Bill
Bill > S2219
NJ S2219
NJ S2219Requires campus diversity actions at public institutions of higher education and directs Secretary of Higher Education and Division on Civil Rights to develop guidance regarding diversity in faculty search and selection process.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill requires each public institution of higher education to develop a faculty and student diversity plan. The diversity plan will establish clear and specific goals for increasing the recruitment and retention of diverse faculty, staff, and students for each academic program at the institution. The institution is directed to update the diversity strategic plan every three years, and as needed. The bill also requires a public institution of higher education to annually develop and submit to the Secretary of Higher Education a student diversity report. The student diversity report must include demographic analyses of students and recent graduates, for each academic degree program at the institution, as well as a description of any targeted programs, services, or supports offered by the institution to support the successful education of students who represent diverse backgrounds. The bill directs the Secretary of Higher Education to prepare, and submit to the Governor and the Legislature, an annual report containing a compilation of the collected data. The bill also directs the governing board of a public institution of higher education to assign a new or existing employee to serve as a staff diversity ambassador for each school of the institution. The staff diversity ambassador is directed to ensure the implementation of the diversity strategic plan. Under the bill, a public institution of higher education must provide annual diversity training to all faculty, staff, and students who may serve on a faculty search committee. The training must set forth a list of specific interventions for addressing unconscious bias in the context of faculty recruitment. Under the bill, institutions are required to increase the number of candidates considered for faculty positions who are members of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups by such measures as are established by that institution's governing board. The institution must report annually to the Governor and to the Legislature on its efforts. The bill requires the Secretary of Higher Education, in collaboration with the Director of the Division on Civil Rights in the Department of Law and Public Safety, to develop guidance for public institutions of higher education concerning the faculty search and selection process. The purpose of the guidance will be to assist institutions in identifying, recruiting, and retaining diverse faculty.
AI Summary
This bill mandates that all public colleges and universities in the state must create and implement comprehensive diversity plans to increase the recruitment and retention of diverse students, faculty, and staff, with goals tailored to county or state demographics, and these plans must be reviewed and updated every three years. Institutions will also be required to submit annual reports detailing student enrollment, retention, and graduation rates broken down by race, ethnicity, and gender, along with descriptions of programs supporting diverse students, which the Secretary of Higher Education will compile into a statewide report for the Governor and Legislature. To oversee these efforts, each school within a public institution will have a designated "staff diversity ambassador" responsible for ensuring the diversity plan is put into action, and all faculty, staff, and students involved in hiring faculty must undergo annual training on how to address unconscious bias during the recruitment process, with institutions specifically directed to increase the consideration of candidates from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. Furthermore, the Secretary of Higher Education, in partnership with the Director of the Division on Civil Rights, will develop and provide guidance to these institutions on best practices for faculty searches and selections, aiming to help them identify, recruit, and retain a diverse faculty, and also to foster an inclusive campus environment that supports faculty retention.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Higher Education Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/S2219 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/S2500/2219_I1.HTM |
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