M I N U T E S
April 2, 2004
MEMBERS PRESENT: Blasi, Cotter, Panayotatos, Swalagin (Executive Secretary)
EXCUSED: Barone, Hirsh, Manhoff, Nedick, Rabinowitz (Vice Chair)
ABSENT: Rijhsinghani
ALSO ATTENDING: Furmanski (Administrative Liaison),
Leath
(Faculty BOG Representative), McCormick (Administrative Liaison), Sclar
(Newark Faculty Campus Liaison), Scott (Faculty BOT Representative)
The regular meeting of the University Senate Executive Committee was
held on Friday, April 2, 2004 at 1:10 p.m. in the Cap and Skull Room,
Rutgers
Student Center, College Avenue Campus.
1. Chairperson’s Report
Chairperson Panayotatos convened the meeting. There was no chairperson’s report.
2. Secretary's Report
Minutes: The Minutes of the March 5, 2004 Executive Committee meeting were approved with one change.
Communications: The following communications were presented by Secretary Swalagin, and acted upon as noted:
President McCormick delivered the administrative report, which focused on, and began a discussion of, the AAUP contract negotiations.
4. Status Report of Nominating Panel for April 2004 Election of Officers
Secretary Swalagin summarized the activities of the 2004 Nominating Panel, and presented the slate of candidates for Senate leadership and board representative positions for the Executive Committee’s review.
5. Standing Committee Reports and Potential Charges
Instruction, Curricula and Advising Committee (ICAC) Response to Charge S-0214, Mid-Semester Course Assessment: The Executive Committee reviewed and discussed the ICAC response to Charge S-0214, which had been issued as follows: “Review the use of the Mid-Semester Course Assessment as a formative assessment tool; identify barriers to the use of the Mid-Semester Assessment at Rutgers; consider whether such an assessment should be require/recommended for all courses.” The report was docketed for action at the April 23, 2004 Senate meeting.
Equal Opportunity Committee (EOC) Report/Recommendations regarding Asian-American Student Initiative: The Executive Committee reviewed and discussed the EOC report and recommendations on an Asian-American Student Initiative. This report and its recommendations were EOC initiative; no formal charge had been issued. President McCormick noted that he had met with the group of Asian-American students who had originated the initiative, and that he was working on a number of their requests. He offered to give the Executive Committee an update on those activities at a future meeting. The Executive Committee registered support for the report and its recommendations, but instructed Secretary Swalagin to ask the EOC co-chairs to modify some of the language in the Resolution to make it more positive and better supported by the elements of the report. The report will be docketed for action at the April 23, 2004 Senate meeting.
Potential Charges:
Potential Charge to University Structure and Governance Committee: As requested by Senator Nedick, the Executive Committee reconsidered the following potential charge to the University Structure and Governance Committee: "Investigate why there is no student voting representative on the Board of Governors in the spirit of N.J.S.A.18A:64-3.1, which states that the Board of Trustees of every state college must provide for the election of two student representatives who serve two-year terms and are voting members in their second year, considering that at Rutgers the Board of Governors is currently equivalent to the board of trustees at most New Jersey colleges. Report back as to why this is not the case, and make appropriate recommendations as to if and how this issue should be pursued. Investigate the same issues relative to faculty membership on the Board of Governors. Respond to Senate Executive Committee by December 2004." Following discussion, the charge was issued as drafted.
Potential Charge to Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee: As requested by Leslie Fehrenbach, Secretary of the Boards of Governors and Trustees, the Executive Committee considered the following potential charge to the Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee (ASRAC): "Consider the administration's request to adjust the University Academic Calendar to change next year's commencement date from Thursday, May 19, 2005 to Wednesday, May 18, 2005." Because the calendar change requires immediate Senate action in order for Rutgers to begin planning, including selection and scheduling of a commencement speaker, the ASRAC will be asked to meet within the week, or to consult via e-mail, and submit a response to the charge for action at the April 23, 2004 Senate meeting.
Potential Charge to Equal Opportunity Committee: As proposed by former student Senator Deanne Meltzer, the Executive Committee considered the following potential charge to the Equal Opportunity Committee: "Research and make recommendations on the formulation of a mandatory tolerance-training orientation program for all university housing directors, housing office staff, and resident advisors, as well as students who wish to reside in shared university-owned housing. Respond to Senate Executive Committee by November 2004." Ms. Meltzer had stated that "The aim of a program of this type would be to proactively prevent unfair discrimination and harassment of students of diverse racial, religious, ethnic, and educational backgrounds so that all students who need housing can equally and harmoniously enjoy the benefits of living in a safe, affordable and conveniently located university housing." After some discussion, the Executive Committee asked Secretary Swalagin to redraft the charge to include researching the extent to which discrimination occurs, assessing the overall situation at Rutgers and elsewhere, and examine and make recommendations regarding best practices in promoting tolerance and sensitivity in areas of diversity.
Potential Committee Charge on the Format of the Faculty/Staff Directory: As requested by Senator Boikess, the Executive Committee considered issuing a committee charge regarding current format of Faculty/Staff Directory. Senator Boikess had pointed out that the current directory contains drastically less information than previous directories. Following discussion, President McCormick and Vice President Furmanski offered to look into the issue to see if there is a way to handle it administratively. No charge was issued to a Senate committee.
Charge to Faculty Affairs and Personnel Committee: The Executive Committee discussed at length two resolutions and a Vision Statement received from Rudy Bell on behalf of the Rutgers Chapter of the AAUP. The resolutions and statement had been included in the "Communications" portion of the March 26, 2004 Secretary's Report to the Senate. It was agreed that, as is the Senate's policy, the items should not be docketed for Senate action before having been considered and reported on by a Senate standing committee. The Faculty Affairs and Personnel Committee was charged with reviewing the AAUP resolutions and Vision Statement. [Senators Blasi and Scott, co-chairs of the University Structure and Governance Committee (USGC), later contacted Faculty Affairs and Personnel Committee Co-chair Panayotatos, and volunteered to address this charge in the USGC, perhaps via e-mail, in order to bring a response to be acted upon by the April 23 Senate. Chairperson Panayotatos agreed, and consulted with the Executive Committee via e-mail. The charge was then transferred to the USGC.]
6. April 23, 2004 Senate Meeting Agenda
In addition to items docketed above, the April 23, 2004 Senate meeting agenda will also include the first meeting of the 2004-05 University Senate, at which next year's Senate chair, vice chair, and Executive Committee members, as well as board representatives, will be elected.
7. Old Business
In regard to the Executive Committee's March suggestion that the September 2004 Senate meeting, which coincides with the beginning of Yom Kippur, should begin one hour earlier, Secretary Swalagin noted that the September 2003 meeting ended by 3 p.m. He asked if the committee would still like the 2004 meeting to begin at 12:10. When asked for his preference, President McCormick said he would accept whatever the committee decided. In order to accommodate the schedule of buses returning to Newark and Camden from New Brunswick after the meeting, it was decided that the September 24, 2004 Senate meeting will begin at 12:10 p.m.
8. New Business
There was no new business.
9. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 2:55 p.m. by Chairperson Panayotatos.
Kenneth Swalagin
Executive Secretary of the Senate