Rutgers Universitys governing boards on Monday are expected to officially approve the medical school merger that will boost the state universitys size and stature, catapulting it into the top tier of research institutions nationwide.

RECORD FILE PHOTO

Rutgers University

The vote is the last procedural hurdle before Rutgers can legally absorb most of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey beginning in July. The merger plan also calls for Rowan University in Glassboro to take on a new South Jersey medical school and offer some joint programs with Rutgers Camden campus.

But officials from UMDNJ and Rutgers and Rowan already have spent months and millions of dollars planning the logistics of the merger since legislation authorizing the move was approved over the summer.

Rutgers governing boards, which have the power to block the merger, apparently are satisfied that the final legislation ensured that the Camden campus will remain under their control. The boards also had some trepidation about the cost of the merger and taking on UMDNJs sizeable debt of more than $600 million.

Lawyers and accountants have been parsing the deal for months, and members of Rutgers boards of governors and trustees said they were confident the merger vote would fly on Monday.

There are some minor things were not thrilled with but we certainly can deal with it, said one trustee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

There is nothing minor about the merger.

This is a corporate merger of the highest degree, said Joe Cardona, a spokesman for Rowan. There is a big investment here by all involved, but there will be a payoff down the road.

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Rutgers' governing boards are poised to officially approve university merger plan