November 5, 2004
MEMBERS PRESENT: Barone, Borisovets, Cotter (Chair), Curry, Darien, Hirsh, Rabinowitz (Vice Chair), Swalagin (Executive Secretary)
EXCUSED: Blasi, Panayotatos
ALSO ATTENDING: Adam
(Newark Faculty Liaison), Dholandas (Student BOG Representative), Furmanski
(Administrative Liaison), Kauffman (for University Structure and Governance
Committee), Leath (Faculty BOG Representative), McCormick (Administrative
Liaison), Miller (New Brunswick Faculty Liaison)
The regular meeting of the University Senate Executive Committee was held on Friday, November 5, 2004 at 1:10 p.m. in the Cap and Skull Room, Rutgers Student Center, College Avenue Campus.
1. Chairperson’s Report
Chairperson Cotter convened the meeting, and, noting that the day's agenda was a very full one, limited her chairperson's report to a reminder to the committee that it should focus on acting on the various agenda items rather than on the merits of, or solutions to, the issues contained in those items.
2. Secretary's Report
Minutes: The Minutes of the October 1, 2004 Executive Committee meeting were approved.
Communications: The following communications were presented by Secretary Swalagin and acted upon as indicated:
President McCormick's administrative report focused on the state budget, particularly state appropriations to Rutgers, and included comments on the following aspects of the budget: promised but currently not received funding for contractually mandated salary increases; ongoing discussions with state legislators regarding Rutgers' appropriations; ways in which some of Rutgers' greatest areas of need (e.g., restoration of previous budget cuts, funding for salary increases) could be made more appealing to the legislature; and reversal of revenue streams over the past 15 years to the current situation in which tuition revenue exceeds state allocations.
4. Standing Committee Reports and Charges
Faculty Affairs and Personnel Committee (FAPC), Response to Charge S-0310, E-mail Privacy: The FAPC had been charged as follows: "Examine university policies and procedures with respect to the privacy of the e-mail communications and other computer files of members of the university community and make recommendations for change where appropriate. Address: what are the current university policy and practices with regard to e-mail privacy? Are current policy and practices appropriate for a university community? How was the current policy formulated and how has it been communicated and explained to members of the University community? Are there appropriate procedures in place to regulate the examination of e-mail and notify those whose e-mail has been examined?" FAPC Co-chair Paul Leath summarized the report, which was then docketed for action at the November 19, 2004 Senate meeting.
Faculty Affairs and Personnel Committee, Response to Charge S-0404, Faculty Departmental Voting Rights: The FAPC had been charged as follows: "Consider the request by the incoming chair of the School of Engineering Rules and Procedures Committee that the Senate recommend to the Board of Governors that language be added to University Regulations governing faculty voting rights in departments regarding joint, 50/50 departmental appointments. In particular investigate if the following or similar language would be appropriate: "Voting members of the faculty shall be those faculty members who occupy more than 50 percent of a position in the current budget, and of those holding 50/50 appointments, a declaration shall be made by the faculty member at the time of initial appointment as to the department in which the voting right shall reside." The following was subsequently added to the charge: "Consider and make recommendations regarding creation of guidelines and/or special deanships for dealing with jointly appointed faculty." FAPC Co-chair Paul Leath summarized the report, which was then docketed for action at the November 19, 2004 Senate meeting.
University Structure and Governance Committee (USGC), Response to Charges S-0324, Senate Bylaws Review, and Charge S-0320, Election Procedures for At-Large and PTL/Annual Appointee Senators: The USGC had been charged as follows: "S-0324, Senate Bylaws Review: Review Senate bylaws and enabling University Regulations as outlined in the Senate Handbook, and make recommendations for revisions, particularly regarding Senate membership, officer eligibility and requirements. Consult with Senate secretary and chair to identify specific aspects of the bylaws and regulations to be examined. Preliminary report to Senate Executive Committee by January 2005." "S-0320, Election Procedures for At-Large and PTL/Annual Appointee Senators: Review the procedures for election of at-large faculty Senators (and faculty Senators representing other research and academic units) as mandated by Senate bylaws. Examine the process and make recommendations regarding simplifying and updating the election process. Consider whether election of part-time lecturer and annual appointee Senators should be conducted by the same process. Consult with Rita MacIndoe in the office of Academic Affairs regarding last year's election process and outcome, and with Senate Secretary Swalagin regarding recent PTL/Annual elections. Respond to Senate Executive Committee by January 2005." The report will be docketed on two separate Senate agendas: first to the November 19, 2004 Senate to be introduced for information only, with accompanying solicitation of feedback directly to the USGC; and thereafter, and following receipt of comments and potential revision by the USGC, to the January 21, 2005 Senate for action. Specific elements of the final report may be separated out to be voted on individually by secret ballot.
