S2762

An Act establishing the Center for Career Relevant Education and Talent Evaluation of New Jersey, supplementing chapter 64 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, and making an appropriation.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. There is established at Thomas Edison State University the Center for Career Relevant Education and Talent Evaluation of New Jersey, also known as CreateNJ. The purpose of the center shall be to maximize collaboration between institutions of higher education and partner organizations that develop and implement career pathways for nontraditional students and workers and workforce development programs. The center shall be the State’s central resource to evaluate and translate learning into a validated record of academic credit, career credentials, pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship credits, and pertinent knowledge, skills, and abilities. The validated record developed by the center pursuant to this section shall be known as the New Jersey Workforce Transcript.

b. (1) The Center for Career Relevant Education and Talent Evaluation of New Jersey shall establish a steering committee, the purpose of which is to foster partnerships between government and industry for the mapping of credentials and to contribute to the direction and sustainability of the center. Members of the steering committee shall serve in an advisory capacity only. The members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

(2) The steering committee shall be co-chaired by the President of Thomas Edison State University and the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, or their designees. Other members of the steering committee shall include, but need not be limited to, representatives from the following:

(a) the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety;

(b) the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education;

(d) the New Jersey Council of County Colleges; and

(e) the New Jersey Business and Industry Association.

c. The Center for Career Relevant Education and Talent Evaluation of New Jersey shall establish a database that houses all of the skills or credits credentialed or accepted by Thomas Edison State University or other participating institutions of higher education pursuant to this section. The inclusion of an individual’s higher education credit equivalencies or identified skills in the database shall be voluntary in nature, and participation shall be indicated by informed consent. Thomas Edison State University shall maintain the credits obtained through any evaluation of learning pursuant to this section by following national best practices and processes and by complying with applicable State and federal laws and other guidelines and requirements for institutional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

d. As permitted by law, Thomas Edison State University may enter into contracts with public or private individuals, organizations, and institutions necessary for the performance of its duties pursuant to this section. The Center for Career Relevant Education and Talent Evaluation of New Jersey shall apply for and accept grant funds, or any other funds, to support the operations and duties of the center, as made available by the federal government, private foundations or entities, or any other sources.

e. Thomas Edison State University may hire such additional staff as may be necessary to effectuate the provisions of this section.

f. The Center for Career Relevant Education and Talent Evaluation of New Jersey may collect fees from organizations using approved credentials or professional learning assessments maintained by Thomas Edison State University, from individuals utilizing the New Jersey Workforce Transcript pursuant to this section, or from other entities or individuals using the services provided by the center. Any fee or other revenue collected by the center shall be used to fund the operations of the center.

2. There is appropriated from the General Fund to Thomas Edison State University the sum of $2,000,000 for the purposes of this act.

3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes Thomas Edison State University the Center for Career Relevant Education and Talent Evaluation of New Jersey (CreateNJ). The purpose of CreateNJ would be to maximize collaboration between institutions of higher education and partner organizations that develop and implement career pathways for nontraditional students and workers and workforce development programs. The center would be the State’s central resource to evaluate and translate learning into a validated record of academic credit, career credentials, pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship credits, and pertinent knowledge, skills, and abilities. The validated record developed by the center pursuant to this section shall be known as the New Jersey Workforce Transcript.

CreateNJ would establish a steering committee, the purpose of which is to foster partnerships between government and industry for the mapping of credentials and to contribute to the direction and sustainability of the center. The steering committee would be co-chaired by the President of Thomas Edison State University and the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, or their designees. Other members of the steering committee would include representatives from:

(1) the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety;

(2) the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education;

(3) the Department of Education;

(4) the New Jersey Council of County Colleges; and

(5) the New Jersey Business and Industry Association.

Under the bill, CreateNJ would establish a database that houses all of the skills or credits credentialed or accepted by Thomas Edison State University or other participating institutions of higher education pursuant to the bill.