Text of Interim President Edwards'
August 8, 2012 Response to Senate report and recommendations on Charge
S-0812A, Part II, Evaluation of Upper Administrators:
Dear Mr. Swalagin:
I am writing in response to
the Report and Recommendations on Charge S-0812A, Part II, Evaluation
of Upper Administrators, as adopted by the University Senate on March
23, 2012
upon the recommendation of the Faculty and Personnel Affairs Committee
(FPAC).
As you know, the university
is in a stage of considerable transition. Dr. Robert L. Barchi will
assume the
Rutgers presidency effective September 1, 2012. In addition, the New
Jersey
Medical and Health Sciences Education Restructuring Act, which awaits
approval
by Gov. Christie and our governing boards, would significantly
restructure the
university and includes provisions to create several new high-level
administrative positions. Given the
unknown implications of both of these changes on the university’s
administrative structure, I do not support the adoption of a new and
significant
evaluation procedure for upper administrators at this time.
Please
inform the members of FPAC that I appreciate the time and consideration
that
they have given to the question of extending the Senate process for
decanal
reviews to other high-level administrators. However, I do not believe
that this
is an opportune time to consider instituting such an evaluation policy.
Sincerely,
Richard
L. Edwards, Ph.D.
Interim
President