By Joelle Farrell, Inquirer Trenton bureau
TRENTON — Members of the Assembly budget committee skewered New Jersey’s higher education secretary at a hearing Wednesday, arguing that they can’t judge a proposal to overhaul the state university system without knowing the cost.
Secretary Rochelle Hendricks said “world-class” financial experts were reviewing the proposal, which would merge Rutgers-Camden into Rowan University in Glassboro and combine parts of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey with Rutgers’ main campus in New Brunswick. Hendricks expects to have a cost analysis in the next few weeks.
For some, that wasn’t good enough, especially when Republican Gov. Christie wanted the plan approved by July 1.
“All of these things should have been done,” said Assemblyman Albert Coutinho (D., Essex). “How do you come up with a conclusion without first seeing if it’s at least feasible?”
Sen. President Stephen Sweeney (D., Gloucester) is working on a bill to address the university-system overhaul, a spokesman told the Bergen County Record last week, but he offered no details about the legislation’s language. Sweeney did not return requests for comment Wednesday.
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