USGC Charge Background on Handbook Review

Request for Charge
University Structure & Governance Committee

Submitted by: Tricia Nolfi, Chair, University Structure & Governance Committee
October 2007

During the 2006-2007 year, the University Structure & Governance Committee (USGC) addressed University Senate Charge S-0604 (Shared Governance). On April 12, 2007, a report was issued to the University Senate. Within that report, various recommendations were made that would enhance the state of shared governance at Rutgers. Three of the recommendations were as follows:

Both structural and procedural recommendations (for enhancing shared governance) are carried out through a process of shared governance.
The University Senate, through this committee, continue to assess its own operations with regard to the representation of all community members through the Senate, in order to make it a more effective deliberative body for the university community.
Given the relatively recent advent of Staff Senators, special attention is paid to considering staff representation in processes entailing shared governance.

In the spirit if acting on these recommendations, the USGC would like to explore internal operations of the Senate to ensure that all constituent bodies are equally represented and that all elected Senators have opportunities for leadership. The committee will address these issues by reviewing the University Senate Handbook and related university policies.