In response to the board of governors’ recent approval of a plan to seek combined accreditation for New Jersey Medical School and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, the Rutgers University Senate passed a resolution late last week calling for a pause until more is studied about the move’s potential impacts.

As NJBIZ reported earlier this month, the planned merger would combine the two medical schools under one umbrella as the Rutgers School of Medicine. University officials say that the plan, which has been controversial, will let the existing, co-equal medical schools strategically integrate some operations while maintaining independence at both Newark and New Brunswick campuses.

“This integration will empower Rutgers to navigate the dynamic landscape of health care, meeting the ever-evolving and complex needs of the future while flourishing amidst a competitive market,” said Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences Chancellor Brian Strom earlier this month when the plan was approved. The leader has spearheaded the effort since 2019. “We will amplify Rutgers’ position as a trailblazer in 21st-century medical education and solidify our role as a leader in advancing the frontiers of health care.”

But critics – including medical staff, Newark lawmakers and officials, as well as the school Senate, which represents faculty, students, staff and alumni – have a range of concerns, such as what the merger would mean for the independence of the schools, how resources would be allocated and more.

The Senate resolution declares it has lost confidence in the leadership of President Jonathan Holloway to represent the values of shared governance and called for two actions:

“An announcement from President Holloway stating that the medical school merger shall be paused until such time that the University Senate has had the opportunity to review Chancellor Strom’s full proposal and issue a decision regarding whether it should proceed,” the resolution stated; and, “A public re-commitment by President Holloway to the principles and values of shared governance by upholding 50.2.2 (a policy that states among other powers given to it, the Rutgers University shall ‘regulate formal relationships among academic units within the University’).”

According to the resolution, the plan advanced without any approval from the Senate, which had issued a report calling for the vote to be postponed while more information and community input was gathered.

“The Rutgers University Senate issued a report on charge S-2303 Review Proposal for Merger of the Medical Schools on April 28, 2023, concerning this merger and the Senate did not receive a response from the president prior to the meeting on July 10 (as required by the 50.2.2 policy),” the resolution stated. “President Holloway took no public action to prevent or postpone the Board of Governors vote on the medical school merger.”

In a statement to NJBIZ, a Rutgers University’s spokesperson said that the school understands that the resolution adopted by the University Senate Executive Committee has caused some confusion.

“The resolution calls on the president to pause the administrative merger of the university’s two medical schools and to reaffirm his commitment to shared governance,” the school said in a statement. “The Rutgers Board of Governors unanimously approved the administrative merger of the two medical schools provided that certain provisions are met including that the two schools maintain their presence in their respective cities (Newark and New Brunswick) and that the university’s commitment to the City of Newark is undiminished by this entirely organizational and administrative restructuring.”

The statement stresses that throughout his tenure at Rutgers, Holloway has respected the advisory role of the Senate.

“And will consider this resolution with the seriousness that he has considered all resolutions of the Senate as it fulfills its role in shared governance with an advisory voice on important matters,” the statement closed.

Top schools

In May, U.S. News & World Report named both New Jersey Medical School and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School among the best medical schools in the nation. See the list of New Jersey institutions below (which also includes best law schools), and click here to read the full story.