ASSEMBLY HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4212

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  OCTOBER 13, 2022

      The Assembly Higher Education Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 4212.

      This bill establishes at Thomas Edison State University the Center for Career Relevant Education and Talent Evaluation of New Jersey (CreateNJ). The purpose of CreateNJ would be to maximize collaboration between institutions of higher education and partner organizations that develop and implement career pathways for nontraditional students and workers and workforce development programs. The center would be the State’s central resource to evaluate and translate learning into a validated record of academic credit, career credentials, pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship credits, and pertinent knowledge, skills, and abilities. The validated record developed by the center, under the provisions of the bill, is to be known as the New Jersey Workforce Transcript.

      CreateNJ would establish a steering committee, the purpose of which is to foster partnerships between government and industry for the mapping of credentials and to contribute to the direction and sustainability of the center. The steering committee would be co-chaired by the President of Thomas Edison State University and the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, or their designees. Other members of the steering committee would include representatives from:

      (1)  the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety;

      (2)  the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education;

      (3)  the Department of Education;

      (4)  the New Jersey Council of County Colleges; and

      (5)  the New Jersey Business and Industry Association.

      Under the bill, CreateNJ would establish a database that houses all of the skills or credits credentialed or accepted by Thomas Edison State University or other participating institutions of higher education pursuant to the bill.