"I can't imagine that either the Rutgers board of governors or the board of trustees would willingly relinquish the campus, nor would I recommend that course, if there were the possibility of choosing among the recommendations."
But it was unclear how much of a choice Rutgers might have in weighing the recommendations issued last month by Christie's higher-education committee.
The task force's plan calls for an overhaul of the state's university system, integrating facilities among Rutgers, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and Rowan. Christie immediately embraced it, saying it would create a robust public-university system with greater research capacity.
But so far, there is no road map or price tag.
Sol Barer, chairman of the task force, told the panel that an implementation team was working out the details.
If Christie submits the plan to the Legislature, the two chambers would have 60 days to reject the measure.
Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D., Gloucester) supports the concept but will not weigh in formally until he sees the details, a Senate spokesman said.
Rutgers says it believes its board of trustees must approve "the moving of any parts of the university that existed before 1956," according to Peter McDonough, a spokesman. The Rutgers-Camden campus was founded in 1920, then called the South Jersey Law School and the College of South Jersey. It became part of Rutgers in 1950, according to the university's website.
Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
