now oversees, for a total savings of $8.4 million. Public college officials, though, note that Trenton already has a classroom-based public institution, the College of New Jersey, and that enormous, research-oriented Rutgers would make an unlikely and discordant overseer of Thomas Edison's unusual brand of personalized education for adult students and overseas military personnel. Thomas Edison officials reportedly did not learn about the proposed merger until early Tuesday, and could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.

Thanks to Scaredrain over at Dinfo for the link to this.

holy Sh*t... is this good for us or bad for us who picked up an AS or BS from Thomas Edison?
the rutgers name is pretty strong!

[taylor]

I think that would be more than likely good news, especially for the current students. Depending on how far along you are with your requirements you may be able to attain a Rutgers degree. Although, I'm sure for future students admissions will probably become stringent. Rutgers has a strong reputation nationwide but especially here in the northeast. My sister and a lot of her friends graduated from there, they're all nerds and proud of it hilarious . Also, I think for TESC alumni it would sound pretty good telling people you graduated from a school that merged with Rutgers.

[jacanyardie]

Did they mention a time frame for this merger....:eek:


(I'll google it)

[billchrz]

Quick Takes: N.J. Governor Wants to Merge Thomas Edison Into Rutgers - Inside Higher Ed

[TMW2010]

Did they mention a time frame for this merger....:eek:


(I'll google it)

Its for the 2011 budget plan, so it would likely be during the course of the year, if it actually passes.

[jacanyardie]

Its for the 2011 budget plan, so it would likely be during the course of the year, if it actually passes.

I .....don't want to be caught in the transition.

A New Model for the Revitalization of Trenton’s Cultural District
The Governor’s Fiscal 2011 Budget replicates Rutgers’ central role in the revitalization of downtown New
Brunswick by proposing to bring Rutgers to the Capital City through a merger with Thomas Edison State
College. Thomas Edison’s instructional program is not primarily provided through a traditional classroom
model; Rutgers offers both on-line and classroom-based programs. The combination will allow new
classroom-based services for students in Trenton, while leveraging the two institutions’ distance learning
programming.

The Budget also proposes that Rutgers, which has experience operating its own library and museum, take
over the operations of the State Library (which is currently overseen by Thomas Edison College) and the State
Museum. A lack of consistent State and private support has prevented the State Library and State Museum
from meeting their full potential as cultural and economic assets for Trenton and New Jersey.

[txl996]

This is interesting. I was thinking about enrolling at TESC in the fall. Maybe I should enroll now.

[doghouse42]

This is wild. I was putting off applying but I just applied a few minutes ago because of this.

Thanks for posting this.

[Rhashad]

This is possibly GREAT news, not many people know of TESC, but Rutgers? WOW. maybe I will go with TESC for Grad school. Please keep us updated.