One-Minute Summary April 24, 2009 Commission Meeting

The New Jersey Commission on Higher Education convened at Rutgers University, in the Board Room of Winants Hall, in New Brunswick, NJ on April 24, 2009. Chairman Laurence Downes presided. Highlights from the meeting include:

• Chairman’s Report: Mr. Downes commented on the departure of Executive Director Jane Oates to Washington, DC, and read a resolution in her honor on behalf of Commission members.

• Executive Director’s Report: Executive Director Oates commented on the EOF student conference at Georgian Court University, the responsiveness by the colleges to the College Access Challenge Grants, and her gratefulness to staff, Commissioners, and the Presidents’ Council.

• Presidents’ Council Report: President McCormick reported on the governance and funding models for ongoing support for NJ Transfer, the proposed budget and hearings, and the peer review process approach for Homeland Security.

• Presentation on Rutgers University Future Scholars Program: Mr. Courtney McAnuff, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Rutgers University, presented an overview of the Rutgers Future Scholars Program inaugurated in the fall of 2007.

• New Jersey City University Petition for Approval of a Branch Campus at the Wall Township “Communiversity” Site of Brookdale Community College: The Commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing the operation of a branch campus in Wall Township, Monmouth County.

• Approval of the Child Care Center at New Jersey Institute of Technology to be Funded Through the Jobs, Education and Competitiveness Bond Fund: The Commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution approving the New Jersey Institute of Technology child care project for funding through the Jobs, Education and Competitiveness Bond Fund.

• Reduction in Annual Meetings of the Commission from Eleven to Nine: The Commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution establishing nine annual meetings for the Commission.

• EFA and EOF Updates: Commissioner Landgraf commented on the conclusion of a bond issue for UMDNJ and made a formal request for Roger Anderson of the EFA to present once a year. EOF Executive Director Glenn Lang commented on the student day conference and the College Access Challenge Grants.

• Comments from the Public:

  • Ms. Ana Alvarado, Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) student, Brookdale Community College, commented on the great help of the counselors at the EOF program;

  • Dr. Jon Erickson, Council of NJ State College Locals, AFT, commented on an article about the overuse of adjuncts and courses taught by professors and the proposed budget;

  • Mr. Yonaton Yares, Vice Chair, Student Government Association, Rutgers University, commented on the need for a bond program for capital improvements and the formation of a student-wide association to meet regularly.

• Adjournment: At the conclusion of the meeting, Chairman Downes announced that Marguerite Beardsley, Director of Academic Affairs for the Commission, would assume the post of Acting Executive Director upon Ms Oates’ departure.

Next Meeting: Friday, June 26, 2009, at 10:00 a.m., at the Mary G. Roebling Building in Trenton, New Jersey. The May 22, 2009 meeting is cancelled.