One-Minute Summary April 25, 2008 Commission Meeting

The New Jersey Commission on Higher Education and the New Jersey Board of Education met jointly at The William Paterson University of New Jersey, Wayne, NJ on April 25, 2008 to present the report of the High School Redesign Task Force.

After the joint meeting, the Commission on Higher Education had their regular monthly meeting. Chairman Laurence Downes presided. Highlights from the meeting include:

• Chairman’s Report: Mr. Downes commented on how pleased he was at the opportunity for these two boards to come together. He also commented on Senator Lesniak’s legislation.

• Executive Director’s Report: Ms. Oates praised the April 4 statewide student volunteerism conference at Rutgers University Cook campus. She also commented on the committee to review the licensure regulations, the climate of our budget hearings, and the need to develop a letter to both of the budget committees.

• Presidents’ Council Report: Dr. Yaw commented on the budget hearings, their annual report, the election of the new board of trustees for NJEdge.Net, Homeland Security Planning Committee, and the Mental Health initiative underway with the training sessions. He also commented on the transfer agreement’s appeal process, their nominating committee for new president and officers, and their June 2 retreat at ETS, to which they invited Commissioners.

• College Spotlight: Dr. Arnold Speert, President, The William Paterson University of New Jersey, introduced Ms. Jamie Mariano, president of the Student Government Association, who spoke about her experience at the university, and Dr. Linnea Weilland, Associate Professor of Elementary and Early Childhood Education, who spoke about the College of Education and its strategies.

• Somerset Christian College Exceeding Mission Petition: The Commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing Somerset Christian College to exceed its programmatic mission and offer the Bachelor of Arts in Christian Counseling and the Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership.

• Kean University Branch Campus at Ocean County College: The Commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing Kean University to operate a branch campus at Ocean County College.

• Education of Language Minority Students Grant Program: The Commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution approving reallocation of funding for fiscal 2008 to allow staff to work with partnering postsecondary institutions to assist high school seniors in completing financial aid applications. Any remaining funds will be applied to the next statewide conference scheduled for fall 2009.

• Appointment of Nominating Committee: Chairman Downes appointed Commissioners Graham and Weinstein to the nominating committee to recommend a chairperson, a vice chairperson, and three members to serve with the chairman and vice chairman on the executive committee for consideration by the full Commission at the June meeting. The new officers and executive committee members will assume their responsibilities on July 1.

• HESAA and EOF Updates: Commissioner Collins reported on his attendance at the EFA and EOF meetings on April 23 and 24 and mentioned a name change for the New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund Professional Association.

• Comments from the Public:
  • Dr. John Pace, President, Association of NJ County College Faculty, commented on his retirement from Essex County College and introduced the new president of the Association;
  • Ms. Paulaska Ramirez, Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) student at William Paterson University, commented on her successes thanks to the EOF program;
  • Mr. Luis Escobar, Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) student at William Paterson University, commented on his successes and thanked EOF staff there; and
  • Mr. Rashard Mills, Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) student at William Paterson University, commented on his success at the college due to the EOF program.

• Adoption of meeting schedule
• Adoption of institutional profile form and content
• Announcement of new IPIs
• College spotlight