I respectfully seize this opportunity to offer my observations about New Jersey higher education and its future. My arrival in New Jersey five years after the restructuring of higher education was a propitious moment to step in as executive director of the Commission. New Jersey has a clearly conceived vision for higher education and a strategic plan to accomplish it. I come to the state with my own experiences, strengths, and perspectives, and I aim to provide capable leadership that will help this state achieve its goals for higher education. For me, students are the heart of the higher education enterprise and decisions at all levels of the system should consider their needs.
Higher education has many goals and missions, all of which are important.
But, I strongly believe that colleges and universities have a primary responsibility to prepare individuals for fulfilling careers, moral citizenship, and lifelong learning experiences. Certainly, addressing student needs is nothing novel for the Garden State. The range and quality of academic programs and student services offered by New Jersey colleges and universities are impressive. And both institutions and policy makers demonstrate a continuous commitment to improvements that benefit students. Since restructuring, the state has also heightened its focus on higher education accountability, establishing a framework of institutional and systemwide reports as well as a performance funding initiative that provides valuable information and spurs improved efficiency.