Angela Delli Santi. The Associated Press.
TRENTON, N.J. – A major higher education restructuring plan will reach a crossroads in New Jersey this week, with critical votes by Rutgers University’s governing boards that could red- or green-light the proposal, and legislation to seal the deal being tweaked for introduction.
Rutgers’ Board of Governors and Board of Trustees are set to vote Wednesday on a statement opposing a deal that would reduce their authority over the Camden and Newark campuses. Their “Statement of Principles,” which has not been finalized, would grant both campuses more autonomy but would not cede control of either.
That’s markedly different from the takeover of Rutgers-Camden by Rowan University that Gov. Chris Christie proposed in January, and significantly different than a closed-door compromise among key players that would allow the Camden campus to retain the Rutgers name but would turn over governance to a board comprised of university representatives, plus officials from Rowan and Cooper Medical School.
Christie’s position on a more autonomous Rutgers isn’t clear.
The principles leave the door open for another component of the deal that’s important to the governor to proceed: Transferring key portions of the scandal-tainted University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey to Rutgers, including its medical school.
Opposition to the realignment has been strong from students and faculty at Rutgers-Camden. Last week, Essex County legislators also balked, saying they need assurances the deal will not shortchange Newark. The Essex delegation presented a list of pricey conditions, including developing a plan to pay off $662 million in debt for UMDNJ and its teaching hospital, University Hospital, and pulling back the proposed spin-off of the Newark hospital to a public-private operating partnership.
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