TEXT OF PRESIDENT McCORMICK'S FEBRUARY 13, 2012 RESPONSE TO REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON CHARGE S-1105, RECORDING OF LECTURES AND PRESENTATIONS

I am writing in response to the Report and Recommendations on Charge S-1105 on the Recording of Lectures and Presentations, as adopted by the University Senate on January 27, 2012. I thank the members of the Senate’s Instruction, Curricula and Advising Committee (ICAC) for their attention to this issue.

My administration supports the goals expressed in the Senate’s recommendations, ensuring that Rutgers has a clear position on recording in-class, seminar, online, and other presentations. We agree that both faculty and students need guidance regarding the conditions under which such recording and sharing of information is and is not permissible. Given the complexity of the issue and its academic and legal implications, I have asked Vice President for Undergraduate Education Barry Qualls to look into this matter further, in consultation with a member of General Counsel’s office and other relevant academic and administrative units. Dr. Qualls will then advise me as to whether we need such a policy and, if so, how we should proceed to develop one that addresses the Senate’s concerns and helps protect our faculty and students from copyright and intellectual property infringements. I will transmit the results of these deliberations to the Senate in a follow-up response.                                                

Sincerely yours,
Richard L. McCormick

c:  Jonathan Alger, Vice President and General Counsel 
     Richard L. Edwards, Interim Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
     Barry Qualls, Vice President for Undergraduate Education