Following release of the Report of the New Jersey Higher Education Task Force yesterday, Governor Christie signed Executive Orders 51 (http://www.njit.edu/president/docs/2011/2011-01-05-higher-ed-exec-51.pdf) and 52 (http://www.njit.edu/president/docs/2011/2011-01-05-higher-ed-exec-52.pdf).  Executive Order 52 creates the Governor’s Higher Education Council, creation of which was recommended in the Task Force Report, and Executive Order 51 establishes the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Advisory Committee, which is charged with reviewing recommendations of the Higher Education Task Force on medical education and UMDNJ and making recommendations to the Governor on issues concerning medical education in New Jersey and its delivery.

The Committee is specifically charged with making recommendations regarding the structure of medical education in New Brunswick-Piscataway, Newark, and South Jersey.  With respect to Newark, the Committee is to consider whether we, NJIT, should start our own medical school and whether UMDNJ’s schools in Newark should become part of any of the other senior public universities in Newark.

Because the work of the Committee directly impacts higher education, particularly NJIT and medical education in Newark, we would anticipate having input to the work of the Committee.   We will keep you informed as implementation of Executive Orders 51 and 52 proceed.

Thanks,

Bob