University Structure and Governance Committee, Resolution on Facilitating Senate Participation in Committee Meetings Through The Use of Modern Teleconference Technology: Neither USGC co-chair was able to attend the meeting. USGC member Frederick Kauffman presented the following resolution which the USGC passed by consensus and submitted to the Senate Executive Committee: "We believe that the University needs a reliable and stable video and telephone conferencing system in order to facilitate the participation of Senators from multiple campuses in Senate business. The preponderance of meetings in New Brunswick is a powerful disincentive for participation from members on the Newark and Camden campuses. The Route 18 construction will exacerbate this problem and heighten the need. These barriers create a situation where an inordinate amount of time must be spent getting to Senate meetings. We would like to request that Chuck Hedrick look into this and report back to the Senate. The use of this technology in the committee’s meeting on October 19th illustrates the usefulness of the idea and its possible payoff." Following discussion, the Executive Committee asked Secretary Swalagin to draft a charge on this issue. The draft charge will be considered at the January 7, 2005 Executive Committee meeting, and the appropriate committee to receive the charge will be identified.
University Structure and Governance Committee, Decision on Possible Revision Of Method Of Selecting Governing Board Representatives: In response to a request to consider a suggestion that board representatives be elected by only those Senators of the corresponding constituency (i.e., students, faculty), the USGC submitted the following excerpt from its Minutes: "The committee considered and debated Senator Adam Cooper’s suggestion that student representatives to the governing boards of the University from the Senate be elected only by students, and, by implication, that this be extended to other interest groups such as faculty. There was no support for this change. The reasoning was that the Senate is a body that represents the entire University. The committee wanted to retain that identity in the way these representatives were chosen. The decision was by consensus."
Appeals Panel, Report of Findings on the College of Nursing Student Senate Appeal of the Location of the New College of Nursing Building in Downtown New Brunswick: Senate Vice Chair Rabinowitz, chair of the Appeals Panel, summarized the panel's findings on an appeal filed by the College of Nursing Student Senate regarding the location of the new College of Nursing building in downtown New Brunswick. Executive Vice President Furmanski expressed concern that the appeal had been considered and decided based upon a definition of "consultation" which did not exist at the time of the actions being appealed, and which could therefore not have been known by the administration as the requirements for fulfilling the obligation to "consult." Appeals Panel Chair Rabinowitz offered to take Executive Vice President Furmanski's concerns to the Appeals Panel for consideration. The report had been presented to the Executive Committee for information purposes only, as the Appeals Panel acts on behalf of the full Senate, and appeals decisions/reports are not subject to action or approval by the Executive Committee and/or Senate. The Appeals Panel will bring to the Executive Committee its recommendation for formalizing its working definition of "consultation" in University Regulations at a subsequent meeting.
Potential Charge to Committee regarding Senator Adam Cooper's Resolution in Opposition to the Nomination of George Zoffinger to the Rutgers University Board of Governors: This resolution, which had been brought on the Senate floor on October 22 without first being heard in a Senate standing committee, was discussed. Senator Dholandas said that Mr. Zoffinger would meet with a delegation of students to discuss the matter later that day. On motion and duly seconded, this item was tabled until the January 7, 2005 Executive Committee meeting.
Charge to Faculty Affairs and Personnel Committee (FAPC): In response to Executive Vice President Furmanski's memo regarding Clinical and Professional Practice Tracks for Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Rutgers Business School/School of Business-Camden, and Mason Gross School of the Arts, the FAPC was charged as follows: Review and respond to the administration's proposals regarding Clinical and Professional Practice Tracks for: the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology; Rutgers Business School in New Brunswick and Newark, and the School of Business-Camden; and the Mason Gross School of the Arts. Report to Senate Executive Committee by March 15, 2005.
Charge to Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee (ASRAC): In response to a request by Senator/Professor Joseph Potenza and Professor Gregory Herzog, the following charge was issued to the ASRAC: "Consider and make recommendations regarding the proposal to increase the formation content of student transcripts. Respond to Senate Executive Committee by February 11, 2005."
