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Office of the Secretary of Higher Education

Campus Sexual Assault Commission

The New Jersey State Plan for Higher Education: "Where Opportunity Meets Innovation: A Student-Centered Vision for New Jersey Higher Education" includes the vision that every New Jersey student should feel safe and supported in their learning environment. In order to achieve that vision, New Jersey institutions of higher education must work to ensure that their students are not only safe from physical harm but that they are also included and welcomed on campus.

To further New Jersey's commitment to creating safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environments for all students, the State established the Campus Sexual Assault Commission (CSAC), P.L. 2020 c.104, to:

  • Implement the recommendations from the State Plan for Higher Education working groups pursuant to Executive Order No. 61 (Murphy, 2019) and the Task Force on Campus Sexual Assault established pursuant to P.L. 2015, c.165;
  • Study and evaluate emerging issues concerning campus sexual assault;
  • Monitor institutions' progress and offer technical assistance toward administering campus climate surveys; and
  • Develop an action plan in response to campus climate survey findings.

Press Release

Action Plan of the New Jersey Campus Sexual Assault Commission

April 2026

A safe campus environment is both a moral imperative and a defining factor for students and families navigating higher education decisions. Campus safety ranks among the foremost concerns for prospective students, and when institutions fail to address sexual assault effectively, the consequences extend far beyond individual survivors. Student trust in campus safety systems shape whether they choose to attend or remain at an institution, making this not just a matter of compliance but of genuine care for the people colleges and universities are meant to serve.

The Action Plan from the Commission is grounded in statewide data, survivor voices, and institutional expertise and provides recommendations to guide changes that can improve campus climate and safety across New Jersey’s colleges and universities.

Read the Report

Stakeholder Engagement

Recording of the Kickoff Technical Assistance Webinar hosted on May 6, 2022

Recording of the Technical Assistance Webinar on Instrument Selection and Implementation hosted on August 8, 2022


Current Commission Members

Chair:

  • Katherine McGee, J. D.
    Ramapo College of New Jersey Director of Title IX and Institutional Compliance

Commission Members:

  • Paloma Amar
    Department for Children and Families Division of Women Office of Gender Based Solutions Assistant Director
  • Ashante’ S. Connor, Ed.D.
    Montclair State University Associate Vice President of Inclusive Excellence
  • Sarah McMahon, Ph.D.
    Professor and Director Center for Research on Ending Violence at the School of Social Work Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
  • Frank Merckx, DMH
    Drew University Vice President for Campus Life
  • Sheetal Ranjan, Ph.D.
    Montclair State University Professor Bergen County Community College Board of Trustees Member
  • Carson Swisher
    New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault Data & Analytics Specialist
  • A. Tamika Quick, Ed.D.
    Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) Assistant Secretary, Student Access & Advancement

Last Updated: Friday, 05/01/26