One-Minute Summary June 22, 2007 Commission Meeting

The New Jersey Commission on Higher Education convened at the Mary G. Roebling Building in Trenton on June 22, 2007. Chairman Laurence M. Downes presided. Highlights from the meeting include:

• Chairman’s Report: Mr. Downes commented on the success of the June 4 Presidents’ Council retreat attended by Commission members and staff.

• Executive Director’s Report: Ms. Oates commented on the transfer bill passing the Legislature, the first meeting of the Higher Education Data Advisory Group (HEDAG), Campus Security Task Force meetings, Governor’s School progress, the issuance of a federal committee report on student lending, and the passage of the fiscal 2008 state budget.

• Presidents’ Council Report: Dr. Yaw commented on the transfer bill, NJEDge.Net, and adopting the NJHEPS climate commitment resolution. He introduced three senior public college presidents who spoke on the budget.

• Guest Speaker: Mr. Roger Anderson, Executive Director, Educational Facilities Authority, discussed the growth of the Authority’s business over 40 years and factors affecting the current market for higher education borrowing. He also discussed the Measuring Up 2006 report.

• Ethics Briefing: Ms. Michelle Robinson, Commission ethics liaison, gave an ethics briefing to Commissioners to satisfy the mandatory briefing obligation for 2007.

• Lehigh University Petition to Offer Three Graduate Certificates: The Commissioners unanimously approved a petition by Lehigh University to offer three graduate certificates in Technology in the Schools, English Language Learning for the Workplace, and Teacher Leadership.

• Peirce College Petition to Offer a Paralegal Studies Degree and Certificate of Proficiency: The Commissioners unanimously approved a petition by Peirce College to offer the Bachelor of Science, a degree completion program, and a Certificate of Proficiency in Paralegal Studies.

• Kean University Petition to Exceed Programmatic Mission: The Commissioners unanimously approved a petition by Kean University to exceed its programmatic mission to offer the Doctor of Psychology in School Psychology (Psy.D.).

• Lehigh University Petition for Relicensure to Offer Graduate Progams by Distance Learning: The Commissioners unanimously approved a petition by Lehigh University for relicensure to offer graduate programs by distance learning with a physical presence at seven corporate sites in ten locations in New Jersey.

• Syracuse University Petition for Relicensure to Offer Credit-Bearing Courses: The Commissioners unanimously approved a petition by Syracuse University for relicensure to offer credit-bearing courses (Project Advance) at six New Jersey high schools.

• Wilmington College Petition to Offer Degree Completion Programs at Burlington and Cumberland County Colleges and Courses at Salem Community College: The Commissioners approved a petition by Wilmington College to offer degree completion programs at Burlington and Cumberland County Colleges, and courses at Salem Community College.

• Yeshivas Toras Chaim Petition for Licensure to Offer the Bachelor of Talmudic Studies Degree: The Commissioners unanimously approved a petition by Yeshivas Toras Chaim for relicensure to offer the Bachelor of Talmudic Studies Degree.

• Distribution of Fiscal 2008 Minority Academic Careers Program Budget: The Commissioners unanimously approved the recommendation for distribution of fiscal 2008 Minority Academic Careers (MAC) Program preliminary budget.

• EOF Update: Mr. Collins commented on EOF’s leadership training and funding in the budget.

• Old Business: The Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution by the New Jersey Higher Education Partnership for Sustainabilty (NJHEPS) recommending that all New Jersey presidents consider signing the national Presidents Climate Commitment.

• New Business: The Commissioners unanimously approved resolutions of thanks for Deputy Executive Director Jeanne M. Oswald, who is retiring from state government, and student members Ms. Jennifer Dalbow and Mr. Carlos Machado, whose one-year terms on the Commission have expired.

• Comments from the Public:
  • Dr. John B. Wilson, President, Association of Independent Colleges & Universities of NJ, commented on the successful career of Dr. Jeanne M. Oswald and thanked her;
  • Dr. John Pace, President, Association of NJ County College Faculty, commented on the budget, and the retirement of Dr. Oswald;
  • Professor Henry J. Frank, citizen and taxpayer, commented on the AAUP meeting in Washington, DC, and the Principals on Academic Freedom and Tenure;
  • Dr. Ivan Steinberg, Council of NJ State College Locals, AFT, thanked Commissioners for listening to his comments over the years and introduced a new representative from AFT who will be attending the meetings.

• Annual licensure report (includes update on licensure regulations review, and report on degree programs approved by Presidents’ Council in the last three years)