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The New Jersey Commission on Higher Education convened at the Mary G. Roebling
Building in Trenton, N.J., on September 26, 2003. Commission Chairman
Larry Downes presided.
Highlights from the meeting include:
- Chairman’s Overview: Chairman Downes gave an overview of the agenda.
- Executive Director’s Report: Dr. Sulton updated Commissioners on various
topics, including a report on college costs by two congressional committee
leaders and a pilot P-20 collaboration project for South Jersey.
- Presidents’ Council Report: President Edward Yaw updated Commissioners
on the Council’s various committees and reported the expanded membership
of its Executive Board.
- Comments from Ms. Elizabeth Wong, executive director of the Higher
Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA): Ms. Wong updated Commissioners
on HESAA’s
programs and services and its goals for FY 2004.
- University of Phoenix: Concerning the University of Phoenix’s petition
for licensure to open a New Jersey campus, Kay Hancock, the Commission’s
director of academic affairs, said the university had reported, as
required, on its compliance with or an acceptable plan for meeting
certain conditions.
She summarized the university’s responses regarding these conditions
and said staff recommend licensure, provided that the university satisfies
the remaining conditions and reports semiannually on the ongoing fulfillment
of all the conditions. The Commission voted to license the university
for three years contingent on the university’s fulfillment of
the provisos.
- Higher Education Technology Infrastructure Fund: The Commission approved
the use of interinstitutional connectivity set-aside funds for
New Jersey Institute
of Technology and the College of Saint Elizabeth.
- Capital Improvement Funds: The Commission approved grants to Rowan University
and Richard Stockton College of New Jersey from the Capital Improvement
Fund.
- Long-Range Plan: Mr. Downes highlighted the broad-based inclusiveness
of the long-range plan process and stressed its ongoing nature.
He said the Stage
I draft incorporates many suggestions and perspectives but some
issues remain to be resolved. Dr. Sulton discussed the plan’s central theme of shared
responsibility and a compact between the state and higher education institutions.
Dr. Oswald reviewed the principal state objectives that define the prerequisites
for achieving the plan’s vision and explained that Stage II will further
delineate some action plans and performance measures and integrate the work
of the Review, Planning and Implementation Steering Committee and the Jobs
Growth and Economic Development Commission. The Commission voted to release
the Stage I draft for review and comment. The final draft will be considered
for adoption at the Commission’s November meeting.
- FY 2005 Budget Policy Statement: The Commission discussed the draft of the
FY 2005 budget statement and will work with the Presidents’ Council to
bring a final draft to the October meeting.
- Public Speakers:
- Ms. Edithe Fulton – president, New Jersey Education Association (NJEA):
University of Phoenix
- Dr. John Pace – vice president, Association of New Jersey County College
Faculties: pilot part-time TAG program
- Dr. Patricia Reeling, Rutgers University and State Conference
of AAUP Chapters: University of Phoenix
- Mr. Bennett Muraskin, staff representative, Council of New
Jersey State College Locals, AFT: University of Phoenix
- Dr. Charles Larkin – president, Faculty Association, Essex County College:
University of Phoenix
- William Palatucci, Esq. – Dughi, Hewit & Palatucci, P.C.: University
of Phoenix
- Dr. Susan Mitchell – vice provost and vice president for regulatory affairs,
University of Phoenix: University of Phoenix
Next Commission Meeting: Friday, October 24, 2003, at 10:00
a.m. at the Mary G. Roebling Building, Trenton, NJ.
- Systemwide accountability report discussion
- Adoption of Budget Policy Statement
- Bond project approvals
- Final readoption of chargeback regulations
- Long-Range Plan update
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New Jersey Commission on Higher Education
