Legislation sponsored by Assembly Women and Children Committee Chair Pamela R. Lampitt to create a council that would promote the advancement of women and women’s issues at New Jersey’s colleges and universities received approval from an Assembly panel on Thursday.
The bill (A-2380) would establish the Council of Women in Higher Education, a 38-member committee focused on reviewing the state of affairs for women in higher education and making recommendations for improvement.
“I wholeheartedly believe that ours daughters ought to have all the same chances in life as our sons,” said Lampitt (D-Camden/Burlington). “As it seeks ways to break down barriers and open doors for women in higher education, this council will help advance our shared goal of equal opportunity for all New Jersey residents.”
The Council of Women in Higher Education would consist of one woman from each private institution of higher learning, two women from each four-year public institution of higher education and two women to represent the sum of the state’s county colleges.
Representatives for private and four-year public schools would be selected by each institution’s governing board. The New Jersey Council of County Colleges would select the two county college representatives.
In addition to examining women’s programs in higher education and presenting its findings to the Secretary of Higher Education, the New Jersey Presidents’ Council and the governing boards of institutions of higher education, the council would also develop outreach programs for elementary and secondary school students to heighten their awareness of women’s issues.
The bill was released by the Assembly Women and Children Committee.