Senators question delayed higher education initiative
As the nation's education system struggles in the dire economic times, Gov. Chris Christie is attempting to assess and improve this system in the Garden State.
Christie formed the Higher Education Task Force in July to report on the status of higher education in New Jersey. Headed by former Gov. Thomas Kean, the task force is in the process of putting together its December report for the governor.
"The Higher Education Task Force has been meeting with the stakeholders," said Sean Conner, a spokesman from the governor's office. "It is an ongoing process in preparation for their December report that is due for the governor."
The role of the Higher Education Task Force is to make recommendations for the governor on how to improve the state's higher education system, Conner said.
"They are actively working on that by meeting with the stakeholders and doing research, speaking with students and professors, committee members and folks who are part of the finance world," he said.
The University is supportive of the Higher Education Task Force, saying the force is working to address issues of importance to colleges and universities in New Jersey.
"The Rutgers community has great respect for the knowledge and expertise of the members of the task force," according to a statement from University Media Relations. "We are pleased to work with them and look forward to their report."
The Higher Education Task Force's role is similar to the State Commission of Investigation, which former Gov. Jon S. Corzine put together in 2007 to review the status of higher education in the state.
From this review, Corzine signed a bill into law that required the implementation of a commissioner on higher education for New Jersey.
According to the bill, the governor, with the advice of the state senate, shall appoint a secretary of higher education who will serve the governor during his or her term.
The bill also required the governing board of a public research university to establish an audit committee, an internal auditor as well as an independent outside auditor, according to the bill.
These positions were already in place before the legislation became law, according to a statement from University Media Relations. The statement also clarified that the University's Board of Governors adopted the remaining elements in the legislation.
But Christie has not appointed a secretary on higher education, which has some members of the political sphere in New Jersey asking what is going on and why the Higher Education Task Force is needed.
Erin Carragher, chief of staff for Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union), said both Lesniak and Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan (D-Middlesex) have met with the governor's office to find out why this position has not been filled.
"As far as we can tell, they have made no strides in implementing that law. They've made no effort to appoint a commissioner of higher education," she said. "Sen. Lesniak and Diegnan are trying to put pressure on the governor's office to review the status of the governor implementing that law."
According to the senate bill, the governor is to make the necessary appointments within 15 days after the bill passed and the commission on higher education should hold its first meeting within 30 days of the appointment.
The two senators asked why the Higher Education Task Force is needed if the law is already in place, but they have not received a straight answer from the governor's office, Caragher said.
"What our best assessment at this point is that they are waiting for the task force to release their report," she said. "We reminded them that it is law and that they don't have the luxury to choose whether or not to implement it. But we haven't been able to get a straight answer from them."
