Hundreds of Rutgers University students plan to rally today outside a meeting of the university's board of governors to protest a proposed takeover of the Camden campus by Rowan University.

Gov. Chris Christie last month announced the plan and other recommendations that a state advisory committee made to reorganize medical education in New Jersey. The merger was proposed to create a public research university that would strengthen Rowan's new Cooper Medical School.

But many Rutgers students, faculty, staff and alumni have strongly opposed the plan, organizing protests, signing petitions and calling their legislators. More than 40 people have signed up to speak at the board’s public meeting at 1:30 p.m. today at the Walter K. Gordon Theater in Camden, a Rutgers spokesman said.

A Rutgers-Eagleton poll released today showed less than a quarter of New Jersey voters support the merger proposal.

Last week, Rutgers University President Richard McCormick said he does not want to give up the Camden campus, but that the university may not be able to pick and choose from the recommendations if they are bundled together as a package deal.

The same committee has also recommended Rutgers add three successful pieces of UMDNJ to its New Brunswick-Piscataway campus, which would give Rutgers a medical school.

McCormick said the Rutgers Act of 1956 requires the university’s board of governors and board of trustees to vote on the proposed changes that affect Rutgers.

To set the plan in motion, Christie has spoken publicly about submitting a reorganization plan to the Legislature, which would have 60 days to vote on it. His spokesman said that is one option, but discussions on the best way to institute the changes are ongoing with legislators and representatives of the colleges.

Related coverage:

• Editorial: Gov. Chris Christie's plan for N.J. higher ed is promising

• Q&A: Chris Christie's higher ed reform plan good for N.J.

• N.J. higher education reorganization: An opinion round-up

• Poll: Voters not warm to Christie plan to upend N.J. university system

• Rowan merger plan complicates proposal to merge 2 Rutgers law schools

• Rutgers president McCormick says university would not give up Camden campus if given a choice

• Gov. Chris Christie outlines plan to overhaul UMDNJ

• Gov. Christie calls for major changes in higher education

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Rutgers students plan rally over proposed Rowan University takeover of Camden campus