Rowan University in talks to acquire TESU

[Ares]

University Senate meeting raises concerns about Rowan Global programs

The topic of partnering with other universities was brought up, which was one of the items on the agenda. Thomas Edison State University is located in Trenton, NJ, and there have been conversations with the administration about potentially acquiring them. 

Houshmand did not confirm nor deny that this was in the works.

I think this is a bad idea, any merger with a larger NJ University would surely eliminate things like the 114 credit transfer option and other things that makes TESU attractive for degree hacking.

[Jonathan Whatley]

any merger with a larger NJ University would surely eliminate things like the 114 credit transfer option and other things that makes TESU attractive for degree hacking.

It's not so certain. It's very possible Rowan Global could acquire or quasi-acquire TESU without merging the institutions, programs, and policies.

Fielding Graduate University, a private nonprofit in California, recently became an affiliate of Rowan in what looks like a quasi-acquisition of Fielding by Rowan. Fielding retains its accredition, name, programs, and policies completely separate from Rowan.

[Ares]

I wish I could be that optimistic if it happened.

[Jonathan Whatley]

In 2010 then New Jersey Governor Chris Christie submitted a state budget which stipulated that Thomas Edison State College would merge into and be subsumed by Rutgers University. Stakeholders argued that subsuming it into Rutgers would undermine TESC's mission of serving adult online students, and Christie abandoned the idea. (As often happens, an outsider claiming they've found inefficiency was in fact undermining an effective program.)

[Mint Berry Crunch]

I hope Rowan doesn't come anywhere near TESU. They have tons of money (and they sure make their students fund their pockets) and I'm on campus at Rowan everyday, but let's hope we can quarantine its spread.