New Jersey operates a coordinating model anchored by the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE), a cabinet-level office with statutory authority over licensure, planning, and fiscal accountability. System coordination of academic programs occurs through the statutory New Jersey Presidents’ Council, which reviews new degree proposals and participates in licensure actions. Locally governed public institutions (11 4-year public universities, 18 county community colleges) function under boards established in Title 18A, while the independent sector, represented by the Independent Colleges & Universities of New Jersey (ICUNJ), is licensed under N.J.A.C. 9A. Recent laws enhanced OSHE’s fiscal monitoring and audit authority over public institutions, solidifying the coordinating role. State student aid is centralized in the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA).
