Rutgers Adds Two Medical Schools As Part Of Public High Education Restructuring

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) - New Jersey's flagship university has grown.

Rutgers University has added two medical schools, Rowan University is a research university and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey has dissolved.

All those changes become official Monday as a reorganization of public higher education in New Jersey takes effect.

Gov. Chris Christie says the changes put Rutgers "on the path to being one of America' great research institutions.''

By research funding, it immediately jumped to the nation's top 25.

Ceremonies have been held at Rutgers and Rowan to mark the transition.

Christie signed the education restructuring bill into law last August.

As part of the restructuring, UMDNJ's osteopathic school will be folded into Rowan University. The Glassboro campus will also become a research institution.

The rest of UMDNJ falls under Rutgers campuses in Newark and New Brunswick.

"This allows us to have centers of excellence in the south, central and north," Christie said at the time of the bill signing.

The bill signing marked the end of what was a battle over the mergers.

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