MEMBERS PRESENT: Blasi, Cotter, Rabinowitz (Vice Chair), Panayotatos (Chair), Swalagin (Executive Secretary)
EXCUSED: Barone, Hirsh, Manhoff, Nedick, Rijhsinghani
ALSO ATTENDING: Furmanski (Administrative Liaison), McCormick (Administrative Liaison)
The regular meeting of the University Senate Executive Committee was held on Friday, December 5, 2003 at 1:10 p.m. in the Cap and Skull Room, Rutgers Student Center, College Avenue Campus.
1. Chairperson’s Report
Chairperson Panayotatos called the meeting to order. Noting that the ongoing snowstorm had prevented many of the usual attendees from arriving at the meeting, his chairperson’s report was very brief.
2. Secretary’s Report
Minutes: The Minutes of the November 7, 2003 Executive Committee meeting were approved as distributed by the Secretary.
Communications: The following communications were presented and acted upon as indicated:
President McCormick delivered the administrative report, which focused on the proposed restructuring of higher education in New Jersey.
4. Standing Committee Reports, Charges, Actions and Membership
Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee Response to Charge S-0311, Electronic Applications for Admission: The committee discussed the Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee report on Charge S-0311, which had been issued as follows: "Review Rutgers’ current policy and practices regarding use of electronic applications for admission. Make recommendations regarding the appropriateness of phasing out paper applications in favor of an all-electronic format." Senator Blasi noted that it is surprising that Rutgers is not part of the Common Application System. Executive Vice President Furmanski said that is being explored. The report was docketed for action at the January 23, 2004 Senate meeting.
Student Affairs Committee Response to Charge S-0321, Honor Cords: The committee discussed the Student Affairs Committee report on Charge S-0321, which had been issued as follows: "Consider and respond to the Assistant Secretary of the University's request for advice regarding wearing of honor cords with academic regalia at commencement ceremonies. In particular, consider which graduates/groups should be able to wear honor cords at commencement (e.g., only student activities/organizations with an academic focus, or whether other student organizations should be permitted to have graduates who participated in their activities wear a cord designating them as a member of that group at commencement); and who at Rutgers should decide which student organizations can have honor cords." The report was docketed for action at the January 23, 2004 Senate meeting. http://senate.rutgers.edu/honorcords.html
Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee Response to Charge S-0322, Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics: The committee discussed the Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee report on Charge S-0322, which had been issued as follows: "Consider the Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics' (COIA) request for endorsement of its Framework for Comprehensive Athletics Reform, and prepare a response which could be brought before the University Senate for formal endorsement." The report was docketed for action at the January 23, 2004 Senate meeting.
Student Affairs Committee Response to Charge S-0323, Input on Referendum Guidelines Review: The committee discussed the Student Affairs Committee report on Charge S-0323, which had been issued as follows: "Provide input on University Structure and Governance Committee's (USGC) charge S-0107, Referendum Guidelines Review. Consult and coordinate with USGC co-chairs on type and scope of input needed to revise the guidelines for referenda (currently used by Targum and NJPIRG Student Chapters)." The report was accepted for transmittal to the University Structure and Governance Committee.
Equal Opportunity Committee Response to Charge S-0327, FAIR v. Rumsfeld (expanded by the EOC to include recommendations "to implement fully Rutgers University policy on Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action"): The committee discussed the Equal Opportunity Committee’s response to Charge S-0327, which had been issued as follows: "Consider and report on whether Rutgers should be encouraged to join Fair v. Rumsfeld as a party plaintiff." The Equal Opportunity Committee (EOC) had expanded the original charge to include recommendations for implementing fully Rutgers University policy on Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action. The Executive Committee was asked by Secretary Swalagin to decide if the report’s first "Therefore" ("…urges the President and all officers of the University to agree to the provisions of the AAUP contract to provide domestic partnership benefits to same sex partners…") conflicts with the Senate’s policy concerning collective bargaining, which states, in part, "Under current law and interpretation, collective bargaining must take place on terms and conditions of employment. Thus, when a matter concerns only terms and conditions, collective bargaining should take place, and the Senate should refrain from offering advice, even though it has the authority to do so. When a matter concerns only personnel policy, the Senate should advise." Secretary Swalagin was instructed to ask the EOC chairs if that part of the report could be removed. If so, the report will be docketed for action at the January 23, 2004 Senate meeting. If not, the report will be returned to the EOC for further consideration. The EOC will also be asked to remove the word "lobbying" from a subsequent "Therefore" in the report.
Replacement for Student Affairs Committee Co-chair: SAC Co-chair Kristyn Byrnes resigned her Student Affairs Committee co-chairship on November 20, 2003. The Executive Committee accepted the offer of Marilyn Novell, student Senator representing the School of Pharmacy, to co-chair the Student Affairs Committee for the remainder of this academic year.
Potential Charge to Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee on Grading Policies: The Executive Committee considered a potential charge to the Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee on the need to create a grade to be assigned to students who register for courses but do not attend any classes, and who neglect to withdraw. No charge was issued.
Potential Charge to University Structure and Governance Committee: The Executive Committee considered a potential charge to the University Structure and Governance Committee, submitted by Senator Adam Cooper, as follows: "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." Noting that the composition of the boards was and is defined under Chapter 61 of the Laws of 1956, as well as the proposed restructuring of higher education in New Jersey, the Executive Committee declined to issue the charge at this time.
6. January 23, 2004 Senate Meeting Agenda: In addition to the New Brunswick Campus Report, which occurs annually, and which will be presented this year for the first time by Executive Vice President Furmanski, the Executive Committee docketed committee reports as previously noted in these minutes for the January 23, 2004 Senate meeting.
7. Old Business
Potential Charge to Student Affairs Committee on Handbook for Student Organizations, Rutgers-Newark, provision that undergraduate students may not hold office in graduate student organizations, and vice versa: A charge requested by a Rutgers-Newark student and president of a student organization regarding whether it is appropriate to restrict graduate and undergraduate students from holding office or membership in each other’s student organizations was reconsidered. Vice President for Student Affairs Emmet Dennis had recently declined a Senate Executive Committee request to take up this issue in the task force he chairs which was charged by President McCormick with standardizing student organization policies and guidelines, noting that it did not fit the scope or timeline of that task force. After further discussion, the Executive Committee declined to issue the charge at this time.
Discussion of Recent Reports and Developments on the Proposal to Restructure Higher Education in New Jersey: Discussions continued on the Proposal to Restructure Higher Education in New Jersey, and on the associated bond issue. No action was taken by the Executive Committee on this item at this meeting.
8. New Business: There was no new business.
9. Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 2:33 p.m.
Kenneth Swalagin
Executive Secretary of the University Senate