RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
UNIVERSITY SENATE MINUTES

Regular Meeting of the University Senate

DATE: March 23, 2001

TIME AND PLACE: 1:10 p.m., Multipurpose Room, Rutgers Student Center, 126 College Avenue,
College Avenue Campus

MEMBERS PRESENT: Adamcik, Adelson, Bell, Bhoj, Borisovets, Boylan, Burns, Busia, Caprio, Carlton, Colaizzi, Connell, Cooper, Cotter, Cowley, Cragin, DeCarlo, E. Dennis, Deutsch, Diner, Esser, Falk, Finne, Gary, Gaunt, Goldmark, Gross, Hall, Hamm, Harris, Haugerud, Hillman, Hirsh, Hitchner, Hughes, J. Jackson, Kelly, Kenfield, Kenney, Kim, Kirschner, Kleiman, Knee, Koehler, Laguna-Diaz, Lang, Lattimer, Lawrence, Leath, Lee, Maitland, Manganaro, Markowitz, Marszalowicz, McCloughan, McKay, McKeever, McNeal, James Miller, Jason Miller, Moran, Naus, Nordstrom, O’Connor, Oren, Panayotatos, Parikh, Penfield, Puniello, Rabinowitz, Redd, Robertson, Rohr, Roth, Saidel, Samuels, Saniefard, Schlegel, Scott, Seneca, Seplaki, Silver, Simmons, Singh, Slawsky, P. Snyder, Solomon, Spencer, St. John, Stauffer, Stein, Stevens, Sullivan, Swenson, Szatrowski, Tallau, Tello, Vershon, Vodak, Wadia, Walker-Andrews, Wasserman, Webb, Wilkinson, Winterbauer, Wolk, Wozniak, Zaborszky, Znayenko

EXCUSED: Axelrod, Barone, Davidson, R. Dennis, Eramian, Fechter, Forman, Friedrich, Goldman, Goodman, Griffith, Hartman, Hyndman, Janes, Jesse, Kamienski, Kennedy, Killingsworth, Krueckeberg, Leontiades, Li, Marsh, Martinez-Fernandez, Monfils, Moore, Perlman, Regulska, Shailor, Sparano, Strom, Sumner, Tripolitis, Tuckman

ABSENT: Andalia, Bay, Bittner, Blasi, Boucher, Breton, Burdea, Bushnell, Cizewski, Darkenwald, DeGloma, E. Diamond, M. Diamond, Felson, M. Jackson, Kalafat, Keating, Klein, Kuenyehia, Lehman, Maradonna, Marcone, Massachaele, Matsuda, Padgett, Pina, Rijhsinghani, Scheinbeim, Sheikh, Singer, R. Snyder, Stahley, Zucker

ATTENDANCE SUMMARY:  Faculty: Of 85 total: 50 present (59%), 16 excused (19%), 19 absent (22%);
Students: Of 47 total: 30 present (64%), 6 excused (13%), 11 absent (23%); Administrators: Of 38 total: 24 present (63%), 11 excused (29%), 3 absent (9%); Alumni: Of 6 total: 5 present (83%), 1 excused (17%), 0 absent
View Senate attendance record for this year.

NON-VOTING MEMBERS PRESENT:  Ishayik, Wright

PRESIDING OFFICER:  Kathleen Scott, Chairperson

CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT: Chairperson Scott called the meeting to order at 1:15 p.m. She reported on the cost-benefit analysis of changing from Social Security numbers to unique student identification numbers which was prepared by Administrative Computing Services and presented to the Executive Committee on March 9. (The report is online at: http://senate.rutgers.edu/rucsssid.html.) Summarizing some of the data in the report, she noted that: Administrative Computing Services is not responsible for all computing systems that would be involved in the change to unique ID numbers (e.g., Housing, Dining Services), so they are not addressed in the report; that the student ID information is not contained in only one large database, but approximately 30 separate databases; that incoming data not generated within Rutgers must also match to the student ID number in Rutgers’ systems; that to accomplish a changeover to unique ID numbers, all code in all systems would need to be examined for areas requiring change, the changes made, then the system/code tested; and that the $1.2 million cost estimate in the report is for the change in the administrative computing system alone. She said that plans are underway for a new system to be online by 2005, and that the Executive Committee believes that it is reasonable to have that system operate as designed rather than making costly changes to the existing system for a relatively short interim. She noted that the Executive Committee has asked President Lawrence to set up a University-wide committee to look for ways to eliminate unnecessary use of student identification numbers, and that he has agreed to do that. She asked the Senate to send their questions on this issue to her or to Senator Rajiv Parikh, and they would respond. She thanked Senator McKay and the RUCS staff for their work on the report and issue.

