Rutgers to evaluate itself, president says

Rutgers University will undertake a major self-evaluation, its president announced Thursday — the first strategic planning initiative by New Jersey's flagship public higher-education institution since 1995.

Robert L. Barchi, who took over at Rutgers in September, cited several factors for the project's
timing, including the school's integration with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, its entrance into the Big Ten athletic conference, and passage of the higher-education bond referendum.

The Boston Consulting Group has been hired to work on the study, which Barchi said would offer "an ambitious but realistic vision" for the 60,000-student school.

- Jonathan Lai