U. Senate Executive Committee Agenda, November 21, 2014

Message from Ann Gould: "I have received personal thanks from both Leslie Fehrenbach and Robert Barchi for the terrific work everyone on the Executive Committee has done with the honorary degree selection. I know that President Barchi mentioned this at the last Executive Committee meeting, but I heard him mention it again at the Board of Governors Committee on Alumni and University Relations Committee last week, as did Leslie. Good job everybody!"

Student Affairs Committee (SAC) Response to Charge S-1311 on Process of Changing Rutgers Cultural and Traditional Icons - SAC Co-chairs Robert Barraco, Sara Kim, and Samuel Rabinowitz

The Student Affairs Committee has been charged as follows: Charge S-1311, Process of Changing Rutgers Cultural and Traditional Icons: "Examine the process by which changes are made to cultural and traditional icons of Rutgers University and, where necessary, define such a process which is transparent and available to key stakeholders."

University Structure and Governance Committee (USGC) Response to Charge S-1309 on Senate Election Procedures [Report expected soon.] - USGC Co-chairs Jon Oliver and Robert Puhak

The USGC has been charged as follows: Charge S-1309, Senate Election Procedures: "Review election procedures used by the Senate, and, if appropriate, recommend improved procedures."

Proposed Charge to Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee (ASRAC) on Expediting the Education of Military Veterans at All Rutgers University Campuses, submitted by Senator Nambaramey Dy. This charge was discussed at the October 31 Executive Committee meeting, and is being brought back for discussion of a revised charge. A draft revised charge will be presented at this meeting. The charge had originally been proposed as follows:

"Examine obstacles preventing military Veterans from expediting their education at all Rutgers campuses. If deemed appropriate, recommend policy and process changes that would promote growth of inter-campus collaboration. Refer to Student Caucus proposal for this charge when deliberating. Identify issues to be further considered by the Instruction, Curricula and Advising Committee, if necessary. " [Follow this link to read the rationale submitted for this charge.]

In October, this charge was discussed, including the related Department of Defense Joint Services Transcript program. ASRAC Co-chair Martha Cotter said she would speak with Mary Beth Daisey in Camden, and would do some other preliminary work or investigation on the matter, after which the Executive Committee could better consider this proposed charge.

Proposed Charge on Reimbursement of Student Fees (with Interest), and Rationale, submitted by Senator Nambaramey Dy on behalf of the Student Caucus:

"Reimbursement of student fees (with interest) to Rutgers students if their student fees are diverted from academics to athletics to supplement or finance the mounting debt/deficit of the Rutgers athletics program: Examine the allocation and utilization of all non-academic and athletics programs that are funded in part or in full by student fees all Rutgers Campus’s. If deemed appropriate, recommend policy and process changes that would prevent student fees from being redistributed from academics to athletics. Refer to student caucus proposal for this charge when deliberating. Identify issues to be further considered."

Discussion of Potential Upcoming Proposals for Fall 2015 Unit Mergers: Camden and Newark Law Schools, and a new Rutgers Division of Graduate Studies, which will be an umbrella over all graduate education in New Brunswick. A checklist is needed outlining what information the Senate needs to consider the law schools merger, because we do not yet have a template for these processes, but do need to act now on this matter. Ann Gould and Martha Cotter will meet with Jerry Kukor and Kathy Scotto next month to discuss the plans for the Division of Graduate Studies.

Proposed Resolution on Salary and Tuition, Revised, submitted by Robert Boikess on behalf of the Faculty Caucus. This resolution was discussed at last month's meeting, and has now been resubmitted in a more Senate-appropriate form than the original resolution, which emanates from the New Brunswick Faculty Council. Resolution as originally considered and later revised by Senator Boikess is online here. [Note: This document was revised by Senator Boikess and reposted on November 21.]