New committee on efficiency and entrepreneurship seeks to shift spending culture

A group of faculty and administrators are seeking to save Rutgers money by effecting a long-term cultural change at the university: engaging the entire community in finding ways to make the best use of Rutgers’ resources and take a proactive, long-term approach to expanding revenues.

President Richard L. McCormick established the Committee on Efficiency and Entrepreneurship in September 2006 after New Jersey’s dire fiscal situation forced large cuts to higher education budgets.

A key to maximizing resources is to change the traditional way of thinking at Rutgers from that of a decentralized institution to a unified organization. “There is a long history of efficiencies here at Rutgers,” said Jeff Apfel, outgoing senior vice president for administration and chief financial officer. The committee’s new approach, Apfel said, “is in line with what the president is doing to integrate public perception, curriculum, admissions, and other functions. There are a lot of opportunities for synergy when we think about the university as one place.”