University Partners with New Jersey Redevelopment Authority on Degree Completion

On Mar 21, 2017

Thomas Edison State University has partnered with the Trenton-based New Jersey Redevelopment Authority (NJRA), a state redevelopment financing authority committed to revitalizing urban New Jersey, to aid its employees in completing their college degrees.

According to a 2013 Society for Human Resource Management survey, 61 percent of employers offer tuition assistance benefits to their employers for undergraduate pursuits, and 59 percent offer graduate education assistance. With an increasing number of organizations across the nation making higher education more readily available to its employees, the NJRA joins scores of companies who are reinvesting in their staff. This partnership will allow NJRA personnel to choose from degree programs and certificates in more than 100 areas of study for which they can transfer in their previously earned credits and training from accredited institutions toward the completion of their degrees at the University.

“The partnership with Thomas Edison allows the NJRA employees to continually grow in their respective roles to serve the community,” said Leslie A. Anderson, executive director of the NJRA. “Providing the staff the opportunity to grow personally and professionally strengthens our effectiveness as an organization.”

The NJRA takes a leading role in urban redevelopment efforts by offering risk-based capital that most traditional lending institutions are not able to offer to those looking to invest in New Jersey. The authority’s creative investment solutions are often able to bring projects to fruition.

“We are thrilled to partner with an organization as important to the livelihood to New Jersey as the NJRA, to assist their employees in finishing their college degrees,” said Janet Eickhoff, associate vice president of Strategic Partnerships and Outreach at the University. “Successful leaders, like Leslie, set an example for their staff as she, herself, is now enrolled in the University’s Master of Science in Management degree program in Public Service Administration and Leadership. Leslie sees the value, engagement and sense of purpose of her staff by making this partnership and educational benefit available to them.”

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