Rutgers President Barchi faces calls to resign from paid posts on corporate boards

By Kelly Heyboer/ The Star-Ledger

NEW BRUNSWICK — Rutgers President Robert Barchi is facing calls from lawmakers to step down from paid positions on two corporate boards that do business with the university.

Barchi, who is in his first year as president, earned a combined $317,000 in fees and stock awards last year serving on the boards of a lab supply company and pharmaceutical research firm, according to a report published Monday in the Record.

Both companies — VWR International and Covance — have contracts with Rutgers to provide supplies and services.

Several lawmakers called on Barchi to resign his board positions Monday, citing a conflict of interest.

“One of the companies has in the last five years received $15 million from Rutgers,” said Assemblywoman Celeste Riley (D-Cumberland), head of the Assembly Higher Education Committee. “This is clearly a conflict of interest that should never have been sanctioned. The mere perception of impropriety was reason enough to ask President Barchi to cut ties with these companies.”

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