The proposal to force a divorce between Rutgers-Camden and the rest of the statewide university is predicated in part on a "profoundly inaccurate" perception of the campus as a stepchild.
Rutgers-Camden is not a minor-league version of the "real" Rutgers in New Brunswick, but instead shares equally in the human capital, library databases, and other resources of a "seamless" system, says Andrew Shankman, associate professor of history.
He notes the system already has research university status -- a goal cited by South Jersey political leaders pushing the proposed absorption of Rutgers-Camden by Rowan University.
"People need to start understanding Rutgers as Rutgers understands itself," Shankman says.
As for historical funding disparities – Rutgers-Camden annually generates about $65 million in tuition and receives $57 million in operating money from New Brunswick – "it seems to me the numbers aren't so widely far apart," he continues.
"It's much easier to improve higher education in this part of the state, and much easier to have more resources, which everyone agrees we all need, if we build upon the Rutgers presence, and make sure more people an Southern New Jersey have access to it."