RUTGERS UNIVERSITY SENATE

MEETING AGENDA
Friday, January 22, 2016, 1:10 p.m.
College Avenue Student Center, Multipurpose Room
College Avenue Campus, New Brunswick


CALL TO ORDER, DETERMINATION OF A QUORUM, AND CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT - Ann Gould, Chairperson

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY

OLD BUSINESS

Senate Bylaws Changes to Establish University Commencement Panel, University Structure and Governance Committee (USGC) - Jon Oliver and Robert Puhak, USGC Co-chairs - Senate Bylaws changes to reflect establishment of the University Commencement Panel were introduced in the November 2015 Response to Charge S-1410 on Honorary Degree and Commencement Speaker Selection Process. The Senate is now asked to implement  the Bylaws changes shown in the report, as follows:

Be it further resolved, that if these recommendations are accepted by the University, then the Handbook of the Rutgers University Senate should be updated as follows:
 
i)        In Article VII. B., the sentence
“The vice chair acts as chair of the Appeals Panel if an appeal is being heard, and reports on Executive Committee action at Senate meetings.”
should be replaced with the sentence
“The vice chair acts as chair of the University Commencement Panel and of the Appeals Panel if an appeal is being heard, and reports on Executive Committee action at Senate meetings.”
 
ii)      In Article VIII. A., the sentence
“Procedures concerning the structure and operation of committees were approved by the University Senate on May 5, 1974, and amended April 28, 1995.”
should be replaced with the sentence
“Procedures concerning the structure and operation of committees were approved by the University Senate on May 5, 1974, and amended April 28, 1995 and January 22, 2016.”
 
iii) In Article VIII. D., append the following text
“11. University Commencement Panel
Standing Charge: The University Commencement Panel (UCP) shall be appointed by the Executive Committee at the beginning of each academic year, and shall consist of the vice chair of the Senate, serving as chair of the UCP; four faculty senators (one each from Camden, Newark, New Brunswick, and RBHS, and including at least one tenure-track, one non-tenure-track, and one part-time lecturer senator); two student senators; one staff senator; one alumni senator; and the executive secretary of the Senate (non-voting). Members will be appointed to this panel in addition to their regular committee duties, with the following responsibilities:
  •  Identify and select faculty and student senators to serve on the Camden, Newark, and New Brunswick/RBHS Commencement Committees (which vet and rank nominations for honorary degrees and for commencement speakers), as follows:
    • three faculty senators from the respective campus (in the case of New Brunswick/RBHS, at least one from each)
    • two student senators from the respective campus (in the case of New Brunswick/RBHS, at least one from each)
  • Advise the chancellors on a timely basis of the names of those selected for appointment.”
COMMITTEE REPORTS Student Affairs Committee (SAC) Response to Charge S-1507 on Deregistration for Non-Payment of Term Bills, Including for Online Courses [Presented For Information Only. The report does not include a resolution or recommendation for any change to current Rutgers policies or practices.] - Robert Barraco, Zachary Borden, and Samuel Rabinowitz, SAC Co-chairs

The SAC was charged as follows: Examine the issue of student deregistration for non-payment of term bills, including for online courses. Refer to Senator Rudy Bell's proposal and background when pursuing this charge. Make recommendations for preventing inappropriate deregistration.

Resolution on Web Accessibility Policy - Senate Executive Committee:
Whereas, the Rutgers University Senate Executive Committee has discussed the Draft Web Accessibility Policy; and
Whereas, the Rutgers University Senate, at its meeting on November 13, 2015, conducted a committee-of-the-whole discussion on the policy; and
Whereas, the Senate and Executive Committee have benefited from presentations by, and responses to questions from, Gayle Stein, Associate Director for Instructional Technology, OIT-Office of Instructional and Research Technology; Christian Aziz, Manager of Information Technology; and William Welsh, Executive Director, Office of Disability Services; and
Whereas, the University Senate recognizes the need for the policy, and finds it appropriate and in the best interests of Rutgers University;
Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Rutgers University Senate endorses the Web Accessibility Policy in principle, and recommends its implementation.

NEW BRUNSWICK CHANCELLOR'S REPORT - Richard Edwards, New Brunswick Chancellor

REPORT ON RESPONSIBILITY CENTER MANAGEMENT - Michael Gower, Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration

NEW BUSINESS  [Note: Article IV.A. of the Senate Bylaws states, "All new matters shall be referred to committee before coming to the Senate (unless extenuating circumstances apply, as indicated under section C.4..." Also, the Senate Executive Committee has authorized committee-of-the-whole discussions under New Business as appropriate, and time permitting.]

SENATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT - Peter Gillett, Senate Vice Chair

REPORTS OF THE REPRESENTATIVES TO BOARDS OF GOVERNORS AND TRUSTEES

REPORTS OF CAMPUS FACULTY AND STUDENT LIAISONS

ADJOURNMENT
 
*Note: Addition of items to the Agenda requires a two-thirds vote. There is an overall time limit of 2-1/2 hours for Senate meetings. Specific time limits are set for questions and debate, not for presentation of reports. After approval, extension of time limits requires a two-thirds vote.

Remaining 2015-16 University Senate Meetings
[Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held on Fridays in the Multipurpose Room, College Avenue  Student Center, College Avenue Campus in New Brunswick.]

February 19, 2016  (in Camden)
April 1, 2016
April 29, 2016  (at the Busch Student Center)

 (The April 29 meeting may convene at 10:30 or 11:00 a.m. This meeting is the last of this year's Senate, but will begin with the first meeting of next year's Senate, at which Senate officers, Executive Committee members, and board representatives will be elected. The start time will be determined by the Senate Executive Committee in April 2016.)