Facts - Governor's Higher Ed Reorganization Proposal
A January 2012 proposal endorsed by Gov. Chris Christie to realign medical and health sciences education and research in New Jersey has gained widespread attention throughout our region.
The proposal from The University of Medicine and Dentistry Advisory Committee includes a recommendation to merge Rutgers University-Camden with Rowan University to create a public research university in South Jersey.
The move would make Rowan the state's second research institution and has the potential to significantly increase access to higher education for area residents; ignite the state's economy; and function as a regional magnet for entrepreneurship, grants and philanthropy.
Below are links that will provide some facts and a clearer picture of the proposal. If you have further questions or comments, please feel free to contact us at officeofthepresident@rowan.edu or (856) 256-4100.
Committee's Recommendation- The committee recommended that Rutgers University-Camden and Rowan University unite under the Rowan name and develop a comprehensive public research university based in Glassboro.
- The proposed merger is part of a larger plan outlined by the committee, which also recommended the integration of Rutgers University and the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Brunswick and Newark.
- The integration of both institutions will provide the "elements necessary for Rowan to become a comprehensive public research university," according to the report. The merger encompasses all academic colleges and departments at Rutgers-Camden, including the Rutgers School of Law-Camden. (Page 23)
- According to the report, the move would benefit the region and the state and provide "an accelerated opportunity" to support Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (www.rowan.edu/coopermed), which will welcome its charter class in Camden in August 2012. (Page 23)
- According to the recommendation, under this model, "Rowan ultimately would be a two-campus institution with undergraduate and graduate programs offered on both the Glassboro and Camden campuses. This model will allow medical and health sciences students and faculty to integrate with the Cooper Medical School, the Cooper Cancer Center and other Camden-based research institutes, such as the Coriell Institute for Medical Research." (Page 24)
- The merger of Rutgers-Camden and Rowan, according to the report, "will help propel the medical school toward excellence" and transform higher education, the workforce and economic development needs of South Jersey. The merger also would provide economic benefits for the State of New Jersey. (Page 23)
- The committee stated that any mergers would not affect the "critical academic interests of current students in any way." (Page 24)
- In pledging his support of the recommendations during a press conference on the committee’s report, the governor said the moves would "allow us to realize our potential as a state to be a national leader in medical education, supporting our biotech and pharma[ceutical] industries in New Jersey."
- The proposal could be adopted through an executive reorganization order by the governor or action by the legislature. There is no firm timeline for either move to occur. Should the governor choose to issue an executive reorganization order, the legislature would have 60 days to raise objections.
