The New Jersey Commission on Higher Education convened at the Mary G. Roebling Building in Trenton, N.J., on April 23, 2004. Chairman Larry Downes presided. Highlights from the meeting include:

• Chairman’s Report: Mr. Downes discussed progress in pursuing the Commission’s three major thrusts: to assess its role and organization, clarify leadership needs for the future, and implement the long-range plan.

• Executive Director’s Report: Dr. Jeanne Oswald described the process to develop a peer group methodology that will be used to establish peer groups for the senior public institutions. Also discussed were the annual EOF student awards day, the Rutgers University/community college dual-admissions program’s first graduation, and the Governor’s Workforce Summit.

• Partnerships in Education: New Jersey Commissioner of Education William Librera discussed various existing partnerships between P-12 and higher education, as well as prospective collaborative efforts.

• Increased Federal Funding for Research: Ms. Debbie Hart, president of the Biotechnology Council of New Jersey, discussed strategies to increase New Jersey’s share of National Institutes of Health funding, and Dr. Don Sebastian, vice president for research and development at NJIT, outlined specific institutional strategies.

• Long-Range Plan: Dr. Oswald updated the Commission on the progress in each of the long-range plan’s four key areas: quality, capacity, collaboration, and resources.

• Marketing Leadership Team: Mr. Downes announced the members of the marketing leadership team that will develop the multiyear public awareness campaign recommended in the long-range plan.

• Fiscal 2005 Senate Budget Committee Hearing: Dr. Oswald briefed the Commission on the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee’s hearing on the fiscal 2005 budget for higher education.

• NJEDge.org Website Prototype: The prototype for the redesigned NJEDge.org website was reviewed.

• Higher Education Technology Infrastructure Fund: The Commission approved the use of interinstitutional connectivity funds for Raritan Valley Community College.

• Higher Education Capital Improvement Fund: The Commission approved grants to Rider and Seton Hall Universities from the capital improvement fund.

• Special Needs Grant Program: The Commission designated the eight regional centers serving students with disabilities statewide for a new five-year grant cycle and allocated fiscal 2005 grants, pending fiscal 2005 state appropriations.

• Nominating Committee: Commissioner Freeman was appointed to chair the nominating committee and work with Commissioners Maldonado and Smith to recommend candidates for the Commission’s biennial election of officers in June.

• Presidents’ Council Report: Dr. Stuart Cook reported on the April 19 meeting of the Presidents’ Council Executive Board.

• Public Comment: Dr. John Pace – president, Association of NJ County College Faculties: fiscal 2005 legislative budget hearings

• Closing the achievement gap – Kati Haycock, director of The Education Trust
• Report on data collection regarding the use of technology
• Peer identification methodology
• Form and content of annual institutional profiles, formerly referred to as institutional accountability reports
• Education of Language Minority Students Grant Program awards
• DeVry petition to offer the bachelor of science in business administration
• Gibbs College campus relocation
• Bond act approvals
• Commission meeting dates for 2004-05