NJPC Approves Campus Safety Resolution, New Programs
Lawrenceville -- The New Jersey Presidents’ Council approved a campus safety and security resolution, heard an update on the state-wide Transfer Agreement, and approved new academic programs for member institutions at its first full meeting of the academic year on October 20 at Rider College.
In opening remarks, new NJPC Chair Sister Rosemary Jeffries, President of Georgian Court University, said her focus will be on encouraging the presidents and member institutions to work together collaboratively in support of each other and in advocating the importance of higher education. “We are in a unique position to lead in a time of economic challenge,” she said. She encouraged the presidents to reach out to legislators and to other important constituencies to tell the higher education story.
President Jeffries also noted that there would be a meeting of campus student affairs leaders on November 14, at Middlesex County College to discuss various student life issues.
President Steven Rose, (Passaic County Community College), chair of the Budget and Governmental Relations Committee, reported that his committee is working on the 2009 NJPC Budget Statement. He said the budget package would contain an overall statement which makes a strong case for higher education.
He reported that almost $200,000 had been collected from NJPC institutions in support of NJTransfer, with another $100,000 pledged but uncollected.
President Richard Levao, (Bloomfield College), chair of the Advocacy Committee, said work is underway to develop an advocacy document that can serve as the basis for a continuing dialog on higher education. He said a draft document had been prepared and is now being reviewed. He expects to discuss the document with the Advocacy Committee in the next few weeks.
Transfer Committee Co-Chairs Susan Cole (President, Montclair State University) and Edward Yaw (President, County College of Morris), reported that the new state-wide Transfer Agreement has been in use since September and student transfers are going very well. The Agreement has been distributed to NJPC colleges and universities for review and adoption. President Cole reminded the Council that the Transfer Agreement will be reviewed on a yearly basis.
President Robert Altenkirch, (New Jersey Institute of Technology), chair of the Campus Safety and Security Committee, presented a resolution on safety and security which was approved by the presidents. In essence, the resolution calls for the NJPC to endorse the development of a peer review process of campus safety and security best practices, states that the best practices will be regularly updated to include emerging issues, and provides that the NJPC will assist in the implementation of best practices for campus safety and security.
President Casey Crabill, (Raritan Valley Community College), chair of the ad hoc Service Learning Committee, reported that her committee has been formed and is moving forward on its task of evaluating various service learning initiatives.
Jane Oates, reporting for the Commission on Higher Education, said that all state agencies have been asked by the governor to look at how current budgets might be reduced. She said there would be no change in EOF and College Bound programs.
Presidents approved new academic programs as presented by President Raymond Yannuzzi, (Camden County College), chair of the Academic Issues Committee. They are:
Montclair State University (Master of Public Health); Rowan (B.A. in Chemistry); Thomas Edison (B.S. in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness; UMDNJ (M.S. in Clinical and Translation Science). Montclair State’s proposed new Doctorate of Education in Teacher Education and Teacher Development program was referred to the Commission on Higher Education because it exceeded the mission of the institution. William Paterson University was granted a waiver from the full review process to convert its B.A. in Art Concentration in Art History to a B.A. in Art History.
The next meeting of the NJPC is November 17 at 9:30 am in Winants Hall, Rutgers University