A TOP-SHELF LIBRARY

A TOP-SHELF LIBRARY: "The new $35 million College of New Jersey library, due to be dedicated today, reflects the changing nature of college libraries.

Taking a cue from the coffee shops and bookstores that attract students in droves, the new generation of campus libraries are designed to be more comfortable and inviting. Wireless Internet access, group-study rooms, multimedia equipment, natural light and a Starbucks are the latest library must-haves.

'A library is not just a warehouse for storing books. A library is a place you go to be in a library,' said Taras Pavlovsky, the College of New Jersey's library dean."

Seton Hall demotes administrator who criticized church

Seton Hall demotes administrator who criticized church: "
An associate dean of Seton Hall University's College of Arts and Sciences was demoted by the Catholic school's administration after he wrote a letter to The Star-Ledger critical of the Roman Catholic Church's stance against homosexuality.

The letter by W. King Mott, 44, a tenured associate professor of political science who has been an associate dean for three years, appeared in The Star-Ledger's Reader Forum on Oct. 19, and said the Catholic hierarchy wrongly attacks gay priests and unfairly blames them for the clergy sex scandal.

'The bottom line is, you're talking about a homophobic institution,' he said last night. 'The Roman Catholic Church is prima facie homophobic. The Roman Catholic Church considers me to be inherently disordered. I don't know how much more homophobic one can be.'"

TCNJ looks to next 150 years

TCNJ looks to next 150 years: "EWING - When Bob Schmidt graduated in 1955 from Trenton State Teachers' College, the one-building campus was readying itself for construction of a second facility - its first dormitory.

'They built that Centennial Hall as the first dormitory back then,' said Schmidt, a former educator who retired as assistant superintendent in Willingboro. 'In our senior year, that is when they started the building program - and they've never stopped.'

The small state institution has gone through quite a few changes in the 50 years since Schmidt graduated. Three new additions, including the $25 million library, are being dedicated this weekend alone."

Farish addresses rising tuition; Rowan's future

"Farish pointed out that Rowan has the second-highest tuition rate for public state universities and that New Jersey ranks 45th in higher-education investment.

'Tuition is so high because state funding is so low,' Farish said.

This evidence was presented by Farish when he testified before the state's Senate Education Committee earlier this year.

'Oddly, this testimony was not received well by the Senate committee,' Farish quipped.

Farish identified private giving as a key to slowing the rise in tuition."
www.thewhitonline.com

Mixed emotions after college head fired

"'I didn't even know who the president was,' said student Jonathan Bradley.

'It's not that I don't care, but I really don't know much about the president,' said freshman Blake Luley.

One of two students manning a table for the criminal justice club knew a president had been fired, but she was not sure what he was the president of."
http://www.nj.com/news/times/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1130400707273130.xml&coll=5

MCCC board fires Rose

The Mercer County Community College board of trustees voted 9-1 last night to fire embattled President Robert Rose.

Rose's attorney, Kevin Hart, promptly promised a lawsuit.

http://www.nj.com/news/times/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1130313942177290.xml&coll=5

New Jersey Tuition 49% above National Average

"In New Jersey, a higher cost of living only partially explains why public four-year tuition is nearly 49 percent above the national average. The state underwrites only about half the costs at its colleges, compared with closer to 65 percent in other states, experts say.

For fiscal year 2006, direct funding for the nine state colleges and universities went from $287.9 million to $288.8 million, an increase of 0.1 percent.

'We're not highly subsidized in New Jersey and that certainly is something we want policymakers to take a look at,' said Paul Shelly, spokesman for the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities. 'We've been trying to solve it with tuition and trying to address it with financial aid, but there's a compelling reason to try to keep college affordable for everyone rather than just subsidize it with aid for the needy.'"
NorthJersey.com

Monmouth leaked data on students

"Monmouth University accidentally posted the names and Social Security numbers of 677 students on the Internet for 4 1/2 months before a student discovered the error earlier this month, campus officials said yesterday.

The private university in West Long Branch sent letters to students yesterday advising them to check their credit reports for signs of fraud or identity theft. So far, no students have reported a problem."
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/

Kean prof receives a top award

Kean prof receives a top award: "Professor Mark Lender of Metuchen, chairman of the history department at Kean University, yesterday received the highest honor from the state Historical Commission, which announced its 2005 awards for contributions to understanding the history of New Jersey."

Official accuses Rose of bilking college

"Mercer County's inspector general yesterday accused the president of the county community college of holding parties at his home, friends' houses and the college conference center and improperly billing the college for them.

College President Robert Rose also allegedly paid for his legal bills without the approval of the college's trustee board, took home alcohol from college events, charged personal expenses to his college credit card (generally reimbursing them within a month), improperly charged college travel expenses to a college credit card and failed to keep proper records for business expenses.

College trustees received copies of the report Friday, but Rose's lawyers, Lewis Pepperman and Kevin Hart, said they only were given a copy of the report yesterday.

They expressed outrage about the report being released to the public and press before they and their client had a chance to respond to all the accusations and characterized the release of the report as absurd, inflammatory and irresponsible. "
http://www.nj.com/news/times/index.ssf?/base/news-0/112962302255690.xml&coll=5

NJ Colleges Focus on Conflict of Interest Questions

Conflict of Interest: "At public colleges and universities across the state, there's a renewed focus on the role of trustee boards, the unpaid panels that oversee the schools' administrations. 'In the private sector as well as the public, there is much more attention paid to transparency,' said Christopher Paladino, a trustee at UMDNJ.

