Building our Future Bond Would Help Keep the Best Students, Innovators and Entrepreneurs in New Jersey

Hackettstown, N.J.–If approved by voters, the Building Our Future Bond would help Centenary College keep the best students, innovators and entrepreneurs in New Jersey.  New Jersey is one of only five states that spent no money on capital improvements for higher education in the past five years, with the last major investment taking place 24 years ago.  Neighboring states such as New York and Connecticut are investing hundreds of millions of dollars annually in higher education facilities. 

“Centenary College has many projects in the pipeline that we simply cannot afford to pursue on our own,” says Dr. Barbara-Jayne Lewthwaite, Centenary College President.  “The Building Our Future Bond would allow us to make needed investments for essential academic facilities.  These facilities would allow us to improve the already high quality education Centenary College delivers to prepare New Jersey students for the future.  It will also ease the pressure on rising tuition.”

The Bond Act passed this summer with overwhelming bipartisan support by the state Legislature and was signed by Governor Chris Christie ’05.  If approved by New Jersey voters in November, the referendum would authorize $750 million in State bonds that would provide grants to New Jersey’s higher education institutions for construction and modernization of academic and research facilities.

“If this Bond is approved, it will help all college students in New Jersey, not only those who are enrolled at Centenary College,” says Dr. Lewthwaite.  “For Centenary specifically, the Bond could mean new state-of-the-art science laboratories.  This would provide our students with the best possible scientific training and education, which would create a positive impact to the region.  In general, the Bond would be a win-win situation for all involved.”

Founded in 1867 by the Newark Conference of the United Methodist Church, Centenary College’s academic program integrates a solid liberal arts foundation with a strong career orientation. This mix is designed to provide an educational experience that prepares students to succeed in the increasingly global and interdependent world.

Centenary College’s main campus is located in Hackettstown, N.J., with its equestrian facility in Washington Township (Morris County).  The Centenary College School of Professional Studies offers degree programs in three locations: Hackettstown, Parsippany and Edison, and at corporate sites throughout New Jersey.  The School of International Programs recruits international students for study at Centenary and Centenary students for study abroad.
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