Office of Public Relations

Pomona, NJ 08240

 

Stockton Vision Takes Shape With Approval of Fiscal Year 2006 Spending Plan

 

President Saatkamp Announces Tuition, New Faculty Positions, Facility Improvements for Upcoming School Year

 

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Contact: Tim Kelly

Stockton Public Relations

(609) 652-4950

 

GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP, NJ New faculty positions, increased classroom and faculty office space, and an honors program are just a few of the benefits of the fiscal year 2006 spending plan unveiled recently by Richard Stockton College of New Jersey President Herman J. Saatkamp, Jr. and approved by the College Board of Trustees.

The plan calls for 2005-2006 tuition and fees of $8,394.24, an eight percent increase, well below last years national average tuition increase of 14 percent and in line with Stocktons sister institutions of the New Jersey System of Higher Education. In fact, Stocktons current tuition and fees are lower than five state universities/colleges (Rutgers, The College of New Jersey, Rowan, Ramapo and William Paterson) and virtually the same as Montclair.

Stocktons tuition increase was 7.5 percent last year. As a result of the continued efforts to hold the line on tuition under President Saatkamp, Stockton is an attractive alternative to much higher priced private institutions with similar academic excellence and reputation. Stockton was ranked the sixth best Public Liberal Arts College in the current Americas Best Colleges issue of U.S. News and World Report and was ranked in the Top Five in this category two of the last three years. Additionally, Stockton was rated as a Best Buy in the East this year by the Princeton Review.

Additionally, Stocktons affordable tuition translates to a larger application pool of many of the states best and brightest students. Thus, the College is keeping many of its finest minds in state and helping to eliminate brain drain -- the phenomenon of top students looking outside New Jersey for their education -- as well as enhancing its reputation as a highly selective liberal arts college.

Keeping tuition increases below the national averages is one of the most important aspects in allowing Stockton to remain affordable and accessible to the largest number of students, Saatkamp said. Perhaps more importantly than the inevitable tuition increase, - as with gasoline, housing, and utilities, such increases are unavoidable- Stockton is spending its tuition dollars wisely.

Along these lines, Saatkamp announced:

         12 new faculty positions have been added to the already outstanding roster of teaching professionals. As a result Stockton is reducing its teacher-student ratio and Stockton students are much more likely to be taught by fulltime faculty members than at other institutions.

         The state-wide capacity issue is being aggressively addressed. Currently Stockton is constructing much-needed additional classroom and office-space with its dramatic F-Wing Overbuild program.