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

[Lindagerr]

I just wrote to the Governors office saying why I thought this was a bad idea and how it would not help, but could harm Trenton. I know it might not help, but all the other budget cut causes are raising such a ruckus if we do nothing we may just disapear. If anyone is interested.
You can also contact Governor Christie by writing to the Office of the Governor, P.O. Box 001, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0001, or by calling (609) 777-2500.

[RUTurbo]

I don't post very much however in this instance I thought it would be appropriate since I think I can add to the conversation from multiple point of view. I'm a non-traditional student, military vet, NJ resident, and current Rutgers University University College student. From my point of view the most likely scenario I see would be TESC would be absorbed into UCC (University College Community). UCC is great IT IS RUTGERS there is no differentiation betwen UCC or any of the other colleges at RUTGERS -NB/PISCATAWAY, that means a UCC degree is a TIER 1 degree! UCC is the only college at Rutgers exclusively for NTS's (our slang for non-traditional students). UCC is great but has many limitations such as - all classes must be taken on campus, there is a residency requirment, a limit on CLEP/DSST credits, only 8 UCC endorsed majors, only 1 degree is available through UC itself a BS in Labor and Employment Relations. There are 7 "Endorsed Majors" however some credits for those majors must be obtained through other colleges at Rutgers NB as UC does not offer all classes needed. By TESC getting absorbed into the UC both Rutgers students and TESC students would benefit. Us UC students would get access to more majors and DL content, TESC students would get the prestige of a UC degree. I would like to think tuition for distance students would not change significantly, however the days of transferring in 120 credits, FEMA, and more than 60 CLEP/DSST would be over. Also Rutgers Alum's and students have no objection to UC, my major isn't available solely through UC so I have taken classes on Busch and Cook campuses, students there think I'm simply the "old" guy and have no problem with me being a UC student, most didn't know even know UC existed. The worst thing to do would to be have a Rutgers University - State University of New Jersey - Thomas Edison College - Trenton or New Brunswick (whichever site gets chosen). The name Thomas Edison needs to go - and the college dissolved - otherwise alum's and students alike would NOT accept it. It would be a watering down of the Rutgers brand - yes many large state schools have distance options - but none of them accept 120 transfer credits, limitless CLEPS, and FEMA's. I don't see how that would hurt TESC grads - you'd get to keep your TESC name, you would simply have a degree from a school that has closed - not a bad thing - lots of colleges fold, and TESC never had name recognition to begin with. I lived in NJ for 27 years and never heard of TESC until I joined InstaCert in January. Current students would have the option of finishing their degree at TESC or matriculating into UC's program understanding they may have to retake some credits, future students would be able to earn a REAL Rutgers degree via distance - for about the cost of 4 semesters at UoP - a Rutgers degree for less than half the price of full-time undergrad tuition!! A bargain!! NJ is obviously not benefiting from TESC's existence at the current moment, close it, let UC take over and be able to not run up public debt. I'm sure many people would gladly pay a little more in tuition - take a few more classes - and get the prestige of a RU degree. Rutgers is one of the few Public university's in the nation that has a national reach - in that it's name is widely known - and known for academics as opposed to athletics. So don't fear a merger - it could be a win-win-win.

[annegirl]

I see what you're saying about it being a win-win...but the thing is, most people are going to TESC because of the flexibility of credit transfers and the large selection of degree options you can pursue. If a big name was important most would have looked elsewhere.

I see this as pretty much a circular situation. Money is tight so someone is laid off, they exist on unemployment while trying to find work and decide to pursue a degree that they can do quickly and cheaply. They sign up for college, but the state is broke because tax revenues are down so they cut colleges and increase tuition, thereby making it more impossible to get ahead. All the while every job opening requires a 4 year degree, several years of experience etc leaving a lot of people with absolutely no options which means they aren't working, which means they aren't spending, which means the government has less tax money to work with which means they cut more.

Also, TESC offers some degrees that are difficult to find elsewhere. My major is a rather new one and difficult to find in an affordable distance program.

I've helped so many people get started on their degree plans with TESC, including 4 siblings. I would hate to see them put so much work into something to find out that the college they were heading for is now gone.

[skyfall123]

RUTurbo - Thanks for your excellent post. It all makes sense. I have two sons attending TESC and I'm not worried at all. They will still have their completed RA degree for Grad School.

This report shows that the majority of degrees conferred at TESC (2008) were General Studies/Liberal Arts http://www.state.nj.us/highereducation/I...TESC09.pdf

The BGS or Bachelor of General Studies are the newer version of the general Board of Governors degree that most states now offer. Indiana University and Univ of Alabama both have these degrees which remain affordable and can be earned at a distance. These degrees cater specifically to the NTS crowd. They are usually more accepting of non-traditional credit and give credit for work experience through portfolio/prior learning.

There will be a lot of pressure to keep an affordable option open to NJ residents, so even if TESC is absorbed by Rutgers, I would guess that at the very least, students still may be able to complete a single affordable BGS from the new Rutgers entity. Best case scenario would be that NTS are still offered a range of affordable degree options.
Indiana University Online and Distance Education, Undergraduate, Associate Bachelor's Degrees, General Studies
EXD Mission Statement | Home | BA or BS in Interdisciplinary Studies (External Degree Program) | Academic Outreach | The University of Alabama

[taylor]

RUTurbo, I thank you for the post as well. It's nice to get perspective from the other side, Rutgers UCC, as well. You've passed on information regarding UCC that I just learned from your post.

