Council Committees

The New Jersey Council of County Colleges has six standing committees that lead, guide, and support the important work of the Council. The committees ensure greater involvement of trustees and presidents in the work of the Council, and ensure that all efforts of the Council are aligned with the collective priorities of the 18 community colleges.

Each of the six committees meet virtually throughout the year to establish and then implement priorities for the coming year. Sub-committees will be appointed as needed to perform specific tasks.

Each committee is chaired by a Trustee and a President. Each of the seven members of the Council's Executive Committee, made up of four trustees and three presidents, serve as co-chairs of the Committees, to facilitate reporting and alignment. Each Committee provides updates on their work at quarterly Council meetings. Council staff members support the work of each committee.

The Council's six committees are as follows:

State and Federal Policy
Collaboration/Operations
Learning Innovations
Economic Mobility
Workforce Alignment
Racial and Social Justice

State and Federal Policy Committee

Co-Chairs: Mary Zimmermann, Trustee, Union College and Barbara Gaba, President, Atlantic Cape Community College

Vice-Chairs: Barbara Horl, Trustee, Brookdale Community College, and Christopher Reber, President, Hudson County

Community College

Members: Jon Larson, President, Ocean County College, Arnold Lewis, Trustee, Essex County College, Pamela Gardner,

Trustee, Hudson County Community College, Paul Licitra, Trustee, County College of Morris, and Dennis Marco, Trustee, Passaic

County Community College

The State and Federal Policy Committee will:

Keep the Council informed of all legislative matters impacting community colleges.
Propose legislation and changes to state policy (through an annual state and federal policy agenda) that will enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of community colleges.
Review legislation affecting community colleges and recommend, as appropriate, a Council position of support, support with amendments, oppose, or monitor.

The Committee’s priorities include:

To broaden and expand the Community College Opportunity Grant (CCOG) program.
To advocate for the approval of applied baccalaureate degrees in response to local workforce needs.
To develop a policy agenda.
To expand the engagement of trustees.
To expand engagement with students and alumni.

2. Collaboration/Operations Committee

Co-Chairs: Dorothy Hall, Trustee, Salem Community College and Steven Rose, President, Passaic County Community College

Vice-Chairs: Frederick Keating, President, Rowan College of South Jersey

Members: Augustine Boakye, President, Essex County College, Michael McDonough, President, Raritan Valley Community College, and William Austin, President, Warren County Community College.

The Collaboration/Operations Committee will:

Review finance policy issues affecting community colleges.
Develop and recommend for adoption an annual budget request for State aid to community colleges.
Develop and recommend for adoption a formula for the allocation among the community colleges of annual appropriations made by the State to support community colleges.
Develop and recommend for adoption auditing and accounting standards and academic criteria for determining state support eligibility of courses offered by community colleges.
Review facilities policy issues affecting community colleges.
Develop allocations among community colleges of capital funding provided by the State to support community colleges.

The Committee’s priorities include:

To recommend new models and opportunities for collaboration.

3. Learning Innovations Committee

Co-Chairs: Jessica Stewart, Trustee, Camden County College and Jon Connolly, President Sussex County Community College

Vice-Chairs: Margaret McMenamin, President, Union College

Members: Deborah Preston, President, Mercer County Community College and Mark McCormick, President, Middlesex College

The Learning Innovations Committee will:

Review and advance academic policy issues affecting community colleges.
Serve as the forum for the sharing of information about new program proposals among the 18 community colleges as community colleges propose new associate degree and certificate programs and seek collegial advice from other community colleges.

The Committee’s priorities include:

To expand dual enrollment pathways with high schools.
To review academic issues impacting colleges and develop recommendations for strategy and process, including:
- The annual and periodic review of credit courses for use in implementing the state funding formula for community colleges,
- The bi-annual review of credit courses for General Education designation, and
- The annual review of degree programs for eligibility for Perkins funding.
To reimagine a transfer culture.

4. Economic Mobility Committee

Co-Chairs: Michael Gorman, President, Salem Community College

Vice-Chairs: David Stout, President, Brookdale Community College

Members: Lovell Pugh-Bassett, President, Camden County College

The Economic Mobility Committee will:

Serve as the primary advisory body to and champion of the New Jersey Center for Student Success.
Oversee the development of the strategic plan for the New Jersey Center for Student Success, focusing on strengthening and broadening student success efforts to improve economic mobility for current and potential students.
Review economic mobility and student success strategies and recommend best practices for consideration.
Through the New Jersey Center for Student Success, facilitate the sharing of economic mobility and student success solutions among the 18 community colleges.
Promote the development of strategic grant proposals to potential and current partners of the New Jersey Center for Student Success.

The Committee’s priorities include:

To expand services to adult learners, including working adults and individuals receiving public assistance.
To facilitate social service supports for students.
To strengthen student supports (advising, program maps, etc.)
To develop an Economic Mobility Coalition / Alliance.

5. Workforce Alignment Committee

Co-Chairs: Christine Buteas, Trustee, Middlesex College and Anthony Iacono, President, County College of Morris

Vice-Chairs: Mary Zimmermann, Trustee, Union College and Eric Friedman, Bergen Community College

Members: Michael Cioce, President, Rowan College at Burlington County

The Workforce Alignment Committee will:

Serve as the primary advisory body to the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development.
Oversee the development of the plan for expanding community college-led industry partnerships and career pathways.
Expand partnerships with statewide industry associations, state government and other stakeholders to advance workforce alignment efforts.
Review workforce-related policy issues affecting community colleges.
Coordinate the sharing of workforce alignment best practices among the 18 community colleges.

The Committee’s priorities include:

To develop partnerships with employers to support current employees.
To integrate credit and noncredit programs and to increase the awarding of industry-valued credentials.
To develop industry-focused collaboratives with high schools, four-year colleges, and employers.
To expand work-based learning initiatives.
To develop a Workforce Alignment Coalition / Alliance.

6. Racial and Social Justice

Co-Chairs: Sheetal Ranjan, Trustee, Bergen Community College

Vice-Chairs: Arnold Lewis, Trustee, Essex County College

Members: Lovell Pugh-Bassett, President, Camden County College and Dorion Morgan, Rowan College at Burlington County

The Race and Social Justice Committee will:

Ensure that community colleges play a key role in preparing police and law enforcement to better serve diverse communities.
Ensure that faculty and college leaders are reflective of the diversity of students and the community.
Ensure that students are prepared to navigate a racially diverse and pluralistic culture.
Close gaps in the attainment of post-secondary degrees and credentials by race and gender.

The Committee’s priorities include:

Align criminal justice and police academy programs with national best practices
Recruit, retain and mentor diverse faculty and college leaders
Provide diversity training and education for college leaders
Strengthen diversity training for students
Monitor equity gaps in access and completion
Identify effective strategies in New Jersey and other states