Postponement of FAPC Charge S-0407 on Faculty Reporting Processes: FAPC Co-chair Leath, noting that the issue on which his committee's Charge S-0407 is based is currently being addressed by the University administration. He asked that an indefinite hold be placed on this charge. The Executive Committee changed the report deadline on the charge to March 15, 2005.
Charge to University Structure and Governance Committee: As requested by the Graduate School Executive Council, via Chairperson Cotter, the USGC was charged as follows: Consider creating a University Senate standing committee on research and graduate and professional studies. Report to Senate Executive Committee by February 11, 2005.
Potential Charge to Instruction, Curricula and Advising Committee: The Executive Committee considered a draft charge submitted by Senator Adam Cooper as follows: "Examine the way that university teaching surveys are used in the university and make recommendations on best practices. Consider the way these results are analyzed and synthesized by the university, as well as the number of professors and students participating in the surveys each semester. Also, determine whether or not students are aware of the availability of the results of these surveys." Senator Cooper had referred to a Targum article for background on this proposed charge. Secretary Swalagin said that he had referred Senator Cooper to the Senate's March 2001 report on "Posting Student Instructional Rating Data to the Web," and that Senator Cooper responded that his proposed charge "goes perhaps one step further in requesting that the evaluations be linked directly onto online schedule of classes on each individual entry." Following discussion, on motion and duly seconded, the Executive Committee voted no action on the proposed charge, noting that the issues were covered in the 2001 report.
Potential Charge to Instruction, Curricula and Advising Committee: The Executive Committee considered a draft charge submitted by Senator Adam Cooper as follows: "Examine the role that teaching ability plays in promotion and tenure decisions." Senator Cooper had also referred to the same, previously mentioned Targum article for background on this proposed charge. Following discussion, on motion and duly seconded, the Executive Committee declined to issue the proposed charge, noting that the issues were covered in the FAPC's February/May 2002 Recommendations on Best Practices in Assessment of Teaching.
Request for Charge Deadline Extension: In response to Student Affairs Committee Chair Nicole Smith's request for an extension of the deadline for its Charge S-0406 on Tolerance/Sensitivity, the Executive Committee extended the charge deadline to February 11, 2005.
Potential Addendum to Charge: The Executive Committee considered Senator Adam Cooper's November 5 suggestion to add to the Instruction, Curricula and Advising Committee charge on Assignment of Textbooks, the report of which had been referred back to committee at the October 22, 2004 Senate meeting. Senator Cooper had asked that the committee also consider "crafting an overall textbook policy, specifically considering best practices for reducing textbook costs for students." ICAC Chair Borisovets was present at the meeting, and said that the committee is already considering this. No change was made to the existing charge.
5. November 19, 2004 University Senate Meeting Agenda
Nominations for the November 19 special election for Student Member of the Executive Committee were accepted. Items/reports were docketed for Senate action and/or information as indicated previously in these minutes. Time limits for discussion of docketed committee reports were set.
6. Old Business
A brief follow-up discussion on the Senate's October 2000 report on Use of Social Security Numbers as Student Identification Numbers was followed by Senator Hirsh's volunteering to consult with Chuck Hedrick regarding a method of converting Social Security numbers to other numbers which could be used as student identifiers. Senator Hirsh's subsequent motion to table this item until the January 7, 2005 Executive Committee meeting was duly seconded, and carried.
7. New Business
Regarding Vice President for Student Affairs Blimling's memo on formation of a committee to review Rutgers' Academic Integrity Policy, Executive Vice President Furmanski noted that a policy is currently in place at Rutgers, and must be followed during the policy's revision process. He asked that the Senate send that message to students. On Senator Hirsh's motion, the Executive Committee asked Executive Vice President Furmanski to send that message to the dean of each unit, and to Vice President for Student Affairs Blimling. Chairperson Cotter will also include the message in her November 19 Chairperson's Report.
On a related matter, Chairperson Cotter, who is also Executive Committee liaison to the Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee (ASRAC), suggested that a hold be placed on the ASRAC's charge to review the Academic Integrity Policy pending the report of the University administration's committee which has also been charged with reviewing the policy. The suggestion was approved, with the caveat that the ASRAC may still discuss the charge, but no ASRAC report will be expected until after the administrative committee has reported.
8. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 4:03 p.m. by Chairperson
Cotter.
Kenneth Swalagin
Executive Secretary of the Senate