By Jarrett Renshaw and Kelly Heyboer/The Star-Ledger
Rowan University’s Board of Trustees have called an emergency meeting today where they may take a position on the proposed merger with Rutgers-Camden.
The meeting comes less than a week after the Rutgers Board of Trustees and the more powerful Board of Governors approved a list of demands that are at odds with legislation under consideration in Trenton. Under the bill, Rutgers would take over all of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey with the exception of University Hospital in Newark, and all but lose control of its satellite campus in Camden, which would join with with Rowan University.
In general, Rowan officials have publicly been more supportive of the merger than their counterparts at Rutgers-Camden, where teachers and faculty have packed meeting rooms to oppose the plan. However, some faculty members are pushing the Rowan University Senate, which is made up of faculty, staff and students, to take an anti-merger stance in a meeting later this week.
The trustees meeting at Rowan is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.. The trustees are expected to take public comments before going behind closed doors to discuss the legislation. A university spokesman said the board may take a position or may not.
Last week, the panels at Rutgers said they will only accept a merger of UMDNJ if the state pays its fair share of the integration costs and is assured that any partnership Rutgers-Camden enters into with Rowan allows each school to retain its independence and autonomy.
Eric Milou, a math professor, is the president of the Rowan University Senate, a group of about 60 people from the ranks of faculty, staff and students. He plans to ask the Senate on Friday to oppose the legislation, a move that if successful would be the first public sign of discontent over the deal at the university.
“Rowan faculty and staff have consistently demonstrated restraint about the speculation and controversy regarding the possibilities of a reorganization of higher education in New Jersey,” Milou wrote in an e-mail. “However, we now believe it is time for our voices to be heard. While claiming to improve governance structure for Rowan and Rutgers-Camden, the new legislation will instead diminish the autonomy and potential growth of both universities.”
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