RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
UNIVERSITY SENATE

MINUTES:   Regular Meeting of the University Senate

DATE:  February 20, 2004

TIME AND PLACE:  1:10 p.m., Multipurpose Room B/C, Cook Campus Center, 59 Biel Road, New Brunswick

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Ambar, Atwood, Axelrod, Banerjee, Barone, Blakeman, Blasi, Bodnar, Boikess, Borisovets, Boylan, Brazier, Brodie, Bry, Calla, Cannon, Chambers, Cohen, Colaizzi, A. Cooper, Cotter, Crown, Curry, Darien, Dayal, DeLisi, E. Dennis, R. Dennis, Dess, Deutsch, Dholandas, Diner, Domb, Doshi, Erlichson, Ezgilioglu, Fenster, Fishbein, Flanagan, Foley, Forman, Friedrich, Furmanski, Gaunt, Gillett, Glass, Goldin, Gould, Hall, Hawkesworth, Herrera, Hirsh, Hornichter, Hughes, Innerfield, Jessen, Karel, Kauffman, Kennedy, Kirby, Kokini, Kressel, Krucher, Laguna-Diaz, Lake, Lanza, LaSala, Lashley, Leath, Lee, Lichtenfeld, Markowitz, McCormick, McKay, McKeever, Messer, Mian, Naqvi, Nedick, Norville, Novell, O’Connor, Oren, Panayotatos, Pandya, Parks, Plummer, Potenza, Puniello, Rabii, Rabinowitz, Redd, Roselle, Rubin, Schaich, Scott, Sifuentes-Jauregui, P. Simmons, R. Simmons, H. Smith, N. Smith, Snyder, Sofer, Spero, Szatrowski, Taghon, Tandon, Thompson, Tuckman, Turpin, Wang, Webb, Weiman, Winterbauer

EXCUSED:  Advani, Baruh, Bathory, R. Bell, Bellino, Bronzan, Bucko, Caprio, Cronk, Davidson, Evans, Gallinar, Greenhut, Hamilton, Hodgson, J. Jones, R. Jones, Keoskey, Kirschner, Leontiades, Manhoff, Ocone, Patel, Reed, Schock, Stark, Szerlip, Vodak, Zaborszky

ABSENT:  Abbasi, Agha, C. Bell, Breton, Butler, Case, K. Cooper, Dadlani, Driscoll, Gillis, Griffiths, Guo, Hallmark, Hara, Hull, Hyndman, Jackson, Klein, Leustek, Lin, Maradonna, Markey, Marsh, Maudlin, Mensah, Merritt, Nerurkar, Pieczenik, Rijhsinghani, Roden, Sears, Segers, Solomon, Stauffer, Sukhdeo, Tsurumi, Wadud, Weis, Worrall, Zylstra

ATTENDANCE SUMMARY:  Faculty:  Of 92 total: 54 present (59%), 16 excused (17%) 22 absent (24%); Students:  Of 48 total: 30 present (62%), 7 excused (15%), 11 absent (23%); Administrators:  Of 37 total:  26 present (70%), 4 excused (11%), 7 absent (19%); Alumni:  Of 6 total: 4 present (67%), 2 excused (33%)
View Senate Attendance Record for this year

NON-VOTING MEMBERS PRESENT:  Boyer, Holmes, Seto

NON-VOTING MEMBERS ABSENT:  Sambolin, Wright

PRESIDING OFFICER:   Paul Panayotatos, Chairperson

CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT:  Chairperson Panayotatos called the meeting to order, and introduced the Secretary’s Report.

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY:
Agenda:  The agenda was approved as distributed by the Secretary.

Minutes:  On motion and duly seconded, the Minutes of the November 21, 2003 Senate meeting were approved as distributed by the Secretary.

Communications: The following communications were presented by the Secretary:

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT:  President McCormick delivered the administrative report, which included comments on: the end of the proposal to restructure higher education in New Jersey, and ongoing work to improve collaboration between New Jersey State higher education institutions; the upcoming State budget message, and Rutgers’ hopes for no further budget cuts, restoration of some of the previous cuts, help with salary and compensation costs, investment in research, and recognition of Rutgers’ role in economic development and jobs creation in New Jersey; creation of the "Friends of Rutgers" advocacy group; an ongoing series of dinners and meetings meant to foster dialog on Rutgers’ internal academic activities and objectives; and continuing contract negotiations with Rutgers’ faculty and union staff. Following the report, President McCormick responded to questions, most of which related to faculty contract negotiations.

