S 2793

Requires public institutions of higher education to take various actions to improve campus diversity and directs Secretary of Higher Education to develop guidance regarding diversity in faculty search and selection process

S 2793 (Ruiz, Pou) NJEA believes that our institutions of higher education should promote, achieve and maintain diversity in all categories of educational employment and student enrollment. Diversity of staff and students in our public education systems helps to address the needs of a diverse society and demonstrates equal opportunity for all. S2793 would require public institutions of higher education to take the following actions: develop a faculty and student diversity plan; report on student diversity annually; provide annual diversity training for faculty search committees; and appointing faculty diversity ambassadors.  Through this legislation, New Jersey is taking an important step to ensure that both faculty and students at our institutions of higher education represent the diversity of our state. However, we request that college faculty and staff have a voice in the selection process for diversity ambassadors at their respective institutions.

NJEA supports S2793 and looks forward to working with the legislature and our county colleges on this important issue.