Bill Text: NJ A1637 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes Council of Women in Higher Education in Department of State to study and promote women's issues within institutions of higher education.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee [A1637 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-A1637-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman PAMELA R. LAMPITT
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes Council of Women in Higher Education in Department of State to study and promote women's issues within institutions of higher education.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act establishing the Council of Women in Higher Education and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There is established in the Department of State the "Council of Women in Higher Education." The council shall consist of 39 members as follows: two women from each four-year public institution of higher education selected by the institution's governing board; one woman from each independent institution of higher education selected by the institution's governing board; and two women representing the county college sector selected by the New Jersey Council of County Colleges.
b. Members of the council shall serve for a term of two years, except that in making the initial appointments, the governing board of a four-year public institution of higher education shall appoint one member for a one-year term and one member for a two-year term, and the New Jersey Council of County Colleges shall appoint one member for a one-year term and one member for a two-year term. Members shall serve until their respective successors are appointed and qualified. A vacancy in the membership of the council shall be filled for the balance of the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment was made. Members of the council shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties pursuant to this act within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the council for its duties.
2. a. The council shall organize as soon as possible after the appointment of its members and shall select annually a chair and a vice-chair from among its members.
b. The council shall appoint an executive director, who shall serve at its pleasure and who shall be in the unclassified service of the Civil Service. The executive director shall serve as secretary to the council. To the extent that assistance is not available under subsection c. of this section, the council may appoint other employees as may be necessary.
c. The council may call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of such employees of the State as it may require and as may be available to it for that purpose.
3. The council shall foster and promote the advancement of women and women's issues within institutions of higher education in the State by:
a. reviewing and making recommendations to the Secretary of Higher Education, the New Jersey Presidents' Council, and the governing boards of institutions of higher education on existing programs focused on women's issues, or on proposals for new programs;
b. compiling statistics on the number of women employed at institutions of higher education and the number of courses and programs on women's issues offered at institutions of higher education;
c. advancing higher education opportunities for women, setting goals, and studying and making recommendations on deficiencies in the advancement of women and the availability of women's programs at institutions of higher education;
d. meeting with local and State leaders to further the participation of women in local and State government;
e. creating outreach programs for elementary and high school students to foster their involvement in the study, promotion, and advancement of women's issues; and
f. participating in such other initiatives as the council deems advisable.
4. The council shall publish an annual report, which shall include, but not be limited to:
a. a statement of the council's long-term goals and objectives related to the advancement of women and women's issues within institutions of higher education in the State; and
b. the council's accomplishments, initiatives, and areas of study during the reporting period.
5. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes the "Council of Women in Higher Education." The council will be located in the Department of State and will consist of 39 members as follows: two women from each four-year public institution of higher education selected by the institution's governing board; one woman from each independent institution of higher education selected by the institution's governing board; and two women representing the county college sector selected by the New Jersey Council of County Colleges.
It will be the mission of the council to foster and promote the advancement of women and women's issues within institutions of higher education throughout New Jersey.
To accomplish this mission, the council will: review and make recommendations to the Secretary of Higher Education, the New Jersey Presidents' Council, and the governing boards of institutions of higher education on existing programs focused on women's issues, or on proposals for new programs; compile statistics on the number of women employed at institutions of higher education and the number of courses and programs on women's issues offered at institutions of higher education; advance higher education opportunities for women, set goals, and study and make recommendations on deficiencies in the advancement of women and the availability of women's programs at institutions of higher education; meet with local and State leaders to further the participation of women in local and State government; create outreach programs for elementary and high school students to foster their involvement in the study, promotion, and advancement of women's issues; and participate in such other initiatives as the council deems advisable.
Under the bill, the council will publish an annual report which will include a statement of the council's long-term goals and objectives related to the advancement of women and women's issues within institutions of higher education in the State; and the council's accomplishments, initiatives, and areas of study during the reporting period.
