The “New Jersey Medical and Health Sciences Education Restructuring Act”
June 29, 2012
Assembly, No. 3102
Summary Highlights pertaining to the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey

University of Medicine and of New Jersey/Rutgers Newark-School of Biomedical and Health Sciences

• Transfers the schools, institutes, centers, and facilities of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), excluding The University Hospital and the School of Osteopathic Medicine, to Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (Rutgers). 
• Creates the School of Biomedical and Health Sciences within Rutgers University.  It shall include: the UMDNJ schools and clinical units transferred to Rutgers, the Rutgers School of Nursing, the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, and the Institute of Health, Health Policy and Aging Research.
• Creates the positions of a Chancellor of the School of Biomedical and Health Sciences and a Chancellor for Rutgers-Newark, both of whom shall report directly to the President of Rutgers and be based in Newark. Creates the positions of provost for both Rutgers-New Brunswick and Rutgers- Newark campuses of the School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, both of whom shall report directly to the Chancellor of the School of Biomedical and Health Sciences.
• Establishes a Rutgers University-Newark Campus Advisory Board which shall have the authority to advise the Rutgers President on the selection of the Rutgers-Newark Chancellor, propose capital projects and advise the Board of Governors on the annual budget of Rutgers-Newark. 
• Provides for the direct appropriation of State support to Rutgers-Newark.
• Provides that the School of Biomedical and Health Sciences shall be supported through a separate line item in the annual appropriations act.
• Provides that the transfer of UMDNJ schools to Rutgers University, other than the School of Osteopathic Medicine and the entire Stratford campus, shall require accreditation approval by the appropriate accrediting bodies prior to the transfer.
• Provides certain protections for UMDNJ employees relative to the enactment of this legislation
• Creates a Labor Management Committee for review of, and advice on, the restructuring and reorganization plans regarding personnel and labor matters.
• Maintains the missions of UMDNJ.
• Establishes The Cancer Institute of New Jersey as an independent institute at Rutgers University.
• Amends current statutes throughout the bill to replace references to UMDNJ in current law with Rutgers University.

The University Hospital

• Establishes University Hospital as a body corporate and politic, a separate non-profit legal entity.
• Creates a Community Oversight Board and expands the Board of Directors for University Hospital.
• Designates University Hospital as the principal teaching hospital for New Jersey Medical School, New Jersey Dental School and all of the Newark-based UMDNJ/Rutgers health professions schools.
• Establishes provisions for University Hospital to enter into a management contract with a nonprofit corporation operating one or more hospitals in New Jersey through a competitive contracting method.
• Provides certain protections for University Hospital employees relative to the enactment of this legislation.
• Provides that the State shall assist with debt refinancing and provide sufficient funding to maintain the current level of community services and maintain University Hospital as an acute care hospital and trauma center.
• Maintains the mission of University Hospital.

The School of Osteopathic Medicine

• Transfers the School of Osteopathic Medicine (SOM), including auxiliary and supporting institutions and the entire campus located in Stratford, to Rowan University.
• Provides for continued use of the SOM campus by other UMDNJ schools until agreements are reached between Rutgers and Rowan Universities regarding the shared space arrangements.
• Maintains principal clinical affiliation arrangements and allows for other affiliations as necessary
• Maintains current faculty practice plan.
• Directs Rowan University to ensure SOM maintains proper accreditation.
• Provides certain protections for SOM employees relative to the enactment of this legislation.

Effective Date of Legislation

• Most provisions of the act shall take effect on July 1, 2013, and apply to the 2013-2014 academic year.   Anticipatory administrative action may be taken in advance of the operative date as shall be necessary for the implementation of the legislation.