[skyfall123]

I have been putting off consolidating my transcripts at T.E.S.C. and was planning on stacking a few more CLEPS first. Should I do that A.S.A.P. and will my B.S. in applied technical studies be affected? Geeez.. I am not a student there yet should I enroll and get on the books before there requirements change? Will that help? I called them today and they were already gone for the day....ANY WORDS OF WISDOM FOR ME?

I don't mean to sound unkind in my words....but if TESC was run efficiently, this wouldn't all be happening. I worked for a company that merged, I also have worked very closely with a bureaucratic govt organization. If you haven’t yet enrolled I would wait and see. I think you will have your answer fairly quickly. Here is why. TESC is inefficient in a lot of areas. They are super efficient in handling the student aid/loans. They are super inefficient in other areas. There level of customer service is completely hit and miss. They might have five duds and one superstar. There is a logical explanation for this. Dr Pruitt has been there since 1982. A lot of the board members have been there for years. I would guess that they have a lot of the department heads have been there for years. They have been content with doing business as is. While Excelsior has twice the students and runs multi-million dollar surpluses, TESC relies on state money, to compensate for their inefficiencies. There is probably little room for advancement since you have geezers in positions that they have held for years. As a result, the superstars who do get hired eventually leave for better jobs elsewhere, and the duds remain.

The true nature of the leadership will come forth in the next few months. If there is true leadership, then each department will quickly shore up their inefficiencies, and better customer service will follow. If there is poor leadership, then the customer service will get even worse. I would wait to see which occurs. If there is true leadership then TESC's department heads are working feverishly TODAY to shore up their departments, if there is poor leadership then the department heads are behind closed doors moaning and groaning about what might happen to them personally, while their departments sink even further down the black hole of inefficiency and students are left to fend for themselves. It's all up to them. The true colors are going to show.

The first reaction was not what I expected from the TESC leaders. I expected them to say “We will explore all the opportunities available to ensure that our mission of providing affordable education to our residents is maintained”. Instead it was, we oppose the idea. That spoke volumes. That told me they were primarily interested in saving their own ass. If you are going to float the notion that you are dedicated to the mission of providing affordable education, then show some leadership, figure out how to merge while providing present students a high level of service and make it happen.

[Levi]

I see what you're saying about it being a win-win...but the thing is, most people are going to TESC because of the flexibility of credit transfers and the large selection of degree options you can pursue. If a big name was important most would have looked elsewhere.

Also, TESC offers some degrees that are difficult to find elsewhere. My major is a rather new one and difficult to find in an affordable distance program.

I've helped so many people get started on their degree plans with TESC, including 4 siblings. I would hate to see them put so much work into something to find out that the college they were heading for is now gone.

Yes, I agree with you here. The reasons I chose TESC were (1) the low cost, (2) the flexibility, (3) no residency requirements, and (4) the amount of credit-by-examination they would accept. If I had been interested in a big name degree I would have looked elsewhere. I personally hope that TESC does NOT merge with Rutgers because all of the things I mentioned above would certainly change for the worse (for people like me).

I've been putting it off for a while, but I think I am going to be applying to TESC very soon, transferring my 78 CLEP/DSST credits, and finishing my degree by this fall. I have tailored my CLEP/DSST schedule around TESC's credit distribution requirements for BSBA General Management. I'm still not 21 yet, but I know that won't be an issue for me.

I'm sure CollegePlus! and Verity Institute are very interested in this news, because they are both in cooperation with TESC.

Any advice for my situation would be appreciated.

[TMW2010]

I don't mean to sound unkind in my words....but if TESC was run efficiently, this wouldn't all be happening. I worked for a company that merged, I also have worked very closely with a bureaucratic govt organization. If you haven’t yet enrolled I would wait and see. I think you will have your answer fairly quickly. Here is why. TESC is inefficient in a lot of areas. They are super efficient in handling the student aid/loans. They are super inefficient in other areas. There level of customer service is completely hit and miss. They might have five duds and one superstar. There is a logical explanation for this. Dr Pruitt has been there since 1982. A lot of the board members have been there for years. I would guess that they have a lot of the department heads have been there for years. They have been content with doing business as is. While Excelsior has twice the students and runs multi-million dollar surpluses, TESC relies on state money, to compensate for their inefficiencies. There is probably little room for advancement since you have geezers in positions that they have held for years. As a result, the superstars who do get hired eventually leave for better jobs elsewhere, and the duds remain.

The true nature of the leadership will come forth in the next few months. If there is true leadership, then each department will quickly shore up their inefficiencies, and better customer service will follow. If there is poor leadership, then the customer service will get even worse. I would wait to see which occurs. If there is true leadership then TESC's department heads are working feverishly TODAY to shore up their departments, if there is poor leadership then the department heads are behind closed doors moaning and groaning about what might happen to them personally, while their departments sink even further down the black hole of inefficiency and students are left to fend for themselves. It's all up to them. The true colors are going to show.

The first reaction was not what I expected from the TESC leaders. I expected them to say “We will explore all the opportunities available to ensure that our mission of providing affordable education to our residents is maintained”. Instead it was, we oppose the idea. That spoke volumes. That told me they were primarily interested in saving their own ass. If you are going to float the notion that you are dedicated to the mission of providing affordable education, then show some leadership, figure out how to merge while providing present students a high level of service and make it happen.

+100 internets for you. This is an excellent post.

[HoosierChristian]

+100 internets for you. This is an excellent post.

I'll double that to +200 internets for you. The simple fact is that if TESC were making money, they wouldn't need to be taking taxpayer funds. It will be very interesting to see what happens to us short-timers (I plan to graduate from TESC in December, with all credits in by August).

HoosierChristian

[doghouse42]

This kind of thing takes time to push through, even if they go ahead with it. They probably won't be able to do it in under a year.

I'm hoping that I am right.