State senate votes to expand Rutgers board

TRENTON (AP) — New Jersey's state Senate has approved expanding the Rutgers Board of Governors to give elected officials more control over who makes decisions for the state's flagship university.

Under a bill adopted Thursday, there would be 19 members of the Board of Governors instead of 15 and the governor would select 12 rather than the current eight.

The Assembly has not yet voted on the measure.

Rutgers leaders oppose the bill, saying it's a power grab by politicians.

Advocates say it's a way to add more medical and life-sciences experts to the board of a university that last year absorbed two medical schools.

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