SECRETARY’S REPORT: Agenda: The agenda was approved as distributed. Minutes: The Minutes of February 23, 2001 were approved as distributed by the Secretary. Communications: The following communications were presented:

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT:  President Lawrence delivered the administrative report, which included comments on: the tragic death of Rutgers student Michael Santiago during Spring Break, and extended sympathies to his family, friends and classmates; agreement to appoint a committee to examine student-identification-number issues as requested by the Senate Executive Committee; congratulations and thanks to student Senators and others for their recent testimony before the State Budget Committee; the decision to relieve Kevin Bannon of his coaching duties, the search for a replacement, and assurance that the action would not have an impact on the University’s budget for academic programs; introduction of Joanne Jackson, new Senior Vice President and Treasurer; his plans and activities for state and federal budget processes, fundraising, and meetings with alumni groups; and his recent visits to higher-education institutions in Ireland and the Netherlands.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Faculty Affairs and Personnel Committee, Response to Charge S-0006, to "Explore the feasibility and desirability of making public the recipients and amounts of FASIP awards": Faculty Affairs and Personnel Committee Co-chair Paul Leath summarized the background of the issue which was the subject of the committee’s report and resolution, then opened the floor for questions or comments. Senator Leath and Committee Co-chair Barbara Lee responded to questions. On voice vote, the Resolution carried, as follows:

Whereas, the University Senate’s Faculty Affairs and Personnel Committee has reported on the Disclosure of FASIP awards; and

Whereas, the University Senate has reviewed the Committee’s Report and its Recommendations, finding those Recommendations to be sound and in the best interests of Rutgers University;

Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Rutgers University Senate endorses the Report on Making Public the Recipients and Amounts of FASIP Awards, and urges the Administration to inform the faculty of each department or awarding unit of its right to determine the degree to which the recommendations of its peer evaluation committee and department chair are to be made public.

 Faculty Affairs and Personnel Committee, Response to Charge S-0007, to "Review and provide comments on the Rutgers University Workplace Violence Policy": Faculty Affairs and Personnel Committee Co-chair Barbara Lee summarized the background of the issue which was the subject of the committee’s report and resolution, then opened the floor for questions or comments. Senator Lee, Committee Co-chair Paul Leath, and Leslie Fehrenbach, Associate Vice President for Administration and Public Safety, responded to questions. On voice vote, the Senate unanimously approved the report and the Workplace Violence Policy by Resolution as follows: Whereas, the University Senate’s Faculty Affairs and Personnel Committee has examined and reported on the proposed Workplace Violence Policy; and

Whereas, the University Senate has reviewed the Committee’s Report and its Recommendations, finding those Recommendations to be sound and in the best interests of Rutgers University;

Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Rutgers University Senate endorses the Report on the proposed Workplace Violence Policy, and urges the Administration to implement it.

 Academic Standards and Regulations Committee, Response to Charge S-0009, to "Review the Proposal to Change the Camden-Law Grading System": Academic Standards and Regulations Committee Co-chair Gary Roth summarized the background of the issue which was the subject of the committee’s report and resolution, noting that the proposed grading system adds minus grades, and that grading systems which differ from the University’s standard system must be approved by the Board of Governors following Senate approval. He then opened the floor for questions or comments. Senator Roth, and Senator Oren, who had brought the Camden-Law proposal to the Senate for approval, responded to questions. Senator Manganaro recommended that the Senate consider minus grades for the entire University. Chairperson Scott responded that the matter was previously considered by the Senate, and not approved, but may be revisited.

