July 1, 2009
To: Administrative Council
From: Philip Furmanski - Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Subject: Travel Restrictions in 2009-2010
As you may know, the recently enacted state budget contains
restrictions on travel for employees of senior public institutions of
higher education in New Jersey. Colleges and universities which fail
to implement the travel restrictions place at risk millions of dollars
in state aid. The relevant budget language is reprinted here:
Of the amounts herein above appropriated for senior public
institutions of higher education, an amount up to 5.25% of the
appropriation for each senior public institution of higher education
shall be withheld until the institution certifies to the Director of
the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the
Treasury that the institution has: 1) achieved or will achieve
personnel related cost savings through wage freezes, furloughs, or
other actions that provide savings equivalent to Fiscal Year 2010
savings that the negotiated self-directed furlough program for
civilian State employees will achieve; 2)adopted travel policies that
comply with executive branch travel restrictions for travel that is
funded by State operating appropriations; 3) maintained institutional
funding for Educational Opportunity Fund programs at the fiscal year
2009 levels; and 4)maintained institutional funding for the Education of LanguageMinority Students (ELMS) at the fiscal year 2009 levels. In the eventthat any institution cannot certify its compliance with this conditionto the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in theDepartment of the Treasury by December 1, 2009, the appropriation withheld from that institution shall be reallocated to other publicinstitutions of higher education by the State Treasurer based upon the recommendations of the Commission on Higher Education and the Directorof the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury.
At this time, we are working with university counsel to develop travel guidelines based on the language above. Until our new universityguidelines are completed, we ask that all travel in your area be limited to activities funded by non-state sources only.
Thank you for your cooperation.