Written by HOWARD GILLETTE For the Courier-Post
When I joined the Rutgers-Camden faculty in 1999 my former university, George Washington, had just joined the ranks of the nation’s top 50 universities. Understandably, I wondered if I could expect the same high standards when I got to Camden. I wasn’t disappointed.
What I found was everything one might hope from a top research university: outstanding scholars in every field, excellent students and access to unequaled academic resources, including a world-class research library. In short, I was pleased to be joining an outstanding research institution. The campus has only gotten stronger since with the addition of three Ph.D. programs and other graduate degrees.
In this light, the Barer committee’s recommendation to “develop a comprehensive public research university” in South Jersey seems out of touch. We already have one in Rutgers-Camden, albeit one that does not directly “support Cooper Medical School of Rowan University,” as the report recommends. There is no reason that can’t happen under existing institutional arrangements. The question is, would that goal be better served by merging Rutgers-Camden into Rowan? I think not.
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