The grading system proposed by the Faculty of the School of Law-Camden, effective Fall 2001, was:
 
A+   4.33
A Distinguished 4.00
A- Intermediate grade 3.67
B+ Intermediate grade 3.33
B Good 3.00
B- Intermediate grade 2.67
C+ Intermediate grade 2.33
C Satisfactory 2.00
C- Intermediate grade 1.67
D+ Intermediate grade 1.33
D Poor 1.00
F Failing 0.00
Following discussion, on voice vote, the Resolution carried, as follows:

    Whereas, the University Senate’s Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee has examined and reported on the Camden-Law proposal to change its grading system; and

    Whereas, the University Senate has reviewed the Committee’s Report and its Recommendations, finding those Recommendations to be sound and in the best interests of Rutgers University;

    Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Rutgers University Senate endorses the Report on the Camden-Law Grade System Proposal, and recommends implementation of the Proposed Grading-System Change.
Instruction, Curricula and Advising Committee, Response to Charge S-0008, to "Review and report on the feasibility/desirability of posting student instructional rating data online": Instruction, Curricula and Advising Committee Chair Natalie Borisovets summarized the background of the issue which was the subject of the committee’s report and resolution. The report contained three recommendations, as follows:
  1. The student instructional ratings database, access to which is currently restricted to Teaching Excellence Center staff, should be made available to the University community as a restricted database accessible only by log-in through a university account. The site should include an expanded general statement explaining the data and its limitations.
  2. There should be a link from the Rutgers Online Schedule of Classes site to the database site. On the general Rutgers site, there should be a link to the database from the "Information for Faculty and Staff" page (www.rutgers.edu/faculty-staff.shtml) and from the "Information for Current Students" page (www.rutgers.edu/current-students.shtml).
  3. Where departments have added questions to the base form, the Teaching Excellence Center should seek agreement from those departments to have those questions displayed.
Senator Borisovets explained that the committee had considered input from the Student Affairs Committee and the Rutgers College Governing Association in making its recommendations. Senator Borisovets and Monica Devanas, Director of the Teaching Excellence Center’s Faculty Development and Assessment Program, responded to questions.

Senator Bell moved to add a fourth recommendation, as follows: "These instructional data ratings of courses and faculty shall not be used in any personnel actions." The motion to amend was seconded, and discussed. Chairperson Scott asked for a motion to refer the amendment to committee for separate discussion and action. The motion was made and seconded. Senator Wadia suggested that it go to the Faculty Affairs and Personnel Committee. Following continued discussion, Senator Cotter called the question on the motion to refer the amendment to committee. The call was seconded. On card votes, the question was called, and the motion to refer the proposed amendment to the Faculty Affairs and Personnel Committee carried.

Following continued discussion on the report and resolution, Senator Solomon called the question. The call was seconded, and carried. On card vote, the Senate approved the report, its recommendations, and resolution as follows:

Whereas, the University Senate’s Instruction, Curricula and Advising Committee has examined and reported on Posting Student Instructional Rating Data to the Web; and

Whereas, the University Senate has reviewed the Committee’s Report and its Recommendations, finding those Recommendations to be sound and in the best interests of Rutgers University;

Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Rutgers University Senate endorses the Report on Posting Student Instructional Rating Data to the Web, and urges the Administration to implement its recommendations.

 OLD BUSINESS:   Senator Wadia rose to a point of information, asking how FASIP award information would be disseminated. Senator Lee responded that the method of dissemination would be decided by the individual departments.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT:   Vice Chair Rabinowitz reported on the March 9, 2001 Executive Committee meeting. [The minutes of that meeting will be distributed with the April 2001 Senate meeting packet, and are posted online at http://senate.rutgers.edu/ec030901.html.]

ADJOURNMENT:   There being no further business before the University Senate, Chairperson Scott declared the meeting adjourned at 2:57 p.m.

Kenneth Swalagin
Secretary of the University Senate