New Jersey & Rutgers working together
Archived article from Dec 3, 1999
By Harvey Trabb
In addition to pumping more than $2 billion into New Jersey's economy each year, Rutgers contributes enormously to the state's professional workforce, is a major creator of jobs and has a significant impact on the state's civic vitality through the extensive research and service activities of its students, faculty and staff.
Those are among the findings of a major new report, "Engaging the Community: Rutgers' Contributions to the Economic and Civic Vitality of New Jersey and Beyond," released in Trenton Nov. 18 by President Francis L. Lawrence and Joseph J. Seneca, university vice president for academic affairs and chair of the New Jersey Council of Economic Advisors.
Pointing out that Rutgers, as the state univer-sity, is the only New Jersey higher-education institution with a presence in each county as well as the state's only comprehensive public research university, Lawrence said Rutgers' "engagement with the communities we serve is, along with teaching and learning, research and scholarship, a major thrust of our activities. A deep commitment to active engagement with society is part of our fundamental ethos and mission. This report gives a broad view of our considerable institutional activity and substantial contributions."
Lawrence explained that the report includes data on Rutgers' activities in six areas -- economic vitality, workforce contribution, service, K-12 education, the environment, and health and health care -- that were identified in
the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education's Master Plan as constituting key state needs for all institutions of higher education to address.
In terms of economic impact, the report shows that Rutgers' spending activities channel more than $2.19 billion directly into the state economy each year, almost five times the state's annual investment in the university, Seneca said.
"In the last 20 years, Rutgers has emerged as one of the nation's leading state universities," Seneca explained. "As a result of our strong programs in research and development, our numerous partnerships with businesses and government agencies, and our comprehensive educational mission, Rutgers has major effects on spending and job creation and is an important contributor to the economic well-being of New Jersey."
The report points out that, while the percentage of Rutgers' budget that comes from the state has declined over the past two decades, the university has significantly increased its external support, bringing significant revenue to New Jersey from out-of-state sources. In the decade from 1988 to 1998, for example, the university nearly tripled its federal grant dollars from $31.7 million to $87.3 million, nearly doubled its corporate research and contract funding from $9 million to $16 million and increased its funding from foundations and other sources from $5 million to $25 million.
In addition, in FY98 alone, Rutgers brought in roughly $135 million in federal student aid and increased its support from private giving, reaching a record $60.3 million in FY99.
Rutgers has also become a national leader in technology transfer activities, the report indicates. Lawrence observed that Rutgers has 238 patents under license, has formed 31 start-up companies and earned more than $8.1 million in income from cash royalties and accumulated equities in FY99.
In terms of workforce contributions, the report shows that Rutgers either directly or indirectly accounts for 28,600 New Jersey jobs, Seneca noted. Also, the university educates more individuals than any other New Jersey institution, awarding about 10,000 undergraduate and graduate degrees each year. Most of these graduates stay in the state, with an estimated 60 percent of Rutgers' 300,000 living alumni residing in New Jersey. Rutgers also enrolls more than 75,000 people annually in continuous education courses and has established itself as a leader in providing high-tech training and in making educational opportunities available through distance learning.
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