A New College Should Take Over NJCU's Ft. Monmouth Campus, Gopal Says

OCEANPORT, NJ — State Sen. Vin Gopal (D-NJ11) is calling for another university to take over ownership of New Jersey City University's small outpost in Monmouth County, on the Fort Monmouth property in Oceanport.

Last Friday, Gov. Phil Murphy formally requested the State Comptroller launch an investigation into the finances of New Jersey City University (NJCU).

"As a public university, NJCU is accountable to our state government and the residents of New Jersey. In light of serious reports about NJCU’s financial situation, I firmly believe an independent investigation into the school’s finances and operations would be in the best interests of the public at this time," said Murphy last Friday. You can read the governor's letter here: https://d31hzlhk6di2h5.cloudfr...

A spokesman for NJCU said the college does have a financial deficit due to shrinking enrollment, but it is disputing the severity reported.

In 2021, the state of New Jersey gave NJCU $26.7 million, which is actually less than it gave the school in 2017, $30.98 million.

In 2021, NJCU opened a 22-acre campus on Fort Monmouth, to try and attract Monmouth County students. Enrollment has dipped, but the college still has 281 students enrolled for the upcoming fall semester at their Fort Monmouth location, an NJCU spokesman told the Asbury Park Press this week.

Gopal, who represents Oceanport, said NJCU laid off a number of employees at the Fort Monmouth campus in the past year.

However, an NJCU spokesman said that is false and that one employee was laid off in the past year.