ASSEMBLY HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2069

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 2, 2021

      The Assembly Higher Education Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 2069.

     This bill directs the State Auditor to conduct a performance review audit of each New Jersey public institution of higher education.  The audit will include, but need not be limited to:

· an analysis of the prevalence, cost, and quality of online courses offered by the institution;

· a review of the remedial courses offered by the institution and the effectiveness of those courses in preparing students for credit-bearing courses;

· a review of the fees charged by the institution, the appropriate level of those fees, and whether fees are being used by the institution as a mechanism to artificially deflate required tuition costs;

· an analysis of the market value of degrees offered by the institution compared to the cost associated with earning that degree; and

· a review of four-year and six-year graduation rates for students enrolled in a four-year baccalaureate degree program, and a review of two-year and three-year graduation rates for students enrolled in a two-year associate degree program, to determine the extent and causes of low graduation rates at the institution.

      The bill requires that the State Auditor prepare and submit a report of the findings of the audits to the Governor and the Legislature within one year of the bill’s effective date.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2020-2021 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.