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It looks like Rutgers was blindsided. This has been in the works for years & is unplanned & half-baked. It's a house of cards.
The later report, issued in December 2010 by the Governor's Task Force on Higher Education, stated, "Rutgers-Camden must receive appropriate support to contribute to Rutgers' statewide mission." Chaired by former Gov. Thomas H. Kean, the task force also stated that the campus should collaborate with other colleges and universities and "expand its research and instructional missions." Neatly tucked away on page 134, however, the Kean report discussed the "University of South Jersey" as a merger of Rutgers-Camden, Rowan, and possibly UMDNJ's School of Osteopathic Medicine
The UMDNJ committee noted "the considerable complexity" of the merger, particularly given that Rowan is at the same time opening a new medical school -- construction of the building is underway and the first classes are slated to begin in September. The committee wrote that the plan is doable with public support and needed resources. Nevertheless, the report neither outlines the steps needed to carry out the merger nor does it estimate the possible costs. "It doesn't seem plausible to me that you could create a higher research institute without a public investment of money, unless there is some other source of money," Goodman said. She added that the cost to keep the accreditation of the Camden law school alone will be significant. Anne Nicholas, a spokeswoman for the American Bar Association, said the merger would require the ABA to "accredit the school under the new conditions." Joe Cardona, a Rowan spokesman, said the reaccreditation would not be difficult, provided the law school still has the same programs and faculty in place.
The committee admitted its choice of Rowan as the lead university is "unconventional" but it gave no explanation for why it chose Rowan over Rutgers, other than Rowan's relationship with Cooper Hospital. Cardona said the university is well-suited to take the lead. It includes a nationally ranked engineering school, and the $100 million gift from Henrys and Betty Rowan 20 years ago, which led the school to change its name from Glassboro State, has "completely transformed" the school. "We see this opportunity as a great collaboration to really create a research university that can really help the region," Cardona said, adding that South Jersey's eight counties have 30 percent of the state's residents, but only 12.5 percent of New Jersey's baccalaureate seats. In U.S. News and World Report's most recent college ranking, Rowan placed 21st out of 136 ranked schools in regional universities in the North. Rutgers-Camden was ranked 34th on the same list. The Rutgers-Camden and Rutgers-Newark law schools both ranked 84th among the nation's top-tier law schools, according to the Top Law Schools 2011 ranking of more than 100 programs. Still, the speculation is that George Norcross influenced the decision to make Rowan the lead university in South Jersey. Norcross is chairman of Cooper Health System and Cooper University Hospital and was instrumental in getting the medical school at Rowan.
The committee admitted its choice of Rowan as the lead university is "unconventional" but it gave no explanation for why it chose Rowan over Rutgers, other than Rowan's relationship with Cooper Hospital.
Still, the speculation is that George Norcross influenced the decision to make Rowan the lead university in South Jersey. Norcross is chairman of Cooper Health System and Cooper University Hospital and was instrumental in getting the medical school at Rowan.
Well duh, that's what we've been saying in this thread, lol.
FWIW, Glassboro State changed its name to Rowan in 1992 according to the schools webpage and wiki site.
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Originally Posted by NJGOAT
Well duh, that's what we've been saying in this thread, lol.
FWIW, Glassboro State changed its name to Rowan in 1992 according to the schools webpage and wiki site.
I posted that because it did match what most people were saying. The rest shows the lack of planning, considering that, according to the article, this started at least as far back as Corzine, which could help to explain the Norcross connection, although, Sweeney is probably involved, too.
NJ passed some weird law to change everything to University status back in 1998.
I still think that this is a great idea. It gives Rowan the ability to compete with Rutgers New Brunswick/Newark and offers a unique brand. To those who think that Rutgers North and Rutgers south are the same are wrong. The Newark law school is ranked more highly than Camden. Rutgers Camden has always been Rutgers's third arm, and Rowan has had a unique opportunity with the $100MM Rowan grant. Rowan fast-tracked a very successful engineering program in short order, so they've been able to adapt in the past. Also, I think it would offer a unique opportunity to focus on undergraduate programs in Glassboro and Med School/graduate programs in Camden City. An NJT extension connecting Glassboro and Camden would be a great thing for the area as a whole too.
Of course Rutgers Camden is opposed - they don't want to lose control!
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