Rutgers squashes report of demise of Freehold facility
BY DICK METZGAR
Staff Writer

Contrary to a published report concerning the impact of state budget cuts on higher education, Rutgers University does not plan to cut back or eliminate its program at the Western Monmouth Higher Education Center, Route 9, Freehold Township, according to a university official.

Rutgers shares the higher education center with Brookdale Community College.

Several years ago Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, whose main campus is in New Brunswick, and Brookdale established a partnership to bring to western Monmouth County the opportunity for residents to obtain a bachelor's degree while staying close to home. This initiative provides educational services at the high education center at 3680 Route 9 south (across the highway from the Burlington Coat Factory).

A recent article in the Daily Targum, a Rutgers student newspaper, cast some doubt on the future of the university's participation in the Western Monmouth Higher Education Center because of state budget cuts being absorbed by the university.

Under the headline "Future of Freehold Partnership Uncertain," the Daily Targum article stated: "No, the university does not have a fourth campus, but at the Western Monmouth Higher Education Center, students can take courses whose credits can be easily transferred to transcripts at Rutgers. But with consolidation looming, the fate of this exchange program is unclear, officials said."

Raphael Caprio, the university's vice president of continuous education and outreach, disputed this implication in the article.

"The implications in the article concerning the effect of budget cuts cause people to reach unfortunate and inaccurate conclusions," Caprio said. "The university has no intention of cutting back on or eliminating any of the programs at the center. As a matter of fact, we are exploring ways that the program in Freehold can be extended or expanded."

Hundreds of people benefit each year from the Rutgers' courses offered at the center.

Freehold Borough Councilman Marc Le Vine was alarmed enough by the Daily Targum article to bring the matter before the Borough Council.

"I am relieved that the university intends to continue this program in the Freehold area," Le Vine said when informed of Caprio's statement to Greater Media Newspapers. "This center is vitally important to residents in our area. I can think of a number of people I know who would be directly hurt if they were forced to go to Rutgers' main campus in New Brunswick. We need more in the program, not less, so the indication that the program might be expanded is indeed good news for people in our area."

The Western Monmouth Higher Education Center is the primary site for selected upper division and graduate course offerings provided by Rutgers University.

"This program in Freehold is definitely going to continue and we are exploring ways to make it even more beneficial to people in that area," Caprio said.