ASSEMBLY, No. 2319

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 16, 1996

By Assemblywomen GILL and TURNER

An Act concerning State colleges and amending N.J.S.18A:64-1.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. N.J.S. 18A:64-1 is amended to read as follows:

    18A:64-1. The Legislature hereby finds that it is in the best interest of the State that the State colleges shall be and continue to be given a high degree of self-government and that the government and conduct of the colleges shall be free of partisanship. The Legislature finds further that a decentralization of authority and decision-making to the boards of trustees and administrators of the State colleges will enhance the idea of self-government. Such colleges shall be maintained for the purpose of providing higher education in the liberal arts and sciences and various professional areas, including the science of education and the art of teaching, at such places as may be provided by law. The names of the colleges shall be designated by the board of trustees subject to regulations of the Commission on Higher Education concerning university status. The name of each of the existing State colleges shall continue the same and any State college board of trustees which seeks to change the name of the institution shall receive the approval of the Legislature and the Governor prior to the name change adoption [unless a new name is so designated].

(cf: P.L. 1994, c. 48, s. 93)

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill requires that a State college when seeking to change the name of the institution, in addition to board of trustee authorization, must also obtain the approval of the Governor and the Legislature prior to the adoption of a name change. All three entities must concur in the effort to change the name of a State college. Currently only the approval of an institution’s board of trustees is necessary for a name change.

Requires State colleges to obtain gubernatorial and legislative approval prior to a name change.