Update on Discussion Regarding Higher Education in South Jersey (May 15, 2012)

To the Campus Community:

As I have stated publicly in recent weeks, there have been meaningful conversations with legislative and community leaders regarding the need to preserve – and strengthen – Rutgers–Camden for the clear benefit of the citizens of southern New Jersey.

Today’s Star-Ledger includes an interview with Cooper University Hospital Board Chair George E. Norcross III, who reports on the discussions regarding the future of higher education in southern New Jersey.  That story is online at http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/05/officials_reach_compromise_in.html.

Similarly, there are news reports from the Associated Press (http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/rutgers-says-it-has-plan-that-would-give-more-autonomy/article_9bde68aa-9e32-11e1-ba56-0019bb2963f4.html) and the Courier-Post (http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20120515/NEWS01/305150024/Rutgers-Merger-framework-set).

I strongly suggest that you review these articles, which offer a broad and general perspective on these important discussions regarding the complexity of advancing both Rutgers–Camden and higher education in our region.

Higher education is highly complicated, and it is not surprising at all that these discussions reflect that reality.  The framework, as discussed in meetings in which I participated, would give Rutgers–Camden administrative and budgetary autonomy, as well as its own governing board, while maintaining our critically important academic connections to Rutgers University.  This autonomy would allow our campus to take advantage of opportunities for growth as they arise; at the same time, our ongoing role as part of Rutgers would ensure that Rutgers–Camden continues to maintain its high standards for faculty hiring and promotion, as well as for our academic programs and degrees.

Moreover, within the proposed framework, our current and future students would earn Rutgers degrees; faculty would continue to hold their tenure with Rutgers; staff would remain employees of our campus; and our alumni would retain their identities as Rutgers graduates, with the rich traditions of both our campus and the university.

Finally, Rutgers–Camden would remain Rutgers–Camden, in terms of our name and all that we value about the campus.

This framework also envisions a deep and meaningful partnership with Rowan University that could serve our students and our region by building upon our individual institutional strengths.  This partnership would, among other things, promote the growth of research in the health sciences and the expansion of medical education in southern New Jersey.  It also would allow Rutgers–Camden and Rowan to collaborate on new ways to strengthen our host city in Camden.

I am encouraged by the progress of these conversations, and will continue to share information with you.  I look forward to working with all of our Rutgers–Camden community – faculty, students, staff, alumni, friends, and families – as we engage in productive dialogue to find solutions that serve all of southern New Jersey through the growth of Rutgers–Camden.

Wendell E. Pritchett, J.D., Ph.D.

Chancellor