NEW BRUNSWICK CAMPUS REPORT:  Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Philip Furmanski presented the New Brunswick Campus Report, which included comments on: the current state of the New Brunswick Campus, which Vice President Furmanski described as good, with many opportunities to get better; current challenges, including space and the level of state support; highlights in undergraduate schools, graduates, diversity, awards and scholarships, public service, research, and peer institution comparisons; "Undergraduate Learning and Life," a New Brunswick Campus-wide initiative to scrutinize and discuss all elements of the undergraduate experience; a revamped all-funds budgeting process; a bond-refinancing initiative intended to address capital improvements and deferred maintenance, and planning to move toward a more functional and attractive University environment; retreats and other activities focused on change in the three key areas of academic programs, student affairs, student services, and academic support; and the ongoing search for a new Vice President for Student Affairs. Following the report, Vice President Furmanski responded to questions on topics which included: allocation of deferred maintenance funds, and inclusion of the Senate’s (Instruction, Curricula and Advising Committee) recommendations on student advising in the considerations of the "Undergraduate Learning and Life" activities.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Senators Oren and Brazier, co-chairs of the Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee, summarized their committee’s report and recommendations on Charge S-0326, Academic Calendar. The committee had been charged as follows: "Consider and report on the default academic calendar for academic years 2005-06, 2009-10, and 2011-12, which call for August 31 start dates." Senator Oren acknowledged the extensive work of student Senator Aaron Domb on this report. Following brief discussion, the report was approved by the Senate on card vote, as presented by the committee. Senators Oren and Brazier, co-chairs of the Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee, summarized their committee’s report and recommendations on Charge S-0322, Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics. The committee had been charged as follows: "Consider the Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics’ (COIA) request for endorsement of its Framework for Comprehensive Athletics Reform, and prepare a response which could be brought before the University Senate for formal endorsement." Following discussion, the report was approved by the Senate on card vote, as presented by the committee. Senators Oren and Brazier, co-chairs of the Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee, summarized their committee’s report and recommendations on Charge S-0311, Electronic Applications for Admission. The committee had been charged as follows: "Review Rutgers’ current policy and practices regarding use of electronic applications for admission. Make recommendations regarding the appropriateness of phasing out paper applications in favor of an all-electronic format." The report was approved unanimously by the Senate on card vote, as presented by the committee. Senators Novell and Tandon, co-chairs of the Student Affairs Committee, summarized their committee’s report and recommendations on Charge S-0321, Honor Cords. The committee had been charged as follows: "Consider and respond to the Assistant Secretary of the University's request for advice regarding wearing of honor cords with academic regalia at commencement ceremonies. In particular, consider which graduates/groups should be able to wear honor cords at commencement (e.g., only student activities/organizations with an academic focus, or whether other student organizations should be permitted to have graduates who participated in their activities wear a cord designating them as a member of that group at commencement); and who at Rutgers should decide which student organizations can have honor cords." The report was approved by the Senate on card vote, as presented by the committee. Senators Hawkesworth and Redd, co-chairs of the Equal Opportunity Committee, summarized their committee’s report and recommendations on Charge S-0327, FAIR v. Rumsfeld, which had been expanded by the committee to include recommendations "to implement fully Rutgers University policy on Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action." The committee had been charged as follows: "Consider and report on whether Rutgers should be encouraged to join Fair v. Rumsfeld as a party plaintiff." During discussion of the report, a call was made for a quorum count. The count established that 62 Senators were present, constituting a quorum. Following further discussion, the question was called, and the report was approved by the Senate on card vote, as presented by the committee.

OLD BUSINESS:  Senator Gillett, noting that the Rutgers Business School wants to add minus grades to its grading system, requested that the Executive Committee charge the Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee with a renewed exploration of adding minus grades to the University’s default grading system. Senator Oren, co-chair of the Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee, said that his committee intends to reconsider this issue in the very near future.

NEW BUSINESS:  There was no new business.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT:  Vice Chairperson Rabinowitz reported on the February 6, 2004  Senate Executive Committee meeting. Executive Committee minutes are available on the Senate website.

REPORT OF THE REPRESENTATIVES TO BOARDS OF GOVERNORS AND TRUSTEES:  Senator Redd reported on the February 13, 2004 Board of Governors meeting.

REPORT OF CAMPUS FACULTY LIAISONS:  Senator Hirsh, chair of the New Brunswick Faculty Council, presented a report of that body’s recent activities.

ADJOURNMENT:  The meeting adjourned at 3:20 p.m.

Kenneth Swalagin
Secretary of the University Senate