ORGANIZATION
(Please click on a link to access a diagram)
A. Organization
of the Commission (40 kb PDF 
)
- The Commission: The Commission was formed by legislative action and signed into law in January 2002. The statute is embodied in Title 18a, Chapter 4, Article 4, Sections 42-46. The Commission is situated within the Department of Education, but retains an "in, but not, of" status. The Commission is mandated to report to the Office of the Governor and the Legislature. The Commission is comprised of 21 Commissioners, 19 of which are appointed by the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly for 3-year terms in staggered progression. The Commissioner of Education and the Chairman of the President’s Council – Commission on Higher Education are two ex officio members. The Commission is managed by a Chairperson, three Vice Chairs, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Commission is served by the professional staff, which is appointed by the Commission.
- Advisors to the Commission: The Commission appointed a group of prominent community members, who have demonstrated interest in furthering the work of the Commission as Advisors. Advisors meet with the Commissioners from time to time.
- Commission Committees: The Commission created a number of Committees that carry out various functions and operations of the Commission. Each Committee is chaired by a Commissioner and is served by the professional staff. Committees may include a number of other Commissioners and also may invite outside members to join the Committee. Committee membership is usually limited to a small group (approximately 3-10), in order to create a manageable working team. All Committees report to the Commission.
- Commission Subcommittees: The Commission created a number of Subcommittees, known as Councils, which assist, advise and report to Committees. Councils are intended to be broader, community-based groups, which may or may not include any Commissioners. Councils may elect their own chairpersons and have larger memberships (usually 10-20 persons). All Councils report to the Committees which oversee them.
- New Jersey Institute for Italian and Italian American Heritage Studies: The Commission was mandated to establish an Institute, which is a non-profit entity, at a host university in New Jersey. The university selected was Rutgers University at the New Brunswick campus. The Institute carries out various programs and operations of the Commission.
- Commission Board of Governors: The Commission serves as the Board of Governors for the Institute. Two Co-chairs are selected from the Commission to act as executive officers of the Institute.
- Board of Academic Advisors: The Institute receives additional advice regarding academic and educational programs from an independent board comprised principally of educators. This Board advises both the Commission and the Institute.
B. Organization
of the Committees and Other Bodies (20 kb PDF )
The Commission has created a number of standing Committees, which may change from time to time. The Commission also has created Subcommittees, which are called Councils. Other bodies involved with the Commission include affiliated non-profits, such as the Institute, advisory groups and task forces, which are committed to specific long-range projects.
Committees (Commission Bodies with Limited Outside Members)
Achievements Recognition Committee (ARC)
Community Outreach Relations Committee (COR)
Curriculum Development Committee (CDC)
Executive Committee (XCOM)
Funding and Development Committee (FAD)
Government Relations Committee (GRC)
Higher Education Committee (HEC)
International Relations Committee (IRC)
Italian Statewide Events Planning Committee (ISEP)
Sensitivity and Public Relations Committee (SAPR)
Councils (Subcommittees with Broader Community Involvement)
Community Advisory Council (CAC)
Italian Cultural and Commercial Exchange Council (ICCE)
Promotion of the Italian Language Council (PIL)
Affiliated Non-Profit Organizations
NJ Institute of Italian and Italian American Heritage Studies (Institute)
NJ Italian American Heritage Foundation (Foundation)
Advisory Groups
Advisors to the Commission (AC)
Board of Academic Advisors (BAA)
Task Forces (Ad Hoc Focus Teams)
Casa Italiana Task Force
NJN Documentary Task Force
