TCNJ

21 FALL 2024 3 4 ADVOCACY BERNSTEIN: TCNJ occupies a vital spot in the New Jersey higher education landscape, providing Garden State families an education that is every bit as excellent as much higher- priced, out-of-state colleges. Students who study here stay here. Ninety percent of our last five graduating classes, in fact, have remained in New Jersey, which is a real benefit to the state and its economy. We need to be aggressive in making that point with our elected officials, who are making funding decisions. Finally, when it comes to communications, our college needs to emphasize the singularly important contribution we make in affording educational opportunities to the underrepre- sented and underserved people of our state and region. Our exceptionally high graduation rates mean that we deliver, on time and at the lowest possible expense, bachelor's degrees of extraordinary quality to all our students. We will, of course, always strive to enhance the diversity and inclusive excellence of our student body. Our commitment to equity and educational virtuosity requires that. At the same time, we should always note that TCNJ, better than any other public institution in all of New Jersey, delivers a successful degree outcome on time for all its students. "Ninety percent of our last five graduating classes, in fact, have remained in New Jersey, which is a real benefit to the state and its economy." ADVANCEMENT BERNSTEIN: TCNJ should have an endowment and yearly volume of current-use funds provided by gifts befitting an institution of our quality. I hope to inculcate a deeply ingrained culture of giving among all the constituencies of our college. In terms of fundraising priorities, our top-ranked focus should be on scholarship funds. There's never too much we can do in the arena of accumulating resources that will allow us to ensure the best students have the opportunity to come to our college. We must do whatever we can to attract them here and make it possible for them to attend TCNJ. In addition, we should work to secure resources that enable us to attract and retain the best faculty and staff — raising funds, for example, to create professorships and endowed chairs, and to sustain instructional and mentoring programs across our campus. There are three things alumni can do to help: First, obviously, give as you are able. It is not an understatement to say philanthropy is life-changing for our students and transformational for our faculty and staff. Second, get others to give, whether they're alumni or not. And then third, spread the word. You received an excellent education here. You've had success. Tell that story far and wide. And often. ■

• Cover