RUTGERS UNIVERSITY SENATE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
M I N U T E S
April 19, 2013

MEMBERS PRESENT: Barraco, Berman, Boikess, Borisovets, Gillett, Gould, Muse, Puhak, Swalagin (Executive Secretary), Wang

MEMBERS EXCUSED:  Dantzler, Rosario, Thompson

ALSO ATTENDING: Barchi (Administrative Liaison/University President), Cashin (Student Board of Governors Representative), Cotter (Faculty Board of Trustees Representative), Greenhut (Senate Parliamentarian), Haibach (Graduate Student Board of Trustees Representative), Otto (Research, and Graduate & Professional Education Committee Co-Chair), Rabinowitz (Faculty Board of Governors Representative/Camden Faculty Liaison), Spiegel (Faculty Board of Trustee Representative), Stein (Research, and Graduate & Professional Education Committee Co-Chair)

The regular meeting of the University Senate Executive Committee was held on Friday, April 19, 2013 at 1:10 p.m. in the Executive Board Room of Administrative Services Building-III, Cook Campus.

1.    Chairperson’s Report  - Ann Gould, Senate Chairperson

[Note: Senate Chairperson Paul Panayotatos died on April 7, 2013. As Vice Chairperson, Ann Gould became Chair for the remainder of the term.] Senate and Executive Committee Chairperson Ann Gould called the meeting to order at 1:10 p.m. She spoke of her sadness at Paul Panayotatos's death, of his wisdom, doggedness, and institutional memory, and of their productive and long professional relationship. The Executive Committee then observed a moment of silence in Paul's memory.

2.    Secretary’s Report - Ken Swalagin, Executive Secretary of the Senate

Senate Executive Secretary Ken Swalagin began his secretary's report with an expression of appreciation and gratitude for Linda Mickelsen's service as the Senate's administrative assistant. He and the Executive Committee wished Linda well in her retirement, which is effective June 1, 2013.
3.    Administrative Liaison

University President Robert Barchi presented an administrative report, which included comments on:
Barchi then responded to questions, or heard comments, on the above topics as well as:
4.    Standing Committees

Committee Reports:

Research, and Graduate and Professional Education Committee (RGPEC) Response to Charge S-1108 on Research Support Infrastructure [Note: Link goes to the report as amended and adopted at the May 2013 Senate meeting.] - RGPEC Co-chairs Jane Otto and Gayle Stein attended the meeting, and summarized their committee's report on Charge S-1108 on Research Support Infrastructure. Suggestions were made for amending the report, including addition of an executive summary. The report was docketed for action at the upcoming Senate meeting. [Senators Otto and Stein left the meeting at 2:37 p.m.]

Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee (ASRAC) Response to Charge S-1206 on Academic Regulations, Student Achievement, and Effective Use of Resources - The ASRAC report on Charge S-1206 had been docketed provisionally, but ASRAC Co-chair Martha Cotter said that the report was not yet ready, but that she expected it to be finalized by the next Senate date. The report was docketed provisionally for action at the upcoming Senate meeting. [Note: Cotter later withdrew the ASRAC request for docketing until the fall.]

[Senator Haibach left the meeting at 2:59 p.m.]

Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee Partial Response to Charge S-1208, Required Changes to the Academic Integrity Policy  [Note: This report was not yet ready for this meeting. Link goes to the report as presented and adopted at the May 2013 Senate meeting.] - ASRAC Co-chair Martha Cotter summarized her committee's work and intentions relating to Charge S-1208 on Required Changes to the Academic Integrity Policy, which report was not yet complete. The report was docketed provisionally for action at the upcoming Senate meeting.

Issues/Charges:

Request for Independent Examination of Allocation of Funds, on a Per-Student Basis, by Campus, submitted by Senator Peter Simmons - This item was discussed during the secretary's report. Ann Gould will communicate with Peter Simmons on the issue.

Request for Stakeholder Discussion on Strategic Planning, submitted by Menahem Spiegel, Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee: Senator Spiegel had submitted the following: "By the request of members of Budget and Finance Committee, I would like to ask that the following short statement be added to the Executive Committee agenda: 'At this time of challenge and change for the University, the Senate Executive committee should consider organizing a stakeholder discussion In order to build agreement, understanding and support for the strategic planning process and for its implementation.' The main reason is that the Senate is a body of elected representatives from all parts of Rutgers." A draft strategic plan is expected over the summer, at which time the Executive Committee and the Senate's standing-committee chairs will meet to discuss it, with an expectation that the Senate will act on it in the fall before it goes to the Board of Governors in October.

Proposed Charge to Committee: Text of Email from Yuri Jadotte, Chair of the UMDNJ Student Senate, transmitting recommendations/manifesto regarding structure of student government at the School of Biomedical and Health Sciences - This communication from the UMDNJ School of Biomedical and Health Sciences student governing association was discussed. Student Senator Joseph Cashin volunteered to contact Yuri Jadotte to discuss Rutgers' processes and offices that may help guide the UMDNJ Student Senate in transitioning into Rutgers.

Review and Deadline Extensions Required for Pending Charges - Pending charges and deadlines were reviewed and modified as needed.

5.   Nominating Panel Update and Suggestion of Candidates for 2013-14 Senate Officers, Executive Committee Members, and Board Representatives - Ken Swalagin distributed copies of next-year's Senate roster, and asked the Executive Committee to review it and send him suggestions for nominations for Senate leadership, Executive Committee members, and board representative positions. The Executive Committee, which appoints the Nominating Panel, named the Executive Committee and board representatives as this year's Nominating Panel.

6.    Agenda for May 3, 2013 Senate Meeting

The agenda and schedule for the May 3, 2013 Senate regular and organizational meetings were discussed and established.

7.    Old Business

There was no old business.

8.    New Business

There was no new business.

9.    Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 4:27 p.m.

Minutes written and submitted by,

Ken Swalagin
Executive Secretary of the University Senate