RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
UNIVERSITY SENATE

PRESIDING OFFICER: Paul Panayotatos, Chairperson

CALL TO ORDER, DETERMINATION OF A QUORUM, AND CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT - Paul Panayotatos, Chairperson

Chairperson Panayotatos called the meeting to order at 1:13 p.m. There was no Chairperson's Report..

SECRETARY'S REPORT - Ken Swalagin, Executive Secretary

• Agenda: The meeting's agenda was approved as distributed by the executive secretary.
• Minutes: The Minutes of October 14, 2011 were approved as distributed by the executive secretary.
• Communications: No communications were presented by the executive secretary at this meeting.

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT - President Richard L. McCormick 

President McCormick presented an administrative report which included comments on the following topics:

• the exceptional nature of Rutgers-Newark's campus and mission;
• continued ranking of Rutgers-Newark's student body as the most diverse in the nation, and diversity in its curriculum and academic programs;
• Rutgers' campuses' commitment to their urban identities;
• praise for Steven Diner's outstanding decade of leadership and vision as Rutgers-Newark Chancellor;
• Rutgers/UMDNJ academic collaborations;
• plans for integration of parts of UMDNJ in New Brunswick to be integrated into Rutgers-New Brunswick; and
• continuing commitment to expansion and strengthening of all Rutgers campuses.

President McCormick then responded to questions, or heard comments on subjects including:

• UMDNJ in Newark, including University Hospital;
• faculty union negotiations and arbitration;
• the status of Rutgers-Camden with respect to reports of possible formation of a University of South Jersey; and
• the possibility of UMDNJ Stratford being integrated into a Rutgers Campus, or becoming a standalone entity.

NEWARK CAMPUS REPORT - Newark Chancellor Steven Diner

Newark Chancellor Steven Diner presented the Newark Campus Report, which included comments on:

• his tenth, and final, year as a member of the University Senate, and as head of Rutgers-Newark;
• distinctive elements of Rutgers-Newark, including its deep commitment to opportunity for students from poor and modest backgrounds, its diversity and urban engagement, and its identity as a first-rank research institution as part of Rutgers;
• opportunities, awards and honors of students;
• Rutgers-Newark's deep commitment to the City of Newark and surrounding communities;
• continuing goals to improve the quality of student life;
• facilities improvement proposals;
• research funding and highlights;
• parking; and
• the City of Newark.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Student Affairs Committee Response to Charge S-1005 on Alma Mater [Link goes to report as presented. Click the following link to read the Report as Amended and Adopted by the Senate.] -  Robert Barraco, Samuel Rabinowitz, and Sheel Sanghvi, Co-chairs
Student Affairs Committee (SAC) Co-chair Robert Barraco summarized his committee's report on Charge S-1005, on Rutgers' Alma Mater. Senator Peter Gillett proposed two amendments, which were accepted by the SAC as friendly. Those amendments added mention of a competition which was held, and which resulted in new, campus-inclusive lyrics, and indication that the final, inclusive verse is performed at commencements and other official Rutgers occasions. The report was then adopted unanimously by the Senate.

OLD BUSINESS: There was no old business.

NEW BUSINESS: There was no new business.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT: Vice Chairperson Ann Gould reported on the May 20 and October 21, 2011 Senate Executive Committee meetings.

REPORTS OF THE REPRESENTATIVES TO BOARDS OF GOVERNORS AND TRUSTEES:Senator Samuel Rabinowitz, Faculty Representative to the Board of Governors, reported that the Board of Governors had not met since the previous Senate meeting. Senator Martha Cotter, Faculty Representative to the Board of Trustees meeting, reported that there had been no Board of Trustees meetings since the previous Senate meeting.

CAMPUS FACULTY LIAISON REPORTS: Senator Rabinowitz, a member of the Camden faculty, reported on recent activities of the Camden faculty, including discussion of potential implications of Part Two of the New Jersey Higher Education Task Force Report relating to Rutgers Camden. Senator Joel Shapiro, Chair of the New Brunswick Faculty Council reported on activities of  the New Brunswick Faculty Council.

COMMITTEE-OF-THE-WHOLE DISCUSSION on Qualifications and Criteria for the Selection of a New Rutgers University President: Input from the Senate to the Search Committee (of which Senate Chair Panayotatos is a member): At 2:19 p.m., Senator Peter Gillett successfully moved the Senate to committee of the whole for a discussion of qualifications and criteria for the selection of a new Rutgers president. The discussion continued until 2:46 p.m., at which time Gillett moved the Senate from committee of the whole.

ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 2:46 p.m.

Minutes written and submitted by:
Ken Swalagin
Executive Secretary of the University Senate