Rutgers U. Boards Approve Controversial Restructuring Plan

Both governing boards of Rutgers University on Monday approved a plan to overhaul the structure of three of the state’s largest public universities by breaking up the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Rutgers announced. Under the reorganization, which drew the ire of faculty members before being passed in June by both chambers of the state’s Legislature, Rutgers will take over most parts of UMDNJ. Rowan University will take over UMDNJ’s School of Osteopathic Medicine and will be granted research-university status. Rutgers officials estimated that it would cost $45-million to $75-million to combine the institutions—a bill that the Rutgers president, Robert L. Barchi, called “the cost of doing business,” according to The Star-Ledger. Mr. Barchi said that tuition was not expected to rise to cover the merger’s cost.