State of New Jersey
Executive Order #81

Governor James E. McGreevey

WHEREAS, New Jersey's community colleges, the largest provider of higher education in the State, offer a wide range of high quality transfer and occupational programs plus technical training to large and small businesses throughout the State; and

WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey has a compelling interest in fully deploying community colleges to further the State's education, workforce, and economic development agenda; and

WHEREAS, the community colleges play a unique role in the State's higher education system, bridging the gap for students and workers who seek post-secondary education opportunities and training that is tailored to meet the needs of the State's businesses; and

WHEREAS, the Governor desires to provide the leadership necessary to establish a new partnership between the State of New Jersey and New Jersey's community colleges that will put the colleges squarely in support of important State priorities including five concrete goals for job growth over the next five years recently announced by the Governor.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JAMES E. MC GREEVEY, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER AND DIRECT:

  1. In order to better achieve important State goals by actively utilizing community colleges in support of these goals, there is hereby established the New Jersey Community College Compact, a new statewide partnership between the State of New Jersey and New Jersey's community colleges.

  2. Consistent with relevant State statutes and regulations, community college representatives shall be appointed to State government organizations, including but not limited to:

    1. The Governor's Education Cabinet;

    2. The State Employment and Training Commission;

    3. The New Jersey Commerce and Economic Growth Commission;

    4. Prosperity New Jersey; and

    5. Other organizations where community college expertise will contribute to the advancement of important State goals.

  3. The New Jersey Council of County Colleges shall make recommendations on the deployment of community colleges in support of statewide education initiatives administered by the New Jersey Department of Education. The Department shall then actively work with community colleges on statewide education initiatives, including but not limited to:

    1. teacher education programs in response to projected teacher shortages in the State;

    2. the 12th grade option program through which qualified high school students can enroll in community college courses; and

    3. successful career academies throughout the State.

  4. The New Jersey Council of County Colleges shall make recommendations in the deployment of community colleges in support of statewide workforce development initiatives administered by the New Jersey Department of Labor. The Department shall actively work with community colleges on statewide workforce development initiatives, including but not limited to:

    1. customized training programs through the Workforce Development Partnership Program;

    2. workforce literacy programs through the Supplemental Workforce Fund for Basic Skills; and

    3. the Self-Employment Assistance Program.

  5. The New Jersey Council of County Colleges shall make recommendations on the deployment of community colleges in support of statewide economic development initiatives administered by the New Jersey Commerce and Economic Growth Commission. The Commission shall then actively work with community colleges on statewide economic development initiatives, including but not limited to:

    1. business attraction and development programs;

    2. urban enterprise zones and related urban programs; and

    3. small business development centers.

  6. The New Jersey Council of County Colleges shall make recommendations on the deployment of community colleges in support of statewide homeland security training initiatives administered by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. The Office of the Attorney General shall then actively work with community colleges on the New Jersey Community College Homeland Security Training Project that has been endorsed by the New Jersey League of Municipalities, the New Jersey Association of Counties, and the New Jersey General Assembly.

  7. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority and other State agencies and departments of State government shall likewise consider ways that they can fully utilize community colleges in meeting their statewide goals.

  8. The State of New Jersey shall promote the NJ Transfer program on its website and in appropriate state publications. NJ Transfer is a web-based statewide initiative to improve the transfer of community college students to four-year colleges and universities in New Jersey.

  9. The New Jersey Council of County Colleges shall prepare an annual report on the status of this new Community College Compact, including recommendations on how this partnership between the State of New Jersey and New Jersey's community colleges can be strengthened in future years.

  10. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 4th day of November in the Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Three, and of the Independence of the United States, the Two Hundred and Twenty-Eighth.

/s/ James E. McGreevey

Governor

[seal]

Attest:

/s/ Michael R. DeCotiis

Chief Counsel to the Governor