Trustees at the state's public colleges and universities are appointed by the governor, often for the very connections that may pose the appearance of conflict later on. They are business leaders, lobbyists and political types. But at what point do connections become conflicts? Increasingly, trustee boards are grappling with the issue."

Candidates weigh in on future of Douglass

Candidates weigh in on future of Douglass: "Republican Doug Forrester called upon the state university to save Douglass College, the historic women's college slated to be downgraded to a residential campus under the proposal.

'I come down on the side of Douglass as a women's college,' Forrester said at a 'Women for Forrester' event in Newark.

Forrester, surrounded by female business leaders, his wife and daughter, said maintaining a women's college at Rutgers will help produce female leaders.

'The work that Douglass does is inextricably related to the opportunities that we have in New Jersey to encourage the full participation of women in business and government and all social institutions,' he said.

Democrat Jon Corzine's campaign released a similar statement praising Douglass. But Corzine's statement stopped short of urging Rutgers President Richard McCormick to keep Douglass a college.

'Jon Corzine has said consistently that he supports the principles of Richard McCormick's plan and he respects the autonomy of institutions of higher education and their ability to change with the times,' said a statement released by the Corzine campaign.

Instead, Corzine called on Rutgers to 'make it a priority to maintain the unique resources of Douglass College.'

Protest and Pushback on Campus

Last semester, the counterrecruiting protest movement was just getting warmed up. New York's City College; William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey; San Francisco State University; and the University of California-Santa Cruz all saw confrontations that resulted in varying degrees of police and/or administrative action against counterrecruitment protesters. Though it's still early in the 2005-06 school year, the counterrecruiting movement has picked up serious steam nationwide, and is being met with angry--sometimes violent--reactions.
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20051031/protest_and_pushback_on_campus

Helping colleges helps the state

George Pruitt of Thomas Edison State College and the NJ Presidents' Council has an opinion piece in the Philadelphia Inquirer. He says: "The demand for attending college is at an all-time high. As our campuses burst at the seams, an investment to expand capacity, make college affordable for more families, and better retain talented graduates is critical to helping the state compete globally in technology development and research - industries that bring jobs and prosperity." For more see http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/opinion/local1/12888825.htm

Hospital library welcomes anyone looking for answers | Asbury Park Press Online

APP.COM v4.0 - Hospital library welcomes anyone looking for answers | Asbury Park Press Online: "The Booker Health Sciences Library at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune offers current medical journals, books, audiovisual equipment, copy machines and computer access for public use at no charge.

Cathy Boss, library services coordinator, promoted the hospital's open-door policy during a recent monthly meeting of the Monmouth and Ocean County Brain Tumor Support Group Inc. at Wall Township Library.

Boss said reference librarians assist visitors in locating medical information ranging from drug reactions and clinical trials to alternative therapies.

'We don't discriminate between professionals and health consumers,' she said. 'And if you prefer, library staff will collect the information and mail or e-mail it to you free.

The Booker Health Sciences Library is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Hospital volunteers and medical professionals are granted access 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Boss said.

Contact the library at (732) 776-4265 or jsumclibrary@meridianhealth.com. A list of New Jersey hospital libraries open to the public is available at www.hslanj.org."

Trustees withhold report as requested

Trustees withhold report as requested: "Mercer County Community College students, faculty and staff members learned little new last night about an investigation into the spending practices of college President Robert Rose after attending a trustee board meeting where a report on the matter was expected to be made public.

Faculty members at the meeting accused the board, specifically board Chairman Anthony 'Skip' Cimino, of waging an ongoing investigation of Rose for political gain.

The president sat quietly with the other onlookers at the meeting during the public-comment portion before going into a private session to discuss the allegations against him."

Thousands of NJ college students register to vote for first time

Newsday.com: Thousands of NJ college students register to vote for first time: "The Trenton-based New Jersey Public Interest Research Group launched its young voter registration drive a few weeks ago and has signed up students at football games, tailgate parties, movie theaters, dormitories, bars and fraternity houses on campuses throughout the state.

The group's goal is to get young voters involved and capture the candidates' attention.

'Part of the problem is that politicians aren't speaking to the issues that they're concerned about,' said Kristin Dobbs, new voter project organizer for NJPIRG. She cited access to higher education, college costs and student loans as issues young people 'think about every day.'"

Edward J. Graham Appointed to NJ Commission on Higher Education

Edward J. Graham Appointed to NJ Commission on Higher Education: "Acting Governor Richard J. Codey has appointed Edward J. Graham, chairman, president and CEO of South Jersey Industries, to the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education. "

Richard Sweeney on Millennials

The Chronicle: 10/7/2005: The Net Generation Goes to College: "That is the message of Richard T. Sweeney, university librarian at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, who has been hitting the lecture circuit lately with his vision of how today's college students, sometimes called the 'Net Generation' or 'the Millennials,' will soon alter the way professors teach, the way classrooms are constructed, and the way colleges deliver degrees."

Higher Ed panel adds two from Glou. Co.

Higher Ed panel adds two from Glou. Co.: "Two Gloucester County residents with ties to Rowan University are the newest members of the state's Commission on Higher Education." "

Today's librarians challenging stereotypes

Newsday.com: Today's librarians challenging stereotypes: "'There's something inherently progressive in collecting and preserving information for people,' said John Buschman, department chair of the Rider University library in New Jersey."