NJPC Executive Board Approves FY2010 Budget Statement
New Brunswick – The Executive Board of the New Jersey Presidents’ Council approved a FY 2010 Budget Statement at its December 15, meeting at Rutgers University.
President Steve Rose (Passaic County Community College), chair of the Budget and Governmental Relations Committee, discussed the budget policy statement, which had been circulated to presidents previous to the meeting, and reminded everyone that a second statement would be issued on behalf of the NJPC after Governor Corzine presents the FY 2010 state budget.
President Richard Levao (Bloomfield College), chair of the Advocacy and Accountability Committee, reported that he has had discussions with an outside firm on gathering common data from colleges and universities for use in an advocacy document. Presidents approved spending up to $25,000 from NJPC reserves for a survey to collect information.
New academic programs were approved for Brookdale Community College, (A.A.S. in Diagnostic Medical Sonography), and waivers from full reviews were granted to Montclair State University for a program conversion (Concentration in Child Advocacy to B.A. in Child Advocacy) and to Rutgers University to convert an option to a degree program (M.S. in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Option in Pharmaceutical Engineering to M.E. in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering.)
President Edward Yaw (County College of Morris), co-chair of the Transfer Committee, said that the committee expected to have ready by the February meeting a funding proposal for NJ Transfer that would require an assessment for NJPC colleges and universities. Short of other funding options, he said the NJPC would need to assume responsibility. He said the Committee is looking at other issues related to the Transfer Plan including developing a brochure for high school students and community college students.
Reporting for the Campus Safety and Security Committee, President Robert Altenkirch (New Jersey Institute of Technology), said the committee membership has been reconstituted, and a mission statement has been adopted.
Jane Oates, reporting for the Commission on Higher Education, said that Governor Corzine is scheduled to present the FY 2010 state budget on February 24. She said the Commission had hosted a discussion on graduation rates which both she and President Rosemary Jeffries (Georgian Court), chair of the NJPC, characterized as helpful and engaging. She said the Commission had received an extension to December 31, for filing its report on implementation of the new state-wide Transfer Plan.
Four Vice Presidents for Student Affairs reported to the Executive Board on a recent meeting to discuss campus issues such as cyber harassment, cyber bullying, and campus suicides. A written report of the meeting was circulated to presidents in advance of the December 15 meeting. Going forward, the VPs for Student Affairs said they will meet once a semester.
Under New Business, President Altenkirch urged presidents to support Senate Bill 2299, sponsored by Senator Raymond Lesniak, because he believes it offers financing options that may prove advantageous to colleges and universities, especially in the area of Public/Public partnerships.
Andy McKean spoke to the presidents about Liberty Day, a project he has initiated that he says will help secondary school students as well as college students better understand the U.S. Constitution. He urged presidents to support the project. Presidents Rose and Levao will review the program for the February meeting.
The next meeting of the Presidents’ Council will be February 23, 2009 at 10 AM in Winants Hall, at Rutgers University.