N.J. higher ed up for debate, this time on Rowan territory

The future of higher education in New Jersey will be up for debate again Monday when the higher education committees of both the Senate and the Assembly get together at Rowan University for a public meeting.

The proposal for restructuring the system of higher education in the Garden State includes the reorganization of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey into three distinct entities. Under the plan, one of its medical schools would go to Rutgers University.

In return, and this has been a very controversial aspect of the proposed overhaul, Rutgers’ Camden campus would merge with Rowan University. Rutgers Camden faculty and students have protested the plan, voicing their opposition passionately in previous meetings.

Monday’s meeting will take place at Rowan, but Assemblywoman Celeste Riley, D-Salem, who chairs the Assembly’s higher education committee, expects it to be just as spirited as previous sessions.

“I don’t think it’s going to be toned down at all,” said Riley.

She said she hopes Rowan’s position on the proposal will be well represented.

“I do hope since, we are holding it at Rowan, that we will have more Rowan supporters coming out,” she said.

Riley said the conversation about the future of higher education in New Jersey is much needed because the state is losing too many students to out-of-state universities.

Follow the meeting live on the Twitter stream below.

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