newjerseynewsroom.com

Governor says he'll closely examine idea

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

A task force formed by Gov. Chris Christie to examine the state of higher education in New Jersey has proposed the merger of Rutgers University and the University of Medicine and Dentistry.

Christie and former governor Thomas H. Kean unveiled the report, which includes 70 recommendations on changing higher education Tuesday at a Statehouse press conference.

The recommendations include exploring college and private partnerships, updating regulations and improving governance of the schools.

"Rutgers needs to be turned from good to great," Christie told reporters.

Christie said he intends to create another task force to take an in-depth review of a possible Rutgers-UMDNJ merger and how medical education might be improved.

Christie was joined at the press conference by task force members George Pruitt, president of Thomas Edison State College; John McGoldrick, chairman of the Board of Trustees, Association of State Colleges and Universities; Peggi Howard, vice president of administration, Drew University, and Robert E. Campbell, former vice chairman, Johnson & Johnson. The panel met for seven months and considered such issues as how the colleges are governed to teacher training, tuition assistance, and financial disclosure standards for college presidents.

Responding to the report and the recommendation to merge Rutgers and UMDNJ, Rutgers President Richard L. McCormick said, "I want to acknowledge immediately the strong merits of one of the task force's most important recommendations, which is to reunite Rutgers University and the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Virtually every prominent medical school in the nation is affiliated with a top research university. These institutions attract the finest faculty and students, develop cutting-edge multidisciplinary initiatives, and are effective catalysts for economic growth and new jobs. Universities that are affiliated with medical schools also attract the highest levels of research funding and channel significant dollars into their states.

"Rutgers currently brings to New Jersey more federal research funding than any other university in the state, and more than all of the public colleges and universities combined," McCormick said. "The reuniting of Rutgers University and the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School would propel New Jersey's state university into the top ranks of all American universities in total research funding. Such a union would create a national academic powerhouse that would significantly enhance the quality and profile of New Jersey higher education and would benefit residents across the entire state.

McCormick also said, "The Rutgers governing boards, the members of my administration, and the Rutgers community will discuss (all Rutgers-related) these recommendations with both care and urgency. The report also calls particular attention to the high responsibilities placed on Rutgers - New Jersey's only comprehensive public research institution. As the report observes, "for a state to be great, it must have a great state university." To achieve that goal, the authors of the report include nine recommendations that are specific to Rutgers, and issue "a call to action" to university and state leaders to work together to make Rutgers "among the best research universities in the country, indeed in the world." At Rutgers, we embrace that challenge."

Christie said that in many ways, the report confirms New Jersey's higher education system is in need of focused improvement if it is going to prepare students and help the state. He said that after twenty years of declining state funding and increasing tuition, it is time to put in place a short and long term strategy that recognizes current fiscal challenges while taking steps to strengthen higher education.

"I am prepared to take these recommendations into consideration as we determine what change to the system can happen now, considering the serious fiscal constraints facing our State, while also looking toward the future," Christie said.
Kean said, "There is no doubt that New Jersey must have a competitive system of higher education that is affordable and also equips our students with the tools they need to thrive in today's workplace. Our findings show that there is a way forward that takes into consideration the fiscal challenges our state is facing and can make New Jersey a leader in higher education."

Kean added that the panel realizes the recommendations come as New Jersey faces significant fiscal challenges and that the state does not currently have the resources necessary to fund some of them.

Christie said he intends to issue an executive order to create a governor's council to permanently oversee issues related to higher education in Trenton. The position of state secretary of higher education has gone unfilled during the first year of Christie's term.

Kean presented the report to Christie in late November but the governor waited until Tuesday to make it public.

Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt (D-Camden), chair of the lower house's Higher Education Committee, said she welcomes the release of the report.

"Hopefully this signals that Governor Christie is at last ready to show a commitment to higher education and making it more affordable for working class New Jerseyans," Lampett said. "our colleges and universities not only create stronger futures for our youth, but serve as economic engines that drive our economy, create jobs and spark research and development. They cannot continue to be an afterthought, as they were in the governor's first budget.

