Response to Charge S-0316: Respond to the proposed restructuring questions/issues identified by the University Structure and Governance Committee co-chairs as relevant to the committee’s standing charge.  Provide periodic updates to the Senate Executive Committee, the first of which should be submitted in November 2003.

Realization of any opportunities to enhance the academic excellence of Rutgers University and of higher education in New Jersey offered by the proposed restructuring will hinge upon the effectiveness of the restructured system’s governance structure and adequacy of funding.  Responsible governance is a critical component of effective operation of every institution.  Good governance fosters management based on standards of independence and objectivity, which in turn allows institutions to serve the purposes for which they were created.  Achieving academic excellence requires academic freedom.  Before specific details of governance for a restructured higher-education system in New Jersey are established, we feel that it is important to enumerate the following basic principles.

We believe that strong universities begin with governance systems which allow self-determination of purpose, as well as strong local control.  Therefore, if the State of New Jersey is to create a system comprising three autonomous/semiautonomous research universities, the following principles of governance should be paramount:

• Each of the three autonomous/semiautonomous research universities should be self-determining and under local control.
• Each of the universities should have an independent governing board/board of trustees which would have authority for governing and operating the university, as well as appointing its president.
• Each of the universities should have a president who serves as its chief executive officer.

• The chancellor should serve primarily as an advocate for the research universities. Together with the board of regents, the chancellor should work with the three universities in coordinating budget allocations and strategic planning.  In keeping with these roles, the chancellor’s staff should be modest and focused on these important functions.
• The university governing boards/boards of trustees should play an important role in the selection of the chancellor, in consultation with the presidents and shared governance bodies.
• System-wide decisions made by the chancellor should be made with strong local input.

• The board of regents should consist of members appointed by the governor, as well as an approximately equal number of members appointed by the research universities.
• Members of the board of regents representing the research universities should be selected by the university governing boards/boards of trustees in consultation with the presidents and shared governance bodies.
• Members of the board of regents should be persons of stature, who are knowledgeable about higher education, and who can bring an independent voice and provide objective analysis.
• The board of regents should have at least one student and one faculty member, with voting rights.
• The board of regents, in consultation with the three universities, should have authority to appoint the chancellor.

• Each institutional structure should have a mechanism for shared governance which constitutes an appropriate and efficient vehicle for input by faculty, students, administrative staff, and alumni.
• In keeping with the University Senate’s earlier resolution, we reaffirm the necessity for both one-time costs of restructuring, as well as a stable, long-term solution to the problems of persistent under-funding of the state’s research universities by enacting a policy framework expressing the State of New Jersey’s responsibility for predictable core funding on a multi-year basis.

• adequate funding has been obtained for the implementation stage of the merger; and
• ongoing state funding equal at least to the average of the top quartile of publicly funded AAU institutions has been guaranteed; and
• the principles for university governance outlined in this report are adopted.

Whereas, the University Senate's Structure and Governance Committee has considered the issues relating to governance of the proposed restructured research universities; and
Whereas, the University Senate has reviewed the Committee's report and its recommendations, finding those Recommendations to be sound and in the best interests of Rutgers University;
Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Rutgers University Senate endorses the report of the University Structure and Governance Committee, and urges the Administration to implement its recommendations.