The New Jersey Commission on Higher Education convened at Middlesex County College in Edison, N.J., on November 21, 2003. Commission Chairman Larry Downes presided. Highlights from the meeting include:

• Comments from Host: President John Bakum welcomed the Commission and commented on the agreement recently signed with Governor McGreevey regarding community colleges.

• Executive Director’s Report: Dr. Sulton noted substantial progress in completion of course equivalencies for articulation and transfer. Recommended transfer programs are being developed, and dual-degree programs will further the goal of seamless transfer and may help ameliorate capacity problems.

• Presidents’ Council Report: President Stuart Cook reported on the November 17 meeting of the Council’s Executive Board, where it was decided to issue a separate FY 2005 budget policy statement, acknowledging that the Council and the Commission will work jointly on budget advocacy and legislative testimony.

• Berkeley College Mission Exceedance: The Commission approved the Berkeley College petition to exceed programmatic mission and offer a B.S. degree program in fashion marketing and management.

• FY 2005 Budget Policy Statement: The Commission adopted the FY 2005 budget policy statement and directed its transmittal to the Governor and Legislature. The Commission will coordinate budget advocacy and legislative testimony with the Presidents’ Council.

• Long-Range Plan – Stage 1: Mr. Downes reiterated that the long-range plan must be both realistic and dynamic. Dr. Sulton said the steering committee discussed the comments received during October and reached consensus on the draft. Dr. Cook said on the basis of a poll of the members, the Presidents’ Council endorses the plan; he noted that the nine state college and university presidents indicated they cannot take a position on the objective related to the public research universities, because it will not be developed until Stage 2. The Commission adopted Stage 1 of the long-range plan, A Blueprint for Excellence, and directed staff to distribute the plan widely and proceed with Stage 2 of the process.

• Systemwide Accountability Report: Dr. Sulton said systemwide accountability reports flow from the Commission’s statutory responsibilities for planning, coordination, and advocacy. Dr. Glenn Lang, executive director of the Educational Opportunity Fund program, provided highlights from each section of the report.

• Public Speakers: Dr. John Pace – vice president, Association of NJ County College Faculties: University of Phoenix; Mr. Kurt Germann – professor, Ocean County College: institutional/Commission collaboration
  

• Systemwide accountability report
• Institutional mission statements: overview
• Performance measures
• Bond Act project approvals
• Technology investment/advancement outline
• Long-range plan