Bill Text: NJ S3660 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes task force to examine practice of four-year public institutions of higher education providing admission preference to family members of alumni.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-05-13 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Higher Education Committee [S3660 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-S3660-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JOSEPH P. CRYAN
District 20 (Union)
Senator SANDRA B. CUNNINGHAM
District 31 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes task force to examine practice of four-year public institutions of higher education providing admission preference to family members of alumni.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing a Task Force on Legacy Student Preference in College Admissions.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There is established the Task Force on Legacy Student Preference in College Admissions. The purpose of the task force is to examine issues related to the practice of four-year public institutions of higher education providing admission preference to family members of alumni of the institution, and to develop recommendations to help ensure that students have equitable access to admission to four-year public institutions of higher education.
b. The task force shall consist of 13 members as follows:
(1) the Secretary of Higher Education, ex officio, or a designee;
(2) one public member appointed by the President of the Senate and one public member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, both of whom shall have demonstrated expertise in issues related to the work of the task force;
(3) one public member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and one public member appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly, both of whom shall have demonstrated expertise in issues relating to the work of the task force; and
(4) eight members appointed by the Governor, including: the president of a public research university, or a designee; the president of a State college or university established pursuant to chapter 64 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, or a designee; a representative of the American Association of University Professors; a representative of the Council of New Jersey State College Locals AFT/AFL-CIO; a representative of an alumni association of a four-year public institution of higher education; an admissions officer at a four-year public institution of higher education; a student currently enrolled in a four-year public institution of higher education; and a graduate of a four-year public institution of higher education.
2. Appointments to the task force shall be made within 30 days of the effective date of this act. Vacancies in the membership of the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made. Members of the task force shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenditures incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the task force within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the task force for its purposes.
3. The task force shall organize not later than 30 days following the appointment of its members. The task force shall choose a chairperson from among its members and shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the task force.
4. The Office of the Secretary of Higher Education shall provide such stenographic, clerical, and other administrative assistants, and such professional staff as the task force requires to carry out its work. The task force also shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as it may require and as may be available for its purposes.
5. It shall be the duty of the task force to examine issues related to the practice of four-year public institutions of higher education providing admission preference to family members of alumni of the institution. The task force shall study and consider issues including, but not limited to, the following:
a. the current policy of each four-year public institution of higher education in regard to the admission of family members of alumni of the institution, including whether the institution provides an admission preference;
b. an evaluation of the fairness and equity of an institution's policy on providing preference for admission to family members of alumni and whether the preference is provided to the families of all alumni or only certain alumni;
c. an evaluation of the impact of the alumni family member preference policy on the admission of other students, particularly students who may be more academically qualified; and
d. an examination of whether four-year public institutions of higher education in other states have implemented alumni family member preference policies and the nature and effect of those policies.
6. a. The task force shall issue a final report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), no later than one year after the task force organizes.
b. The task force shall expire 30 days after the issuance of its final report.
7. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes the Task Force on Legacy Student Preference in College Admissions. Under the bill, the task force will consist of 13 members including: the Secretary of Higher Education; one public member appointed by the President of the Senate and one public member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; one public member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and one public member appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly; and eight members appointed by the Governor, including: the president of a public research university; the president of a State college or university; a representative of the American Association of University Professors; a representative of the Council of State College Locals AFT/AFL-CIO; a representative of an alumni association of a four-year public institution of higher education; an admissions officer at a four-year public institution of higher education; a student currently enrolled in a four-year public institution of higher education; and a graduate of a four-year public institution of higher education.
The task force will study issues including, but not limited to:
· the current policy of each four-year public institution of higher education in regard to the admission of family members of alumni of the institution, including whether the institution provides an admission preference;
· an evaluation of the fairness and equity of an institution's policy on providing preference for admission to family members of alumni and whether the preference is provided to the families of all alumni or only certain alumni;
· an evaluation of the impact of the alumni family member preference policy on the admission of other students, particularly students who may be more academically qualified; and
· an examination of whether four-year public institutions of higher education in other states have implemented alumni family member preference policies and the nature and effect of those policies.
The bill directs the task force to issue a final report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature no later than one year after its organizational meeting. The task force will expire 30 days after the submission of its final report.
