6. The governing board of each public institution of higher education shall have the following general powers and duties to fulfill its mission and the Statewide goals in cooperation with other institutions and the State coordinating structures:

a. To develop an institutional plan and to determine the programs and degree levels to be offered by the institution consistent with this plan and the institution’s programmatic mission;

b. To have authority over all matters concerning the supervision and operations of the institution including fiscal affairs, the employment and compensation of staff not classified under Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes, and capital improvements in accordance with law;

c. To set tuition and fees; however, prior to the date of the adoption of a tuition or fee schedule or an overall institutional budget, and with reasonable notice thereof, the governing board shall conduct a public hearing at such times and places as will provide those members of the college community who wish to testify with an opportunity to be heard;

d. To establish admission standards and requirements and standards for granting diplomas, certificates and degrees;

e. To recommend for appointment by the Governor, members to the institution’s governing board. The recommendation shall be made with regard to the mission of the institution and the diversity of the community to be served;

f. To have final authority to determine controversies and disputes concerning tenure, personnel matters of employees not classified under Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes, and other issues arising under Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes involving higher education except as otherwise provided herein. Any matter arising under this subsection may be assigned to an administrative law judge, an independent hearing officer or to a subcommittee of the governing board for hearing and initial decision by the board, except for tenure hearings under N.J.S. 18A:6-18 Any hearings conducted pursuant to this section shall conform to the requirements of the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C. 52:14B-1 et seq.). The final administrative decision of a governing board of a public institution of higher education is appealable to the Superior Court, Appellate Division;

g. To invest and reinvest the funds of the institution; however, institutions which invest the funds of the institution through the Director of the Division of Investment in the Department of the Treasury on or before the effective date of this act shall continue to do so, unless this requirement is waived by the State Treasurer on an annual basis, which waiver shall not be unreasonably withheld;

h. To retain legal counsel of the institution’s choosing. State entities may choose representation by the Attorney General; however, as to claims of a tortious nature, the institution shall elect within 75 days of the effective date of this act whether it, and its employees, shall be represented in all such matters by the Attorney General. If the institution elects not to be represented by the Attorney General, it shall be considered and its employees considered employees of a sue and be sued entity for the purposes of the “New Jersey Tort Claims Act” only. The institution shall be required in that circumstance to provide its employees with defense and indemnification consistent with the terms and conditions of the Tort Claims Act in lieu of the defense and indemnification that such employees would otherwise seek and be entitled to from the Attorney General pursuant to N.J.S. 59:10-1 et seq. and P.L.1972, c.48 (C. 59:10A-1 et seq.);

i. To be accountable to the public for fulfillment of the institution’s mission and Statewide goals and for effective management of the institution;

j. To submit a request for State support to the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury and to the commission in accordance with the provisions of this act;

k. To have prepared and made available to the public an annual financial statement, and a statement setting forth generally the moneys expended for government relations, public relations and legal costs;

l. To have prepared an annual independent financial audit, which audit and any management letters regarding that audit shall be deemed public documents.

These powers and duties are in addition to and not a limitation of the specific powers and duties provided for the governing board of each public institution under chapter 64, 64A, 64G, 64E, or 64M of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, P.L.2017, c.178 (C. 18A:64N-1 et al.), or P.L.2021, c.282 (C. 18A:64O-1 et al.). If the provisions of this section are inconsistent with these specific powers and duties, the specific powers and duties shall govern.

L.1994, c.48, s.6; amended 1999, c.46, s.28; 2013, c.227, s.1; 2017, c.178, s.37; 2021, c.282, s.37.