Findings, declarations

2. The Legislature finds and declares that: a. the institutions of higher education are one of the most valuable and underutilized resources in the State; and b. the elimination of unnecessary State oversight and its accompanying bureaucracy will serve to unleash the creativity and innovation of these institutions; and c. the restructuring of higher education must ensure that student aid programs are not only preserved but strengthened and that the State continue to foster and encourage programs to promote diversity and accessibility; and d. the institutions of higher education in the State shall be responsible for achieving the Statewide goals of affordability and accessibility for all students, institutional excellence, and effectiveness in addressing the societal and economic needs of the State; and e. in order to provide institutions with the ability to fulfill their mission and Statewide goals, greater decision making and accountability must be placed at the institutional level and structures must be established to ensure cooperation among institutions and coordination at the State level; and f. the State benefits from a coordinated system of higher education that includes public and private institutions which offer a variety of programs with a range of choices and which addresses the needs of the State including its citizens and employers. L.1994,c.48,s.2.