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:
- 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.
- Consistent with relevant State statutes and regulations, community
college representatives shall be appointed to State government organizations,
including but not limited to:
- The Governor's Education Cabinet;
- The State Employment and Training Commission;
- The New Jersey Commerce and Economic Growth Commission;
- Prosperity New Jersey; and
- Other organizations where community college expertise will contribute
to the advancement of important State goals.
- 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:
- teacher education programs in response to projected teacher shortages
in the State;
- the 12th grade option program through which qualified high school
students can enroll in community college courses; and
- successful career academies throughout the State.
- 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:
- customized training programs through the Workforce Development Partnership
Program;
- workforce literacy programs through the Supplemental Workforce Fund
for Basic Skills; and
- the Self-Employment Assistance Program.
- 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:
- business attraction and development programs;
- urban enterprise zones and related urban programs; and
- small business development centers.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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