The New Jersey Commission on Higher Education convened at New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, NJ, on June 25, 2004. Chairman Larry Downes presided. Highlights from the meeting include:

• Comments from Host: On behalf of President Altenkirch, Henry Mauermeyer, senior vice president for administration and treasurer, welcomed the Commission.

• Chairman’s Report: Mr. Downes previewed the agenda.

• Executive Director’s Report: Dr. Oswald provided a brief update on the fiscal 2005 state budget deliberations. Dr. Oswald also discussed a compendium of Commission activities for the first half of 2004, highlighting noteworthy accomplishments in each major area of statutory responsibility (policy and planning, advocacy and initiatives, and administration); the report will aid in the Commission’s organizational self-assessment.

• Enhancing the Public Research Universities: Rutgers University President Richard McCormick discussed joint efforts by Rutgers, NJIT, and UMDNJ to eliminate barriers to their increased collaboration and enhance their unique potential to meet state needs. Extant joint research facilities enabling pooled resources can be models for other such initiatives, but current disincentives to multi-institutional projects may require “structural” solutions. The universities’ efforts respond to objectives of A Blueprint for Excellence and a request from Governor James E. McGreevey. Dr. McCormick also commented on the Commission’s role in helping all institutions meet state needs and its leadership in long-range plan implementation; the public awareness campaign and a strong working relationship with presidents were cited as particularly important.

• Long-Range Plan Update: Dr. Oswald reported on recent Stage 1 implementation activities and Stage 2 planning efforts in the long-range plan’s four key areas of quality, capacity, collaboration, and resources. The importance of reaching out to stakeholders was reiterated.

• Data Collection Regarding the Use of Technology: Kris Krishnan, the Commission’s director of research, gave an update on the development of baseline data regarding the institutions’ use of technology to increase capacity, as recommended in the long-range plan.

• Form and Content for Fall 2004 Institutional Profile Reports: The Commission approved the 2004 “form and content” for the annual profiles public institutions must produce; newly required for 2004 is information related to the long-range plan. Dr. Oswald said these reports were formerly called “accountability reports,” but “profiles” is more appropriate because it is the statutory language.

• Marketing Leadership Team: Dr. Oswald discussed the June 1 retreat where the team began planning the public awareness campaign recommended in A Blueprint for Excellence. The retreat focused on a baseline public opinion survey, the campaign’s overall design, and fundraising strategies to finance the campaign.

• Lehigh Petition to Offer Three Graduate Programs: The Commission licensed Lehigh University to offer a Master of Business Administration degree program and two Master of Science degree programs (chemistry and molecular biology) by distance learning to employees of seven New Jersey companies.

• Syracuse Petition: The Commission licensed Syracuse University to offer two additional undergraduate (Project Advance) courses at River Dell Regional High School through academic year 2006-07.

• College Bound: The Commission approved fiscal 2005 awards to 10 institutional programs for the fourth year of a five-year grant cycle and set aside funds for statewide efforts, pending fiscal 2005 state appropriations.

• Jobs, Education and Competitiveness (JEC) Bond Fund: The Commission allocated previously undesignated JEC funds to Felician College and approved the use of bond funds for projects there and at Mercer County Community College.

• Presidents’ Council Report: Allison Samay, executive assistant to the New Jersey Presidents’ Council, reported on the June 21 meeting of the Council.

• Old Business: Kay Hancock, the Commission’s director of academic affairs, gave an update on the University of Phoenix: the university has submitted reports to the Commission as requested, and the information has been verified.

• New Business: With their terms ending, Commissioner Bill Freeman and student Commissioners Jenny Buontempo and Rishi Jaitly were commended for their service, and the Commission adopted resolutions honoring them.

• Public Comment: Donald Wheeler – executive director, Carmela Federico – program manager, and Daniel Watts – president, NJ HEPS (New Jersey Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability): Greenhouse Gas Action Plan, Campus Energy Toolkit, and Green Design Guidelines; Dr. John Pace – president, Association of NJ County College Faculties: long-range plan

• Outgoing Chairman’s Remarks: Mr. Downes expressed appreciation for the opportunity to have served as Commission chairman and thanked various individuals and entities for their support, including his fellow Commissioners, Commission staff, and Dr. Oswald. Having been reappointed to a six-year term, Mr. Downes welcomed the opportunity to continue serving on the Commission.

Next regular meeting: Friday, September 24, 2004, at 10:00 a.m. at Burlington County College, Mount Laurel Campus.

• Teacher Education Grants – statewide assessment
• Fiscal 2006 Budget Policy Statement – draft
• Discussion of periodic goals and benchmarks for federal research dollars