PRESIDING OFFICER: Paul
Panayotatos, Chairperson
CALL TO ORDER and CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT - Paul Panayotatos,
Chairperson
Chairperson Panayotatos called the meeting to order at 2:47 p.m.
in the Multipurpose Room of the Rutgers Student
Center, College Avenue Campus, New Brunswick. He thanked all Senators
for their service, particularly those who would not be returning next
year. He encouraged those non-continuing Senators to run for Senate
positions again in the future, and to also consider running for office.
Panayotatos offered his personal thanks to Senator and University
President Richard McCormick for his long-sustained and gratifying
involvement in the Senate.
SECRETARY'S REPORT
- Ken Swalagin, Executive Secretary
- Agenda: Secretary Swalagin amended the agenda
to accommodate President McCormick's and Chairperson Panayotatos's
requests to place the Administrative Report and New Business
immediately after the Secretary's Report. The meeting's agenda, so
modified and including time limits, was adopted by the Senate.
- Minutes: The Minutes of the March
23, 2012 Senate meeting were approved as distributed by the
executive secretary.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT - President Richard L. McCormick
President McCormick presented an administrative report, which included
comments on topics including:
- his reflections on his last Senate meeting as Rutgers' president;
- the importance of the Senate and its work;
- his thanks to the Senate, particularly for its work on the
reorganization of the New Brunswick campus;
- recognition of Senator Martha Cotter's work, particularly on the
Academic Integrity Policy revision;
- federal financial aid, and recent Rutgers efforts to convince
legislators to keep the student loan interest rate at 3.4 percent;
- students occupying Old Queens that day protesting Rutgers'
continued membership in the Fair Labor Association; and
- proposals to restructure higher education in New Jersey,
particularly with respect to Rutgers New Brunswick and Camden.
President McCormick then responded to questions, or heard comments, on
a variety of subjects..
NEW BUSINESS: Senator and Senate Vice Chair Ann Gould
moved a Resolution in Appreciation for President McCormick's work with
the Senate. Senator and Senate Parliamentarian Victor Greenhut seconded
Gould's motion, and moved for acclamation. The resolution was adopted
by acclamation as follows:
Whereas, Dr. Richard L.
McCormick, while President of Rutgers University, has supported shared
governance and has shown consistent and sustained involvement in the
activities
of the University Senate; and,
Whereas, during his
tenure he promoted the frank and collegial exchange of information
between the
Senate and the University administration; and,
Whereas, during his
time as President, Dr. McCormick was instrumental in the implementation
of the
vast majority of the over one hundred recommendations forwarded to him
by the
Senate; and,
Whereas, during that
time the Senate acted on issues of significant importance to Rutgers,
and
benefited from the cooperation and respect of the President and
administration;
and,
Whereas, Dr. McCormick
is returning to the faculty on July 1st, 2012;
Therefore, Be It
Resolved, that
the Rutgers University Senate expresses its
gratitude and appreciation for the cooperation and attention given it
by Dr.
Richard L. McCormick during his tenure as the 19th President
of
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
The following committee reports were presented to, and adopted by, the
Senate:
[Note: Links refer to the reports
as adopted by the Senate at this meeting. The report on Academic
Freedom and Faculty Participation in University Governance was amended
prior to adoption.]
ANNOUNCEMENT OF ELECTION RESULTS:
At 4:15 p.m., Secretary Swalagin announced the
2012-13
Senate Leadership and Board Representatives election results.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned
at 4:16 p.m.
Minutes Written and Submitted by,
Ken Swalagin
Executive Secretary of the University Senate