Warren County Community College gets top state fiscal ranking

The state has awarded Warren County Community College a top ranking for its fiscal standing and accountability under new legislation that requires a review of institutional finances for all colleges and universities.

The review, which began under legislation passed about a year ago and put in place earlier this year, requires New Jersey’s public institutions to submit an annual fiscal monitoring report to the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education. It gives that office the authority to conduct comprehensive audits of a school’s finance and administrative operations and to appoint a state monitor under some circumstances where an institution seems unstable.

“We are proud not only of our academic standards and programming here at Warren, but also proud of the strong fiscal foundation we have established thanks to our staff, the local, regional and state officials who have supported us, the people of this region and numerous benefactors who have seen the valuable role a community college can play,” said Will Austin, president of Warren.

“This is a real tribute to a collection of people who have worked together to make certain that this college is adequately supported – and especially that funding is used efficiently to provide the best educational opportunities possible for our students.”

Warren was founded in 1981 and accredited in 1985 by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and has grown steadily since, now enrolling about 1,800 students at two campuses.

It offers associate degrees and certificates in business management, computer science and graphics, creative writing, liberal arts, medical professions, professional studies and science.

The professional studies program includes the college’s fast-growing drone and uncrewed systems training program, which this year enrolls about 100 students learning about designing, operating and maintaining a variety of uncrewed systems, focusing now on precision agriculture. WarrenUAS now operates out of two new facilities with a strong and growing faculty and connections to both leaders in the field throughout the country and others in the region hoping to implement the new technology for farms, law enforcement, environmental protection and other functions.

Enrollment at the college is at an all-time high and nearing capacity at a time when other community colleges and smaller schools are struggling.

“We have been fortunate to have incredible support from the community combined with an excellent staff on both the academic and business side,” Austin said. “And we’ve attracted a unique blend of students here who really value the educational opportunities this institution provides.’

Under the law, the state assesses higher education institutions based on 12 criteria: auditor opinion, cash management, cost control, credit rating, debt affordability

debt covenant compliance, enrollment, financial performance, financial reserves investment performance, revenue growth and tuition reliance.

The state review gave Warren the highest of four rankings based on its assessment of the school during its 2023 fiscal year.

Austin singled out staff members and expressed appreciation to the board of trustees who have helped gain support for the college and provided guidance for its path forward from their wide-ranging perspectives as leaders in business, politics and education.

The legislation (S3406) also requires training for college chief financial officers and establishes their duties and responsibilities and holds them accountable for violations of fiduciary responsibilities.