"Obviously, any plan to merge Rutgers University and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey will require an extensive analysis to gauge its impact not only on higher education, but on health care in our state," Lampett added. "I look forward to reviewing the recommendations, meeting with Governor Kean to discuss the findings and having the Higher Education Committee give the recommendations a full public debate."

Assemblyman John DiMaio (R-Warren) a member of the Higher Education Committee, said, "One of the biggest challenges facing New Jersey's colleges and universities is how to retain more of our students who pursue their education in another state. The findings contained in the commission's report recognize the complexities of this issue that must be addressed and provide a roadmap as to how we begin to deal with a subject that has been overlooked far too long. It is important to note that today's report identifies the direct link between the higher education community and New Jersey's economy.

"Governor Christie and the task force recognize that a key to improving higher education is to encourage the interaction between our colleges and the private sector," DiMaio said. An education is not only a great asset for our students, but for our economy as well. One of the most important lessons learned from this report is there are no quick fixes to solving this problem, but we must take the next step by turning suggestions into solutions."

Here are some of the task force's key recommendations:

RUTGERS —THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY:

Rutgers should strategically choose to invest in areas of excellence, and eliminate redundancy across its campuses.

The state should stabilize, and enhance when fiscally possible, its financial support to Rutgers. Specific steps toward increased appropriations and capital support are discussed in more detail in the section on financing and affordability.

Rutgers should prepare to merge with the University of Medicine and Dentistry's Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and School of Public Health to establish a first-class comprehensive university-based health science center.

Rutgers must place undergraduate education in the context of its other important responsibilities.

The president of Rutgers should at times act as the spokesperson for higher education in New Jersey.

As New Jersey's land-grant institution, with a tradition of contributing to the state's economic development, Rutgers must work more closely with the state's business community.

Rutgers should increase the resources it provides to Rutgers-Newark.

Rutgers-Camden must receive appropriate support to contribute to Rutgers' statewide mission.

Rutgers must continue to have strong, independent institutional governance. Its complicated governing structure, however, should be reviewed and streamlined if possible, with due respect to the principles of the 1956 Compact.

UMDNJ AND MEDICAL EDUCATION IN NEW JERSEY:

The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey should be fundamentally transformed while sustaining the integrity of medical education and healthcare delivery in Newark.

Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and the School of Public Health should be merged with Rutgers University's New Brunswick-Piscataway campuses to establish a first-class comprehensive university-based health science center.

When Robert Wood Johnson Medical School merges with Rutgers, concurrent steps must be taken to address the other operations of UMDNJ, including University Hospital, New Jersey Medical School, the future of medical education in Newark, and medical education in South Jersey.

An expert panel should be convened as soon as possible to implement these recommendations from concept to action, and to consider possible next steps or options expressed to the task force. These include a proposal from the (2003) Vagelos Commission to merge senior public higher education institutions in Newark, and a proposal to merge senior public higher education institutions in South Jersey. Immediate resolution is imperative.

REMEDIATION:

New Jersey should conduct a study to understand the extent of the cost of remediation at its colleges and universities, and should adopt a plan to address the issue.

HIGHER EDUCATION CAPACITY AND OUTMIGRATION:

New Jersey should make its best effort to increase the capacity of the state's colleges and universities to enroll capable students who want to remain in New Jersey.

IN-MIGRATION:

Each institution's board of trustees should evaluate how to increase the number of students they enroll from out of state.

BETTER COLLABORATION TO SPUR INNOVATION:

New Jersey should reestablish the Commission on Science and Technology to provide much-needed leadership to promote and commercialize joint research between universities and the private sector.

Christie emphasized that he has proposed changes in higher education that are not included in the report and called on the Democratic-controlled Legislature to pass them. "One thing that can be done immediately and without further delay is passing the remaining higher education tool kit bills," he said. :This package of reforms was delivered to the Legislature 239 days ago and there is no reason these bills shouldn't have been acted upon already."