By Gene Racz

NEW BRUNSWICK — Gov. Chris Christie signed a bill on Wednesday that integrated medical schools into Rutgers University while forming a partnership between Rutgers’ Camden campus and Rowan University in life sciences education and research.

Rutgers’ Board of Governors and board of trustees have yet to vote to approve the restructuring, and both boards are said to be reviewing the legislation to ensure that it provides adequate financial safeguards while preserving the strength and autonomy of Rutgers University.

Rutgers officials said that votes by the boards have not been scheduled.

Higher ed merger signing
Gov. Chris Christie signs the higher-education restructuring bill on Wednesday in the Student Center on Rutgers University's College Avenue campus in New Brunswick. / JASON TOWLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
[…] More than two dozen Rutgers and Rowan students holding signs questioning the cost of the restructuring plan and its potential financial impact on them protested the news conference outside the student conference room.

Marious Athanasiou, a Rutgers sophomore and member of the student union, decried the lack of student input into the restructuring process, as well as the lack of transparency in the process. Spencer Klein, president of New Jersey United Students, also said the voices of students “were not heard anywhere in the deal.”

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