Decision about the Restructuring Proposal

December 12, 2003

Please accept my deepest thanks to all of you in the Rutgers community who, over the past 14 months, have contributed to the discussions of Governor McGreevey’s ambitious and farsighted proposal to restructure New Jersey’s public research universities. You, our board members, faculty, students, and administrators, have devoted countless hours and intellectual capital to analyzing and advancing this opportunity. It has sparked many productive discussions about the future of Rutgers and its relationship with UMDNJ and NJIT, particularly in the life sciences.

Today Governor McGreevey and our Board of Governors issued a joint statement announcing that, despite the many benefits that could come from restructuring, there are simply too many financial and structural issues for this plan to be considered by the Legislature at this time. In doing so, the governor and the board also declared a shared commitment to increase collaboration among the State of New Jersey, its public research universities, and the private sector.

Today’s news has brought disappointment to some at Rutgers – including faculty members with whom I met in recent days who expressed great enthusiasm for the many benefits that restructuring would bring. However, we at Rutgers remain committed to the spirit of collaboration. In fact, a number of promising new collaborations with UMDNJ and NJIT have already been proposed or are under way in Newark, Camden, and New Brunswick/Piscataway. Working together with our colleagues at UMDNJ and NJIT, we can still move forward on many goals of the governor’s vision, including breaking down administrative barriers to collaboration, increasing the state’s share of federal funding, and forging interdisciplinary links that enhance research and teaching. Pursuing these opportunities will help us build a research-based economy in New Jersey that is fueled by research excellence in higher education.

We can advance these goals in several ways, for example, by reaching out to UMDNJ and NJIT to build on the collaboration we have begun over the past year. Our commitment to the devolution of authority from Old Queen’s to the university’s campuses and departments – a value enunciated earlier this year – will also challenge everyone to make decisions and seize dynamic opportunities on their own initiative. Just as important, we will work to develop stronger ties between Rutgers and our partners in the private sector, whose future employees we educate and whom we support with our research.

In addition to fostering collaboration, the discussion of restructuring has served to highlight the vital role that Rutgers – and all of higher education – plays in the economic, civic, and community development of the State of New Jersey. This role must be recognized in the state budget process. Building on our discussions during the restructuring process, Rutgers will continue to work aggressively to advocate for the state funding that is so urgently needed and so clearly warranted. In the coming months you will be hearing more about our funding advocacy efforts, and you will once again be asked to help those efforts.

The restructuring plan was proposed, developed, and discussed over a period of many months, and this communication and the accompanying statement are insufficient to complete the discussion. Therefore, we will hold a series of follow-up meetings on all campuses to allow opportunities for discussion and comment. These conversations can help us to sustain the positive momentum for collaboration and excellence.

Once again, the Rutgers community has my heartfelt gratitude for the significant contributions so many of you have made to the restructuring discussions. With your help, we can make the most of what we have already gained by engaging so earnestly in this process.

Richard L. McCormick
President
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey