UNIVERSITY SENATE
Executive Committee

A G E N D A
October 30, 2015 - 1:10 p.m.


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

2.    Secretary’s Report
- Ken Swalagin, Executive Secretary of the Senate
3.    Administrative Report - Robert Barchi, University President

4.    Standing Committees

Reports:


University Structure and Governance Committee Response to Charge S-1410 on Honorary Degree and Commencement Speaker Selection Processes [This is a DRAFT version. Revised report expected, and that will be posted as soon as it becomes available. It will also be distributed in hardcopy at the meeting. The bulk of the revisions will be in the Background section of the report.] – Jon Oliver and Robert Puhak, USGC Co-chairs

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/Charges:


Proposed Charge to Research, and Graduate and Professional Education Committee (RGPEC) on Responsible Conduct of Research -
Submitted by Anthony Tamburello, RGPEC Chair

Investigate and make recommendations on establishment and implementation of a universitywide policy on training and oversight in the responsible conduct of research (RCR) at Rutgers. Where appropriate, make specific recommendations for different training tracks, e.g. NSF- and NIH- compliant programs. Identify gaps in current resources, the intended recipients of RCR training (e.g. graduate students, undergraduate researchers, postdocs, faculty, etc.), the expected costs (if known) and benefits of implementing recommendations, and the unit(s) responsible for implementing and tracking compliance. Report to Senate Executive Committee by December 2016.

 

Proposed Charge to Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee (ASRAC) on Default 16-Year Academic Calendar - Submitted by Ken Swalagin, Executive Secretary of the Senate

Default 16-Year Academic Calendar: Review the 16-year default academic calendar drafted by Mary Mickelsen. Make revisions as needed. Report to Senate Executive Committee by February 2016.

Charge Deadline Extension -
Research, and Graduate and Professional Education Committee (RGPEC) requests extension of deadline on Charge S-1505 on  to February 1, 2016. RGPEC is planning to hold a meeting with stakeholders to present ORCID, gather support and buy-in, and identify/address questions. This is scheduled to occur prior to the Senate meeting 12/11/2015, and is important for their report. The RGPEC has been charged as follows:

Implementing ORCID Identifiers: Investigate and make recommendations with regard to an implementation of ORCID identifiers (i.e. issuing ORCID iDs) at Rutgers. If deemed appropriate, make specific recommendations for incremental implementation, for example, beginning with the graduate school(s). Identify benefits, processes, timeline, who would be involved, and approximate costs. Respond to Senate Executive Committee by December 18, 2015. [Issued June 2015.]


On Campbell Field, Camden
- Submitted by Brandon Theiss, Camden Student Member of the Executive Committee

“The Camden Riversharks, an unaffiliated minor league baseball team, that played for the past 15 years in the $25 Million Dollar Campbell Field have ceased operations. Rutgers is the titleholder of the 6,700-seat waterfront ballpark. Prior to folding, the Riversharks had been responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the stadium. Who will pay for the upkeep of the stadium while the Camden County Improvement Authority attempts to find a new tenant? What say if any will Rutgers have in the selection of a new tenant? In the event that a new tenant can not be found (which is quite likely given the Phillies must approve the new tenant), will the Rutgers Scarlet Raptors Athletics teams be forced to relocate?”


5.    University Senate Agenda

November 13, 2015 Senate Meeting:

6.    Old Business

Senate Faculty Membership Entitlements by Unit: Determination of which numbers of faculty lines should be used for Senate entitlement calculations: Numbers received in the past from the administration have included only state-funded lines, and did include TA and GA lines. RBHS and possibly other units include many faculty not on state lines. Ken Swalagin has received total numbers of faculty in each unit, and will report on this matter. University Policies 50.2.1 and 60.5.2 A and B  may require revision to clarify and specify which faculty should be included in the calculations.

New Brunswick Faculty Council Resolution of Support of PTL Negotiations - Karen Thompson: Also submitted are related resolutions adopted by the Camden Faculty Council, and presented to the Executive Council of Rutgers AAUP-AFT on September 9, 2015

From Robert Boikess, as “a matter of interest for the Senate,” on flawed evaluations of faculty teaching
- This matter was discussed at two previous Executive Committee meetings. Chairs of the Instruction, Curricula and Advising Committee, and of the Faculty and Personnel Affairs Committee will discuss the matter and bring a proposed charge.

Follow-Up on Law Schools Merger - Submitted by Brandon Theiss, 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?" This matter was discussed briefly at the previous EC meeting, at which time Gould noted that status reports on Senate-approved mergers need to be scheduled.


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

University Policy Revision Process: 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.

7.    New Business

8.    Adjournment