ASSEMBLY HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 3581

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 10, 2025

      The Assembly Higher Education Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 3581.

      As amended, this bill requires a public institution of higher education to post certain information on the institution’s website.

      The amended bill requires a four-year public institution of higher education to post on its website the average time-to-degree completion, defined in the amended bill as the time elapsed between the student’s initial enrollment in the institution and the degree conferral date, for each baccalaureate degree awarded by the institution.

      The amended bill requires a county college to post on its website an appropriate measure of student outcomes, as determined by the Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, for each associate degree awarded by the institution. 

      Additionally, the amended bill requires a public institution of higher education to post on its website a copy of the institution’s annual fiscal monitoring report and any comprehensive audit required pursuant to State law.  The institution is required to annually submit a direct website link of this information to the Secretary of Higher Education and post a summary of the information on the institution’s website for the public that is clear, simple, and understandable.

      As amended and reported by the committee, Assembly Bill No. 3581 is identical to Senate Bill No. 2038 (1R), which was also reported by the committee on this date. 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to include in the bill’s requirements the posting of certain additional comprehensive audits completed pursuant to current State law.