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

[Lindagerr]

You put the feelings and misgivings I have had since I first heard of this merger into words.

I will be done with my TESC degree by the end of this month(God willing). I was grandfathered in on the new 18 upper credits. I would not yet be graduating if I needed those UL's. Nothing they decide now will have much affect on me either way, but I do have children I am hoping will be able to complete degrees through TESC. I also feel the many, many service members that complete degrees through TESC deserve this oppertunity.

I have nothing against Rutgers, my husband and severall good friends have Rutgers degrees, they serve a purpose for some people. I just feel we need to also have TESC for those that require thier method of learning.

[cookderosa]

If all this flap is over $5.6 million, why doesn't TESC pay a major gift officer $150K a year to make up the shortfall and thumb their nose(s) at Rutgers and the state of New Jersey?

Any MGO worth his (or her) salt should be able to pull in far more than $5.6 million a year, with all due respect.

>>

Yep. I agree. The thing is, I don't know if TESC's administration collective is all that swift...maybe they are? Going private, IMO, would involve a MAJOR business model shift- and (dare I say) a strong customer service requirement that they may not be able to handle. Right now, the customers NEED to have TESC. With the shoe being on the other foot, TESC would have to peddle for business. One of the 3 reasons I picked TESC was because they didn't advertise on the web.

[sandraeli]

I've wondered about the swiftness myself.

My ALEKS courses have refreshed me enough :-) to figure that $5.6 million divided among 30,000 alumni is $186. each. Even at a 40% rate of giving, it would be less than $500 per person, and the faculty and staff need to get in on it, too. It's their behinds as much or more so than ours.

It may be time for bold moves at TESC: bring in a consultant and get ready to roll out a new fundraising campaign.

Advertising to the general public isn't a hallmark of a capital campaign and so wouldn't (or shouldn't) be a consideration in this instance, and as long as TESC is still offering what they are right now, they should be able to survive as well or even thrive on their own. I'm not particularly clear what business model shift would be necessary; from public to private would be not taking the $5.6 million.

Excelsior's capstone requirement made them equally as expensive as TESC in my situation, and TESC's degree plans are more like those of traditional schools and simpler to navigate (or explain), IMO.

[Kaz]

Excellent points, I agree with you completely! I hope the merger is taken off of the table. I'd rather see TESC go <gulp> private than merge.

I realized something. TESC has 18,000 students? They are losing $5.6 million in state funding? I know nothing of what it means for a state school to become private, but that's only $311 per student!? Can't they just charge that much more for graduation or something and call it a day? Heck, make it $325 and hire a couple more customer service/administrative assistant people. I'm sure it's more complicated than that, but I think it's a start.

[TMW2010]

I realized something. TESC has 18,000 students? They are losing $5.6 million in state funding? I know nothing of what it means for a state school to become private, but that's only $311 per student!? Can't they just charge that much more for graduation or something and call it a day? Heck, make it $325 and hire a couple more customer service/administrative assistant people. I'm sure it's more complicated than that, but I think it's a start.

I was told when I came here that there would be no math. :ack:

[otis.sh]

Bloomberg is reporting that Rutgers stands to lose 8.8 million dollars if they merge with TESC -- that's an estimate. Actually, make that an additional 8.8 million dollars on top of the 37.8 million dollar cut they're getting already -- 37.8 million represents a 12% loss of their direct aid from the state.

Rutgers is having issues with money. They could save 8.8 million dollars if they didn't merge. They're freezing salaries. Merging will cost them, and they're expecting to have a budget shortfall close to $100 million.

No one wants this to happen.

I don't have a crystal ball, though. Google News "Thomas Edison State College" -- something about Rutgers freezing pay.

But that's the deal. This is going to cost Rutgers 10% of their expected budget shortfall to do -- hopefully my Aleks experience is helping me out here .

It's for the best if it doesn't go through, all things considered (especially math).

[bricabrac]

The following link was posted on the TESC board. Thought I would share it here as it is excellent news!
Well for my educational needs it's wonderful news!:hurray:

http://blogs.app.com/capitolquickies/2010/06/23/rutgersthomas-edison-merger-drops-out-of-budget/

[Lindagerr]

I was 90% sure it wouldn't happen, but I am 100% happy it is now official. I just signed up for a second BA at TESC. I am crazy!!

Thanks for posting this:hurray:

[JBjunior]

Reducing staff at TESC, I wonder if they will be customer service reps?

[bricabrac]

I just signed up for a second BA at TESC. I am crazy!!

Crazy? Not at all...as soon as I am certified for the soc sci degree, I am already set up for the BSBA human resources. With testing it will only take an additional 2-3 semesters to complete the second degree. Hopefully I can talk a wonderful boss into sponsoring the masters in clinical trial mgmt.