UNIVERSITY SENATE
Executive Committee

A G E N D A
October 2, 2015 - 1:10 p.m.


1.    Chair’s Report

2.    Secretary’s Report

3.    Administrative Liaison 4.    Proposal for Senate-Sponsored Symposium on Shared Governance for Rutgers' 250th Anniversary - Martha Cotter

5.    Standing Committees


Reports:


Instruction, Curricula and Advising Committee (ICAC) Response to Charge S-1413 on Selection Process for Software Packages or Services of Significant Instructional Impact [Revised]Natalie Borisovets, ICAC Chair

This report has been revised since first being discussed at the September EC meeting. The ICAC was charged as follows: Using the most recent Pearson contract as a case in point, review the process by which large contracts that have the potential to seriously affect curricular or academic areas of the University are awarded. How are final bidders selected, and by what criteria are choices made? How are specifications determined for components/needs? How do we ensure that faculty preferences and pedagogical priorities are included in the consideration of such packages?

University Structure and Governance Committee (USGC) Response to Charge S-1403 on Process for Unit Mergers or Other Structural Changes [Revised Draft] – Jon Oliver and Robert Puhak, USGC Co-chairs

This report was discussed at the previous EC meeting, and was sent back to committee for revision. The USGC was charged as follows: Consider whether the University Senate should establish a general procedure, timeline, template and process for merging, dissolution or making structural changes to any university unit. Consider how such a process could assist the university and units in working in a deliberate, consultative and rational way so that all issues, impacts, concerns and benefits can be properly considered on a timely basis. Make recommendations on time limits, and process.

University Structure and Governance Committee Response to Charge S-1410 on Honorary Degree and Commencement Speaker Selection Processes [Currently previous draft. Revised draft expected.] – Jon Oliver and Robert Puhak, USGC Co-chairs

This report was discussed at the previous EC meeting, and was sent back to committee for revision, but was also docketed for Senate action for the October Senate meeting. The USGC was charged as follows: Formulate details of processes to be used to facilitate the proposal submitted to President Barchi on Charge S-1405 on Procedures for Selecting Commencement Speakers and Honorary Degree Recipients.

Issues/Proposed Charges:


Proposed Charge on Deregistration of Students for Non-Payment of Term Bills -
Submitted by Rudy Bell

6.   
[At approximately 1:45 p.m.] Briefing on Compliance Policies for Accessibility of Online Materials - Gayle Stein, Associate Director of Information, OIT-Office of Instructional and Research Technology; and William Welsh, Executive Director, Office of Services for Students with Disabilities

7.    University Senate Agenda

October 16, 2015 Senate Meeting:

8.    Old Business

From Robert Boikess, as “a matter of interest for the Senate,” on flawed evaluations of faculty teaching - This matter was discussed briefly at the previous EC meeting, but was tabled until ICAC Chair Natalie Borisovets could be present.

From James Oleske, RBHS: The items below were discussed at the September EC meeting, and acted upon as indicated in brackets:

1. I believe that the medical residents that our faculty supervise, teach and direct for three to seven year periods of residency training, should be considered graduate/post graduate students of Rutgers and after completion of their residency training programs considered Rutgers Alumni. [Jane Otto to speak with Oleske and will bring further information to the EC regarding a potential committee charge.]
2. I would ask for the continued and strong support of the RGPEC in advocating for the continued support of library services in the maintenance for repository/collections that support literature searches and access for faculty, residents and students. In particular I am concerned about any support reduction of the Smith library servicing the Newark campus of NJMS/Rutgers. [Jane Otto to speak with Oleske and will bring further information to the EC regarding a potential committee charge.]
3. There have been several negative consequences due to the separation of the university hospital in Newark NJ from Rutgers NJMS that threatens the education and clinical training goals for students, residents and faculty at Rutgers NJMS. [Jerry Langer to speak with Oleske and will bring further information to the EC regarding a potential committee charge.]

Follow-Up on Law Schools Merger
- Submitted by Brandon Thiess, as follows:

Dr. Barchi in his address to the Senate on several occasions stated that the combined law schools will generate administrative cost savings. However, both Camden Law Campus acting Dean Oberdiek and Newark Law Campus  Dean Chen, when questioned were unaware of the administrative cost savings the President was referring to and did not know where such savings could be realized. In fact, Acting Dean Oberdiek suggested that there was an increase in administrative costs associated with the merger. Further, both Deans emphasized there was not a planned reduction in faculty or staff as a result of the merger. In addition, the cost of operating the physical buildings will increase over time and in fact the immersive classroom (aka the "holodeck")  will not be paid off for several year. If the campus Deans are unaware of the sources of the savings and are not labor and  facilities, where will the savings come from and how will we know if the savings actually occurs?


Budget and Finance Committee (BFC) input on President Barchi’s Response to Senate Report and Recommendations on Charge S-1408 on Athletics Program Deficits was requested by Peter Gillett at the September EC meeting. BFC Chair Menahem Spiegel said he will recommend that an outside authority investigate the matter.

At the September meeting, the EC appproved a motion to invite Kim Pastva, Interim Secretary of the University, to attend an EC meeting to discuss how University Policies are revised and disseminated.

9.    New Business

Proposal for Senate Co-Sponsorship of Symposium on Academic Freedom in November - Submitted by David Hughes, President of Rutgers AAUP-AFT - The EC members were e-polled for input on this matter last week. Discussion will continue at this meeting.

Proposal on "Senate Transparency" - Submitted by Justin Schulberg, New Brunswick Student Executive Committee Member

Statement of Support for the Faculty Senate of the University of Iowa - The statement solicits endorsement by representatives of faculty governance systems across the CIC of their statement of no confidence in their Board of Regents.

10.  Adjournment