VOSS, WAGNER: RAMAPO MUST RETHINK FEE HIKE OR LOSE FEDERAL STIMULUS AID

VOSS, WAGNER: RAMAPO MUST RETHINK FEE HIKE
OR LOSE FEDERAL STIMULUS AID
Unapproved 12 Percent Increase Violates State Budget

(38th Legislative District) - Assemblywomen Joan Voss and Connie Wagner (both D-Bergen) today blasted Ramapo College officials for passing an excessive and ill-conceived 12 percent increase in tuition and fees, saying the college must either go back to the drawing board or lose any federal stimulus aid.

Under state budget law, college tuition and fee hikes are capped at three percent for the upcoming academic year in order for an institution to retain its federal stimulus aid. Yet, Ramapo sought to circumvent the law by including a separate $1,000 "facility fee" that would push yearly  student costs up more than $1,300 to $12,088.

State officials have yet to receive or review Ramapo's request for the fee's certification.

"Ramapo's attempts to inject some creative license into their interpretation of the law as a means to get students to pay more and still collect federal stimulus aid is insulting and outrageous," said Voss. "There is no way Ramapo should be allowed to violate the budget and then expect to get additional stimulus money. The college can't eat its cake and have it, too."

Had it stuck to the three-percent cap, Ramapo would be eligible for $1.8 million through the higher education portion of the federal stimulus law.

"It doesn't take an English or math major to understand that three percent means 'three percent,'" said Wagner. "This outrageous increase is an insult to the middle class students and families the budget cap was designed to help. The administration and Legislature worked together to cap tuition and fees so we should give the college a choice that any student could understand: roll back the fee increase or lose your stimulus money."

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