New Rutgers president outlines fundraising goals

    The new president of Rutgers University has outlined some of his goals.

    First of all, Robert Barchi says Rutgers, the state university of New Jersey, needs to do a better job of raising money.

    “The targets that I have for philanthropy, the things that I think are probably the most important, are generating funds for student scholarships and generating funds for endowed professorships,” he said. “Both of those are critical for making this a great university.”

    He also wants to reduce the $18 million subsidy the university pays for Rutger’s athletic programs.

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    “Right now the budget is roughly $60 million. We’re down now to about $18 million worth of university funds that are going into that. That’s down a million dollars from last year, and my commitment is to continue to drive that number down,” he said Tuesday. “It’s not going to get to zero in the next five years, but we’re going to see a continuous trend line going downward.”

    Barchi does not expect the takeover of two medical schools as part of the state’s higher education restructuring to cause an increase in Rutger’s tuition.

    As Barchi took the reins of the university, students returned to the school class for the start of the new semester.

    Students at the New Brunswick campus say they’re excited about getting back to school and seeing their college friends.

    Kristen Beatty of Cherry Hill, a senior, is majoring in English literature and wants to go to graduate school.

    “I think I’ll eventually make it. I can’t live very extravagantly but it’ll be worth it because I’m doing something I love,” she said.

    Craig Rutter of Lacey Township, a Rutgers sophomore who’s majoring in history, wants to be a teacher and hopes the job market improves by the time he graduates.

    “I do have student loans and, yes, I’m a little concerned, but I have three years to go and hopefully get a master’s too,” Rutter said. “So I hope it picks up because it doesn’t look too great right now.”

    Students surveyed Tuesday say they believe getting a college education is worth the expense.

     

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