AR256

An Assembly Resolution urging the Board of Governors of Rutgers, the State University, to appoint a voting student representative to the board.

Whereas, The Board of Governors of Rutgers, the State University, is vested with the control of the general operations of the university, including the government, conduct, management, and administration of the university; and

Whereas, Pursuant to N.J.S.18A:65-14, the board consists of 15 voting members, eight of whom are appointed by the Governor, and seven of whom are appointed by the university’s board of trustees from among its members; and

Whereas, In addition to the voting members, the university has voluntarily selected two faculty members and one student to serve as non-voting representatives on the board of governors; and

Whereas, In the case of the State colleges and universities established pursuant to chapter 64 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statues, State law, section 1 of P.L.1986, c.136 (C.18A:64-3.1), requires that the governing boards of those institutions include two student representatives with one student serving as a full voting member; and

Whereas, Under the law, for the first election following the establishment of student representation on the board, one student was elected for a one-year term as a full voting member and one student was elected for two years, but served as an alternate member during the first year and as a voting member during the second year. At each subsequent election, the law stipulates that one student is to be elected for a two-year term, serving as an alternate member during the first year and as a voting member during the second year, so that there are always two student representatives on the board; and

Whereas, The law allows the institution’s governing board to determine whether the student members are to be elected by the student body at large or by the members of the student government association; and

Whereas, Once elected, the student serving as a full voting member is entitled to full participation in all activities of the board except that he may not participate in: (1) matters involving the employment, appointment, termination, or terms of employment and other related matters for an officer or employee of the institution; (2) certain matters involving the purchase, lease, acquisition, or sale of real property with public funds; and (3) any pending or anticipated litigation in which the board is, or may become, a party, where it could adversely affect the public interest if discussion of these matters were disclosed, or any matters falling within the attorney-client privilege; and

Whereas, The decisions made by an institution of higher education’s governing board, including issues concerning curriculum, housing, and tuition and fees, directly impact the daily lives of students; and

Whereas, Students bring important skill sets, perspectives, and energy to institutional boards, and allowing students to serve on an institution’s governing board as full voting members more adequately allows students to be recognized, provides a vehicle for students to voice their opinions and concerns, and brings a more balanced perspective to the deliberations of the governing board; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. This House urges the Board of Governors of Rutgers, the State University, to adopt the same model of student representation for the board as is currently required under State law, section 1 of P.L.1986, c.136 (C.18A:64-3.1), for the State colleges and universities. Under that law, the governing boards of those institutions are required to include two student representatives with one student serving as a full voting member.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted to the President of Rutgers, the State University, and to each member on the Rutgers University Board of Governors.

STATEMENT

This Assembly resolution urges the Board of Governors of Rutgers, the State University, to appoint two student representatives to the board with one student serving as a full voting member.

Under State law, the Rutgers University Board of Governors consists of 15 voting members, eight of whom are appointed by the Governor, and seven of whom are appointed by the university’s board of trustees from among its members. Although not statutorily required to do so, Rutgers has voluntarily selected two faculty members and one student to serve on the board as non-voting representatives.

In the case of the State colleges and universities established pursuant to chapter 64 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statues, State law, section 1 of P.L.1986, c.136 (C.18A:64-3.1), requires that the governing boards of those institutions include two student representatives with one student serving as a full voting member. The decisions made by an institution of higher education’s governing board, including issues concerning curriculum, housing, and tuition and fees, directly impact the daily lives of students. Serving on an institution’s governing board as full voting members more adequately allows students to be recognized, provides a vehicle for students to voice their opinions and concerns, and brings a more balanced perspective to the deliberations of the governing board. Rutgers University is urged to adopt this same model of student representation.