Senator Pou is Vice Chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee; in today's economy, post-secondary education is a vital concern for many New Jersey residents.

 

Consistently, Senator Pou has advocated for affordable tuition. In Fiscal Year 2010, approximately 230,000 students were registered to attend one of New Jersey's junior or senior colleges-- several of which are located in the 35th District. As a former member of the Assembly Budget Committee, Pou was successful in securing an additional $34 million in direct student assistance for these individuals.

 

Senator Pou has also been a consummate supporter of the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF), which provides financial assistance to students who are capable and motivated to further their educations, but lack the necessary resources to do so. The Senator often credits the EOF as having been an instrumental support in her own life.

 

Senator Pou also hosts an internship program for college students. She speaks regularly at colleges and universities about the role of leadership in higher education, civic responsibility, the legislative process, and much more. In the corresponding photos, she participates in a "Women of Influence" panel at Berkeley College in Woodland Park.