This bill mandates the Secretary of Higher Education, in collaboration with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, to create programs aimed at enhancing Hispanic and Latino representation in leadership roles within public institutions of higher education in New Jersey. Key initiatives include establishing a targeted leadership development program for Hispanic and Latino faculty, developing pathways for Hispanic and Latino undergraduate students to pursue academic careers, and implementing strategies to improve the recruitment and retention of Hispanic and Latino faculty and staff in leadership positions. The bill emphasizes the need for mentorship, networking, and professional development opportunities tailored to these groups.

Additionally, the bill requires each public institution of higher education to adopt policies that ensure diverse representation on search committees for senior administration positions, reflecting the demographics of the student body and the state. Institutions must also implement programs to bolster the recruitment and retention of Hispanic and Latino individuals in leadership roles and submit annual diversity reports to the Secretary of Higher Education. These reports will detail the racial and gender composition of leadership positions and evaluate the effectiveness of the diversity initiatives. The Secretary is tasked with compiling these reports and providing a summary to the Governor and the Legislature annually.