New Jersey § 18a:3b-14

§ 18a:3b-14.

The Secretary of Higher Education shall be responsible for: a. Statewide planning for higher education including research on higher education

issues and the development of a comprehensive master plan, including, but not limited

to, the establishment of new institutions, closure of existing institutions, and consolidation

of institutions, which plan shall be long-range in nature. Within 180 days of the effective date of P.L.2015, c. 91 and, at a minimum, every seven years thereafter, the secretary shall adopt a new

comprehensive master plan. The council may request the secretary to conduct a study of a particular issue. The secretary may require from institutions of higher education such reports or

other information as may be necessary to enable the secretary to perform his duties; b. advocacy on behalf of higher education including informing the public of the needs

and accomplishments of higher education in New Jersey; c. making recommendations to the Governor and Legislature on higher education initiatives

and incentive programs of Statewide significance; d. final administrative decisions over institutional licensure and university status

giving due consideration to the accreditation status of the institution. The secretary shall furnish the Presidents' Council with any pertinent information

compiled on behalf of the subject institution and the council shall then make recommendations

to the secretary concerning the licensure of the institution or university status

within sixty days of receipt of the information; e. adopting a code of ethics applicable to institutions of higher education; f. final administrative decisions over new academic programs that go beyond the programmatic

mission of the institution and final administrative decisions over a change in the

programmatic mission of an institution. In addition, within 60 days of referral of a proposed new program by the council, the secretary may deny approval of programs proposed by institutions of higher education which do not exceed the programmatic mission of the institution, but which may be of insufficient academic quality, may lack sufficient evidence of labor market

demand, may be duplicative of comparable programs of study, or may be unduly expensive

to the State as determined by the New Jersey Presidents' Council according to the review standards set by the secretary ; g. reviewing requests for State support from the institutions in relation to the mission

of the institution and Statewide goals and proposing a coordinated budget policy statement

to the Governor and Legislature; h. communicating with the State Board of Education and Commissioner of Education to

advance public education at all levels including articulation between the public schools

and higher education community; i. applying for and accepting grants from the federal government, or any agency thereof,

or grants, gifts or other contributions from any foundation, corporation, association

or individual, and complying with the terms, conditions and limitations thereof, for

the purpose of advancing higher education. Any money so received may be expended by the secretary upon warrant of the director

of the Office of Management and Budget in the Department of the Treasury on vouchers

certified by the secretary; j. acting as the lead agent of communication with the federal government concerning

higher education issues, except that the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority

shall act, in cooperation with the secretary, as the lead agency on issues of student

assistance; k. exercising all of the powers and duties previously exercised by the Board of Higher

Education, the Department of Higher Education, and the Chancellor of Higher Education,

under the “New Jersey Higher Education Building Construction Bond Act of 1971,” P.L.1971,

c. 164, the “New Jersey Medical Education Facilities Bond Act of 1977,” P.L.1977,

c. 235, the “Jobs, Science and Technology Bond Act of 1984,” P.L.1984, c. 99, the

“Jobs, Education and Competitiveness Bond Act of 1988,” P.L.1988, c. 78, the “Higher Education Equipment Leasing Fund Act,” P.L.1993, c. 136, and the “Higher Education Facilities Trust Fund Act,” P.L.1993, c. 375 ; l . exercising any other power or responsibility necessary in order to carry out the

provisions of this act; m. consulting with the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority on student assistance

matters; n. advising and making recommendations for consideration to the Governor and the governing

board of a public research university or a State college for members of that governing

board appointed by the Governor; and o . examining and recommending to institutions of higher education opportunities for

joint purchasing and other joint arrangements that would be advantageous to the institutions.