SENATE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1731

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 14, 2022

      The Senate Higher Education Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 1731 with committee amendments.

      As amended, this bill establishes the New Jersey Higher Education Student Advisory Commission in, but not of, the Department of State.  The commission will consist of 15 members including: three student representatives of the State colleges and universities, a student representative of each of the five public research universities, three student representatives of the county colleges, three student representatives of the independent colleges and universities, and one student representative of a proprietary degree-granting institution.  The New Jersey Education Association will appoint one member who is a member of the NJEA Preservice Program and represents any one of the higher education sectors, and the Secretary of Higher Education will appoint the remaining members. 

      Under the bill, a student enrolled in an institution of higher education or a proprietary degree-granting institution in the State may submit an application to serve on the commission to the Secretary of Higher Education. 

      The commission is charged with advising the secretary on system-wide issues of concern to students.  The commission is directed to annually report to the Assembly Higher Education Committee and the Senate Higher Education Committee, or their successor committees on the concerns, perspectives, and experiences of students attending institutions of higher education or proprietary degree-granting institutions in the State and may make recommendations on suggested legislative initiatives.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

      The committee amended the bill to update the number of public research universities from four to five, to reflect the recent designation of Kean University as a public urban research university pursuant to P.L.2021, c.282.  This increased the total membership of the commission from 14 members to 15 members.