One-Minute Summary March 27, 2009 Commission Meeting

The New Jersey Commission on Higher Education convened at the Mary G. Roebling Building in Trenton on March 27, 2009. Chairman Laurence Downes presided. Highlights from the meeting include:

• Chairman’s Report: Mr. Downes commented on the discussion at the Executive Committee meeting of the proposed budget, its effect on higher education, and the role of the Commission.

• Executive Director’s Report: Executive Director Oates commented on the proposed budget cuts to the sectors and the increases in the student aid programs, the College Access Challenge Grants moving forward, the women’s conference at Georgian Court University, and the green jobs conference hosted by PSE&G at the Rutgers University Heldrich Center.

• Presidents’ Council Report: Sister Jeffries reported on the governance and financial models for ongoing support for NJ Transfer, the Council’s statement in response to the proposed budget, the data gathering project to better compute the economic impact of higher education on the state, and the continuing work on the Peer Review Project on Campus Safety and Security.

• Presentation on Post 9/11 GI Bill: Mr. Charles Rowe, Bureau Chief of the NJ State Approving Agency, presented an overview of the Post 9/11 GI Bill. The presentation focused on the implementation and benefits of the bill for veterans on campus.

• Daemen College Petition to Offer the Master of Science in Childhood Special Education and the Masters in Early Childhood Special Education at a Location in Lakewood: The Commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing licensure for an initial period of three years, contingent upon Commission review of the physical facilities in Lakewood once they are acquired and a staff review of the vitae of faculty and the site coordinator hired for the programs.

• Strayer University Petition for Relicensure of Undergraduate Programs at Cherry Hill and Willingboro, for Licensure of Two New Facilities in Mercer and Somerset Counties to Offer the Undergraduate Programs, and for Licensure to Offer the Masters in Business Administration at all Four Locations: The Commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing licensure for a period of three years, contingent upon Commission review of the new physical facilities and the required submission of a library assessment plan within one year of initial operation of the two new sites.

• EFA, EOF, and HESAA Updates: Commissioner Landgraf commented on the bond ratings of the institutions and bonds issued by them. EOF Executive Director Glenn Lang commented on the recent Tri-State spring conference. Ms. Maria Torres, Chair, HESAA, commented on the large number of applications received for aid and the new bond issue for NJ CLASS.

• Comments from the Public: Dr. Jon Erickson, Council of NJ State College Locals, AFT, commented on testifying at the budget hearing on fiscal stabilization, Daemen College and full-time faculty, Strayer University not needing accreditation from NCATE, and “junk bonds” at institutions; Mr. Hamzah Abushaban, Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) student, Rider University, commented on the advantages of the program and how it helped him to get his education.

Next Meeting: Friday, April 24, 2009, at 10:00 a.m., at Rutgers University, Winants Hall Board Room, New Brunswick, New Jersey.