University Senate
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES
February 2, 2001
PRESENT: MEMBERS: Borisovets, Leath, Rabinowitz
(Vice Chair), Scott (Chair), Swalagin (Executive Secretary)
EXCUSED: Barone, Fechter, Kelly, Koehler, Walker-Andrews
ALSO ATTENDING: Bernice Ginder (RUCS), McKay (RUCS),
Ishayik (Undergraduate Student BOT Representative), Joseph Percoco (RUCS),
Seneca (Administrative Liaison)
The regular meeting of the University Senate Executive
Committee was held on Friday, February 2, 2001 at 1:10 p.m. in the President’s
Dining Room, Brower Commons, College Avenue Campus.
1. Chairperson’s Report
Chairperson Scott called the meeting to order.
2. Secretary's Report
Minutes: Minutes
of the January 12, 2001 Executive Committee meeting were approved as
distributed by the Secretary.
Communications: The following communications were
presented and acted upon as noted:
-
January 17, 2001 e-mail from Kenneth Iuso, University Registrar,
in response to Ken Swalagin’s request that his e-mail to students regarding
changes in the add/drop period could be sent/resent to all Rutgers students
on all campuses: "It was sent on the first day of classes, and will be
sent again on Monday. I’ll double check with Camden and Newark." Noted.
-
January 23, 2001 letter from Robert Hamilton, IV, Graduate
Student Representative to the Board of Trustees, resigning that position,
citing time constraints. Election of a replacement was docketed for the
February 23, 2001 Senate meeting. Senators Daniel Knee and Melissa Cragin
were nominated; Secretary Swalagin will contact both to confirm acceptance
of the nominations. Any Rutgers graduate student may also be nominated
from the floor at the February Senate meeting.
-
February 2, 2001 e-mail from Richard Bird, Graduate Registrar,
regarding drop/add periods, and the need to publish Fall-term calendars
in March. Discussed under "Standing Committee Charges," below.
3. Administrative Report
Noting that his New Brunswick Campus Report, delivered
to the full Senate just one week prior, and subsequent questions and answers
had summarized recent administrative activities and issues, University
Vice President Seneca reported briefly on: President Lawrence’s recent
activities; and the state budget.
4. Standing Committee and Administrative Reports
-
Follow-up on the Senate’s Resolution
concerning the Use of Social Security Numbers as Student Identification
Numbers was presented by Senator McKay, Bernice Ginder, and Joseph
Percoco, of RUCS. Preliminary information on the cost, scope, and complexity
of the project to convert to non-Social Security number student IDs was
discussed at length. At Chairperson Scott’s request, Senator Ishayik agreed
to prepare a list of places where students are asked to provide student
identification numbers. The list will be provided to Senator McKay as soon
as possible. Chairperson Scott asked RUCS to provide the actual number
of separate computer systems within and outside of Rutgers which would
be affected by the change. She closed the discussion, which will be continued
at the March Executive Committee meeting, with a request that RUCS "Tell
us what you can, then tell us what else you need to know."
Instruction, Curricula and Advising Committee Chair Natalie
Borisovets, and Subcommittee Chair Kathleen Scott presented the report
in response to Charge
S-9913, to "Review the (‘TA Report") training of graduate students
by departments for teaching undergraduate-level courses at Rutgers." The
comprehensive report was discussed briefly at the January 12, 2001 Executive
Committee meeting, and was subsequently made available online, as a draft
for comment, to the Senate. The report was discussed, and docketed for
action at the February 23, 2001 Senate meeting. The Senate will consider
the recommendations in sets; time limits will be set for discussion.
5. Standing Committee Charges
-
The Executive Committee considered a charge to Academic Standards,
Regulations, and Admissions (ASRA) Committee and Student Affairs Committee
to review the revised drop/add trial period and other matters related to
registration (as stipulated in the December 1, 2000 Senate resolution on
this subject). This charge had been discussed at January 12, 2001 Executive
Committee meeting; action was postponed until trial-period data become
available. Richard Bird’s e-mail regarding Fall-term calendar publishing
deadlines was also discussed. Chairperson Scott will consult with Kenneth
Iuso, University Registrar, regarding availability of drop/add trial-period
data, as well as calendar publishing deadlines. Mr. Iuso will be copied
on the committee charge, with a request to provide appropriate data and
analysis. Pending that response, the charge was issued to ASRA, without
deadline, as follows:
Charge S-0101, Review of Add/Drop Periods: Review the
current regulations concerning the drop/add periods. Evaluate the data
from the Spring 2001 trial period and determine whether the longer add
period had a significant effect in making more spaces/courses available
to students. In light of these findings, consider how long the "drop" and
"add" portions of the drop/add period at the beginning of each semester
should be. Consider whether additional measures should be taken to ensure
equal access to classes, including limiting the number of credits for which
students can pre-register during the pre-registration period or raising
the fee for dropping with a "W" after the drop/add period ends.
6. February 23, 2001 Senate Agenda
Items were docketed and scheduled for the February 23,
2001 Senate agenda, including election of a Graduate Student Representative
to the Board of Trustees, and consideration of the ICA subcommittee’s report
on Teaching-Assistant Training.
7. Adjournment
Senator Borisovets moved to carry the remaining agenda
items to the next meeting. The motion was seconded, and carried on vote.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:30 p.m. by Chairperson Scott.
Kenneth Swalagin
Executive Secretary of the Senate