Resolution on the Proposed Bond Issue

Whereas the future economic growth and prosperity of New Jersey depends on innovative, cutting-edge research at the interface between basic science and technology, and

Whereas there is an urgent need to fund such innovative research whether or not the New Jersey research universities are restructured, and

Whereas there is a well-documented need for additional capacity in New Jersey public colleges and universities to accommodate current and projected sharp increases in the number of high school graduates seeking higher education, and

Whereas Governor McGreevey recognized both these needs through his establishment of the New Jersey Commission on Jobs, Growth, and Economic Development and his proposal for a bond issue to fund both capacity growth in higher education and innovative research to promote job growth and economic development, and

Whereas Rutgers faculty members submitted a large number of outstanding proposals for funding to the Commission on Jobs, Growth, and Economic Development in the areas of biomedical science, information technology, telecommunications, advanced materials, and advanced devices,

Therefore, be it resolved that the New Brunswick Faculty Council strongly urges President McCormick, Executive Vice-President for Academic Affairs Furmanski, and other members of the university community to mount an aggressive, sustained campaign to have the Commission on Jobs, Growth, and Economic Development continue with its work, to have a proposal for a bond issue to fund both capacity growth and research to promote job growth and economic development put on the ballot in November 2004, and to have that proposal approved by New Jersey voters, and

Be it further resolved that members of the Faculty Council pledge their energetic participation in the campaign for approval of the proposed bond issue.