MEMBERS PRESENT:  Borisovets, Hirsh, Leath, Manhoff, Scott (Chair), Sims, Swalagin (Executive Secretary)

EXCUSED:  Barone, Rabinowitz (Vice Chair), Saniefard

ALSO ATTENDING: Hamm (Co-chair, Budget and Finance Committee), Redd (Graduate Student BOT Representative), Seneca (Administrative Liaison), Wozniak (Undergraduate Student BOT Representative)

The regular meeting of the University Senate Executive Committee was held on Friday, January 11, 2002 at 1:10 p.m. in the President’s Dining Room, Brower Commons, College Avenue Campus.

1. Chairperson’s Report

Chairperson Scott called the meeting to order.  She asked all Executive Committee members to work with the standing committees to which they are liaisons to bring reports on their charges to the Executive Committee before April.

2. Secretary's Report

Minutes:  The Minutes of the November 16, 2001 Executive Committee meeting were approved as distributed by the Secretary.  

Communications:  The following communications were presented and acted upon as noted:

• E-mail from Senator Liza Saniefard to Kathleen Scott, dated December 19, 2001, regarding Computer Lab Hours, and use of the term “Greek” in reference to Fraternities and Sororities.  Noted, and discussed under “Potential Charges.”
• Letter to Targum Editor from Senators Latesha Sims and Matthew Kleiman, published December 10, 2001, regarding “University Senate oversteps its bounds with [Equal Marriage] bill.”  Noted.
• E-mail from Teaching Assistant Louis Cantafio to Kathleen Scott, dated November 28, 2001, regarding Quality of Teaching Space. Noted, and discussed under “Potential Charges.”
• From Board of Governors’ Meeting Minutes:  Board of Governors’ October 12, 2001 unanimous approval of the Senate’s April 2001 Resolution on Minimum Grade Point Average for Scholastic Good Standing and Graduation.  Noted.

University Vice President for Academic Affairs Joseph Seneca presented the administrative report, which included comments on:  a $5.3 million grant to the Graduate School of Education to establish an Early Childhood Research Center; renaming of the College of Pharmacy, as well as establishment of an endowed chair and scholarships; other grants and awards; and the state budget outlook.
 
4. Standing Committee Reports, Potential Charges, and Requests for Information

Committee Reports:

Report on Charge S-0111, Tuition Increases, Budget and Finance Committee, Michael Hamm and Ted Szatrowski, Co-chairs
Senator Hamm presented his committee’s report on Charge S-0111, Tuition Increases.  The report compares tuition increases over the past ten years at Rutgers to those at other AAU public institutions in the region.  The report concludes that, last year, as well as over a five-year period, Rutgers’ percent increase was below all the other institutions listed, and that over the same period the dollar increase at Rutgers was lower than all other institutions except New Jersey City University.  The report will be docketed on the Senate agenda for information purposes only.

Report on Charge S-0110, Healthcare Insurance for Graduate Students, Faculty Affairs and Personnel Committee, Paul Leath and Barbara Lee, Co-chairs
Senator Leath presented his committee’s report on Charge S-0110, Healthcare Insurance for Graduate Students.  The report recommends that “the University establish a goal of providing the insurance program currently available for individuals with ‘nationally competitive external fellowships’ to ALL graduate students holding fellowships.”  It further recommends that “these fellows be eligible to purchase group health for coverage in the same group plan for their depends,” and that “the funds for this insurance generally not be deducted from the pool of funds currently used for fellowships, but that new monies be found for this purpose.”  The report will be docketed on the January 25 agenda for Senate action.

Potential Charges:
 

• A charge will be issued to the Budget and Finance Committee, with input from the Student Affairs Committee, to examine and make recommendations regarding coordination between bus and train schedules, class-period schedules, parking (especially for commuters) policies, and other campus functions.  The committee(s) will be asked to report to the Executive Committee by April 2002.
• A potential charge regarding computer lab hours was discussed.  No charge was issued.
• A potential charge regarding use of the term “Greek” in reference to fraternities and sororities was discussed.  No charge was issued.
• Secretary Swalagin reported on policies in place for use of administrative e-mail lists.  The issue was discussed, and Secretary Swalagin instructed to write to moderators of those e-mail lists to ask if there is a policy on which e-mail requests can be approved, as well as for information on the rates of approvals relative to submissions.
• A charge will be issued to the Student Affairs Committee on whether to accept the “Get Off Your Butts” campaign and its recommendations.  “Get Off Your Butts” is a campus smoking prevention and cessation program which includes a documentary video and supporting materials created by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services to create awareness among 18-to-24 year olds in New Jersey about smoking prevention and the health benefits thereof.  The Student Affairs Committee will be asked to report to the Executive Committee by March 2002.
• A potential charge regarding Rutgers’ policy on monitoring employee e-mail was discussed.  Secretary Swalagin was instructed to write to University Vice President Seneca, on behalf of the Executive Committee, to request information on this policy.
• Discussion of a potential charge regarding quality of teaching space led to a discussion of security, access, locking of buildings, vandalism, safe and supervised 24-hour study space, and related issues.  Chairperson Scott and Secretary Swalagin will draft separate charges to the Budget and Finance and Student Affairs Committees regarding building security, 24-hour study space, how space is utilized during different times of the day/evening/night, how space is segregated, and how to promote student respect for Rutgers’ facilities.

Chairperson Scott reported that Vice President Caprio has informed her that a new CAPS Proposal will be available soon.  The Executive Committee approved transmitting that new proposal to the Senate’s University Structure and Governance Committee as soon as it is received.

6.  Senate Meeting Agenda

The following items were docketed for the January 25, 2002 meeting agenda:

• Budget and Finance Committee Report on Charge S-0111, Tuition Increases (for information only)
• Faculty Affairs and Personnel Committee Report and Resolution on Charge S-0110, Healthcare Insurance for Graduate Students

The meeting was adjourned at 3:05 p.m. by Chairperson Scott.
 

Kenneth Swalagin
Executive Secretary of the Senate