18A:64A-28.2. Perpetual succession; powers, responsibilities.
6. The council shall have perpetual succession and shall have the following powers and responsibilities: a. To make, amend, and repeal rules, regulations, and bylaws for its own government and guidance, not inconsistent with the purposes of the council; b. To adopt an official seal and alter the same at pleasure; c. To maintain an office at such place or places in the State as it may designate; d. To sue and be sued in its own name; e. To acquire, hold, and dispose of real and personal property in the exercise of its powers and the performance of its duties under this article. All this property shall be exempt from taxation under chapter 4 of Title 54 of the Revised Statutes; f. To act as an advocate and promote the advancement of the county colleges of New Jersey; g. To promote diversity of development among the county colleges in ways which shall be responsive to the particular needs of the particular counties and the State's diverse population and regions; h. To develop and submit to the Governor, the Secretary of Higher Education, and the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), a biennial strategic plan outlining a shared vision and set of goals for the county colleges, which are aligned with State educational and economic priorities, and recommending policy solutions to meet the needs of the State as well as the individuals and communities that the county colleges serve. The strategic plan shall be developed in consultation with State government agencies, county college faculty, staff, and students; i. To serve as an advisory body to the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education on any matter related to the county colleges, including consulting on the development and design of State laws, regulations, and State-funded pilot programs and grant programs that pertain to the county colleges; j. To develop a performance-based formula to be used in the distribution of State operational aid to the county colleges, and recommending improvements to the State Treasurer and the secretary, pursuant to N.J.S.18A:64A-22; k. To serve as a coordinating body that organizes and expands collaboration among the county colleges in a variety of areas impacting student success and institutional advancement; l. To provide contract services to State departments and agencies, as permitted pursuant to subsection (a) of section 5 of P.L.1954, c.48 (C.52:34-10); m. To ensure strong collaboration, and provide guidance, on academic issues by undertaking activities, including, but not limited to: (1) maintaining a Statewide general education framework for county colleges; (2) approving credit courses used in calculating the educational and general costs for the purposes of determining State operating aid to county colleges pursuant to N.J.S.18A:64A-22; (3) operating a Community College Joint Purchasing Consortium, in accordance with section 3 of P.L.2015, c.140 (C.18A:64A-28.2a), that seeks economies in the purchase of goods and services by increasing efficiency, reducing redundancy, sharing services, and promoting regional collaboration and contracting where appropriate; (4) convening county college leaders to share promising practices and identify opportunities for collaboration; (5) undertaking and promoting professional development for faculty and staff; and (6) collaborating on the marketing and promotion of county colleges; n. To serve as a partner with Statewide business, labor, education, and community organizations to advance equity, opportunity, and prosperity in New Jersey; o. To build strong partnerships with employers, elementary and secondary schools, four-year colleges and universities, labor unions, workforce development boards, and community-based organizations in developing the New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative. To accomplish these responsibilities, the council shall: (1) work in collaboration with State agencies and authorities to create and document transparent, portable, and stackable credentials and lifelong education and learning for students and workers with a focus on work-based learning opportunities, pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, degree apprenticeships, credit for prior learning, lifelong learning accounts, and other models; (2) annually provide a report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), with recommendations for improving equity, labor market outcomes, economic mobility, and employer satisfaction and input from employers on future workforce priorities and needed skills; and (3) assist the Governor, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and other State agencies in planning for the attraction and retention of businesses, including the design of new open-source curricula and new credentials to reflect evolving employer technology and needed skills and the development and promotion of county college programs that prepare workers for the impact of new technology; p. To facilitate county college requests for capital funding pursuant to P.L.1971, c.12 (C.18A:64A-22.1 et seq.) and work in consultation with the State Treasurer to determine capital projects for which funding shall be allocated; and q. To assist in the administration of funds provided to county colleges pursuant to the federal Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, Pub.L.109-270 (20 U.S.C. s.2301 et seq.). L.1989,c.141,s.6; amended 2025, c.371, s.2.