Will professors keep their jobs when 2 N.J. colleges merge? Union raises alarm about job losses.

The union representing faculty members at Bloomfield College is raising concerns that the colleges impending merger with Montclair State University may lead to job losses.

Montclair State and Bloomfield College announced last week they plan to merge by June 30, 2023. The highly-unusual merger of Montclair State, a large public research university, and a private college is expected to save Bloomfield College after school officials said last year it might shut down for financial reasons.

The 154-year-old private college will get a new name: Bloomfield College of Montclair State University.

A spokesperson for Montclair State University said Friday no guarantees are being made to keep Bloomfield Colleges employees in their jobs after the merger. But, the university will do its best to retain the colleges existing faculty and other staff members, he added.

We envision a distinctive educational experience for students who will attend Bloomfield College of Montclair State University, one that will require dedicated and supportive employees. So, the university will do all it can to employ as many Bloomfield faculty and staff as possible to help create that environment, said Montclair State spokesman Andrew Mees.

Bloomfield Colleges faculty union president, James Murphy, said faculty members are not aware of any plan to preserve the staffing of departments and disciplines, and are seeking more information.

Bloomfield College employs 46 full-time professors 42 in tenure-track positions in addition to a fluctuating number of part-time instructors, according to Murphy. It also has other non-teaching staff, administrators and part-time employees.

How will the new institution carry on the mission of the college without its faculty and staff? How will the institutional memory live on? It doesnt live in the buildings and parking lots. If one is actually going to preserve the mission, you need to put down on paper a plan to preserve faculty and staff, said Murphy, a biology professor.

Bloomfield College is the only New Jersey college that serves predominantly Black and Hispanic students. The merger announcement came seven months after Montclair State University announced a partnership with Bloomfield College and extended a line of credit to the school, which has been grappling with financial challenges.

Murphy said the faculty union recognizes the progress made in the merger agreement, which was announced a year after the college first outlined its financial problems and warned it would be at risk of closing without merging or partnering with another institution.

We acknowledge the good faith efforts of all involved, Murphy said.

However, we feel the merger agreement fails to articulate a mechanism to recognize or honor the longstanding commitment and loyalty of our faculty and staff to Bloomfield Colleges students, mission, and goals, he added.

It is our understanding that as of 7/1/23 Bloomfield College will not exist as a legal entity, and all current faculty appointments will end. At best, we may apply for positions in the new merged institution, Murphy concluded.

Mees, the Montclair State spokesman, did not dispute the unions assertion that the jobs are not guaranteed.

While that is correct, we want to ensure it is made clear that Montclair State University will make every effort to offer employment to Bloomfield College faculty and staff, Mees said.

Montclair State University President Jonathan G.S. Koppell told NJ Advance Media Wednesday that Bloomfield Colleges historic campus will remain and continue to focus on on first-generation students from a diversity of backgrounds.

Were excited about the Bloomfield campus. Thats integral to the Bloomfield College experience, Koppell stated.

Montclair State and Bloomfield College are both located in Essex County, about 7 miles apart.

The merger will require several lengthy reviews and approvals from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the state Office of the Secretary of Higher Education and other accreditors and regulators.

It will also require the approval of the state Legislature. Earlier this year, the state allocated $12.5 million to Bloomfield College to help the campus remain open for the 2022-2023 academic year.

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Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com.