Bill Text: NJ A4681 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Directs State Auditor to conduct performance review audits of public institutions of higher education.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-03-16 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee [A4681 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-A4681-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman VINCENT PRIETO
District 32 (Bergen and Hudson)
Assemblyman ANDREW ZWICKER
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
SYNOPSIS
Directs State Auditor to conduct performance review audits of public institutions of higher education.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act directing the State Auditor to conduct performance review audits of the public institutions of higher education.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The State Auditor is directed to conduct a performance review audit of each public institution of higher education. For each institution, the performance review audit shall include, but need not be limited to:
(1) an analysis of the prevalence, cost, and quality of on-line courses offered by the institution;
(2) a review of the remedial courses offered by the institution and the effectiveness of those courses in preparing students for credit-bearing courses;
(3) a review of the fees charged by the institution, the appropriate level of those fees, and whether fees are being used by the institution as a mechanism to artificially deflate required tuition costs;
(4) an analysis of the market value of the degrees offered by the institution compared to the costs associated with earning that degree; and
(5) a review of the four-year and six-year graduation rates in the case of students enrolled in a four-year baccalaureate degree program, and of the two-year and three-year graduation rates for students enrolled in a two-year associates degree program, to determine the extent and causes of low graduation rates at the institution.
b. The institutions of higher education to receive a performance review audit shall be Rutgers, the State University; Rowan University; the New Jersey Institute of Technology; the State colleges and universities established pursuant to chapter 64 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes; and the county colleges.
2. Within one year of the effective date of this act, the State Auditor shall submit a report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), on the results of the performance review audits conducted pursuant to section 1 of this act.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill directs the State Auditor to conduct a performance review audit of New Jersey public institutions of higher education. The audits will include, but need not be limited to:
· an analysis of the prevalence, cost, and quality of on-line courses offered by the institution;
· a review of the remedial courses offered by the institution and the effectiveness of those courses in preparing students for credit-bearing courses;
· a review of the fees charged by the institution, the appropriate level of those fees, and whether fees are being used by the institution as a mechanism to artificially deflate required tuition costs;
· an analysis of the market value of degrees offered by the institution compared to the cost associated with earning that degree; and
· a review of four-year and six-year graduation rates for students enrolled in a four-year baccalaureate degree program, and a review of two-year and three-year graduation rates for students enrolled in a two-year associates degree program, to determine the extent and causes of low graduation rates at the institution.
The bill requires that the State Auditor prepare and submit a report of the findings of the audits to the Governor and the Legislature within one year of the bill's effective date.
