Two months before Gov. Christie stunned South Jersey by proposing the merger of Rutgers-Camden and Rowan universities, Rowan’s top official described some of its key aspects to student leaders.
Interim President Ali A. Houshmand told the Student Government Association that the “Rowan University name will remain the same” and “Glassboro…will become the main campus,” according to minutes of a November 21, 2011 meeting posted on Rowan’s website.
But it wasn't until December 1 that Rutgers-Camden Chancellor Wendell Pritchett appeared before the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Advisory Committee, also known as the Barer Committee. It recommended the merger as part of a statewide higher education reorganization plan, dated January 25, 2012 -- the day of Christie's announcement.
Says one Rutgers-Camden professor, "how is that Houshmand was apparently consulted or briefed on the Commission's ultimate conclusions, but much of Rutgers-Camden leadership was not? And, how did the commission know it would reach this conclusion?"
Rowan spokesman Joe Cardona says conversations about a potential merger were under way for months prior to actual testimony before the committee.
He also notes that the Rowan name has long been of particular concern: Two decades ago, an unprecedented $100 million gift from industrialist Henry Rowan enabled what was then Glassboro State College to transform itself into a rising university with a respected engineering school.
"What Dr. Houshmand said to the Student Government had to do with how we saw it happening as (the proposal) developed," Cardona says.
Comment removed.- "win-win". Is that your speech tic? You seem to be posting it on every article about this story.
— Jen D - Oh, it's a "win-win" for Ali Houshmand and Cooper's George Norcross. They're basically being awarded a hostile takeover of a much more prestigious and renowned institution. It'd be like if Chris Christie decreed that "all McDonald's hamburger restaurants in the state of New Jersey are going to merge with Wendy's hamburger restaurants, and then be switched over to the Wendy's name." It doesn’t make much sense in terms of business and/or marketing, but you better believe that Dave Thomas’ heirs are going to be elated about it.
And how exactly does the merger “cut unnecessary overhead and bureaucracy?” Rutgers-Camden is already a satellite campus of a larger university. After the proposed merger, Rutgers-Camden is still a satellite campus of a larger university, only a university with much less national/international prestige and resources than Rutgers.
— Tom P. - Another example of the "backroom nature" of this whole deal, Rutgers Camden was barely consulted about a complete change in the university, something about this doesn't seem right.— RUlaw
- Something sounds very fishy, back-room and done-deal about this. Take it to the voters, Gov. Just like you want to take other issues to the voters. Are you afraid of what might happen?— Jen D
- Fishy? Smells like Norcross, smells like the stink of back room dealing, smells like an Interim who wants a job, smells like a deal called "done" before it was even announced, smells like South New Jersey having their right to a world renowned university being stolen from them, smells like a financial troubled little teaching school trying to steal peoples tuition and tax payer dollars to bail themselves out, smells like millions and millions of tax dollars being thrown down the drain, smells like a governor who doesn't know what he's talking about...— Patrick Cox
- I don't understand how Rowan, which is in deep, deep, debt as a result of campus expansion and has a weak credit rating, below that of Rutgers, can expand by incorporation of Rutgers-Camden and do all the hiring necessary to become a research university. The financially responsible thing to do for taxpayers would be to invest money in the expansion of Rutgers-Camden, where money can be used to develop new programs, not pay off old debt. Let Rowan pay off its debts before expecting it to take on additional responsibilities.— davidvost
- It doesn't cut anything. The new Rowan woudl ahve to spend tens of millions on the transition. They woudl need to hire many, many new faculty becuase right nwo Rowan faculty have a higher teachign oad that Rutgers=Camden faculty, due to their different missions, i.e., teching vs. research. Where is the money going to come from simply to hire enough faculty to bring the teaching load to that of a standard research institution? You will not get top-notch faculty applying; you will not get grant money. It will be a realy big mess for decades to come.— Dan Cook
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