Public Policy Proposal to Lower to Cost of Higher Education
We advocate working to get bill number 3737 passed and implemented in the state of
New Jersey.
Reasoning and Evidence
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Advantages
- Would assist in alleviating the price of college for many New Jersey students.
- Permits for more students to actually be able to attend college
- Because more students would be attending college they, therefore our society would more intellectual and capable. Consequently our nation would have higher rate of production because more people would have the skills to perform in demand jobs.
- Lessening the cost of New Jersey public colleges, it will urge students to stay close to home, and possible generate more wealth for public colleges in New Jersey.
Disadvantages
- Keeping tuition at fixed rate for the years it takes the student to obtain an undergraduate degree it causes colleges to lose income.
- If colleges lose income then the quality of the education will decline because respectable teachers are not willing to teach at a fixed rate.
- Then all the highly qualified teachers will leave the colleges that are affected by this policy, and go to teach at colleges that are not affected by this policy. Then students would not even consider going to the colleges affected by this bill because the education be offered would poor, therefore it would not even aid in alleviating the cost of college; making this bill moot.
- Reducing the level of income of colleges it will affect the quality of the campus because they be spending less money on transportation, infrastructure, dorms and campus food courts to subside costs.
Why is this bill constitutional?
This bill is constitutional because government has the right to control prices to keep cost of living within a manageable range. Government implements price controls when prices on essential items, such as food or oil, are rising rapidly. An example of price control is when in 1971 in the US, all prices were frozen for 90 days to rein in galloping inflation. It is evident that the American people believe college is essential because more than 7 in 10 (72%) say it is very important to obtain a degree beyond high school. Additionally only about 1 in 4 Americans (26%) think that higher education is affordable for everyone who needs it. The majority (74%) thinks that higher education is not reasonable for all. Also the average published tuition and fees at public four-year colleges and universities increased by 31% beyond the rate of inflation over the five years from 2002‑03 to 2007‑08, and by another 27% between 2007‑08 and 2012‑13. Due to all of these factors it is evident that the price control on the tangible product of tuition is constitutional because there is clear problem of inflation with colleges prices; that it is affecting Americans lives in a negative way, and it must be resolved.
Summary: The bill we are proposing to support above is a compromise. We feel it has the best chance of passing in both chambers and being signed into law by Governor Christie. While, ultimately we would like to lower the cost of higher education in a more significant way, we have found through our research that it is very difficult to lower the cost significantly. As a result, we are looking to keep rising costs manageable and more consistent for students who enroll in a 2-year and/or 4-year program. Our goal is to allow incoming students a reasonable expectation about what each year of college will cost them so they do not face any unforeseen obstacles along the way. We would like to see costs more predictable and manageable for students and families.
Summary: With the ever-rising cost of college tuition, students and families all around the country are feeling anxiety and stress. In an attempt to make college tuition an affordable payment for everyone, we support the Higher Education Bill sponsored by Assemblyman Caroline Casagrande. Ms. Casagrande’s bill prohibits public institutions from raising college tuition all four continuous academic years following initial enrollment.
Process of Bill Becoming a Law
Bill is introduced --> Committee Reference --> Committee Action --> Second/Third Reading --> House Vote --> Second House --> Governor Action --> Law
Once passed through the New Jersey legislative system and signed by the Governor, this bill would be supervised by New Jersey's Department of Education.
Once passed through the New Jersey legislative system and signed by the Governor, this bill would be supervised by New Jersey's Department of Education.