RUTGERS
UNIVERSITY SENATE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
M I N U T E S
April 13, 2018
MEMBERS PRESENT: Boikess, Borisovets, Esposito, Gillett
(Chair), Gould, Krapivin, Oliver, Parsa, Settles,
Thompson, Van Stine
MEMBERS EXCUSED: Kelly, Scoloveno
MEMBERS ABSENT: Walters
ALSO ATTENDING: B. Lee (Senior Vice President
for Academic
Affairs), M.
Mickelsen
(Executive Secretary), S.
Rabinowitz (Faculty Representative to the Board of Governors), R.
Schwartz (Faculty Representative to the Board of Trustees), M. Soto
(RBHS At-Large Senator)
The regular meeting of the University Senate Executive Committee was
held on Friday, April 13, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. in Room 116ABC
at the Busch Student Center, Busch Campus.
1.
Chair’s Report
- Peter Gillett, Senate Chair
Senate and Executive Committee Chair Peter Gillett called the
meeting to order at 12:00 p.m. He spoke about:
- Mary Mickelsen being offered, and subsequently accepting, the
Executive Secretary position;
- his meeting with Kimberly Manning, Jon Oliver, and Rob Heffernan
on March 13 to
discuss the EC's concerns regarding Rutgers' Identity in Rating
Reports, which led to a focus group meeting of 25 Senators, Manning,
and
several members of her team on April 6; the result of which she
plans to present to the whole Senate in the fall; and
- the arrival of Senator Martha Soto at 12:30 p.m. to discuss her
concerns regarding the RWJ/Barnabas merger.
2. Secretary’s Report - Mary Mickelsen,
Executive Secretary of the Senate
3. Administrative Liaison
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Barbara Lee presented
an administrative report, which
included comments on:
Lee then responded to questions, or heard comments on the above
subjects, as well as:
- status of international and out-of-state admissions; and
- status of Lee's committee looking into learning platforms and
when a final report is anticipated.
4. Schedule
of Senate and Executive Committee Meetings, Academic Year 2018-19
Revised
per previous Executive Committee action. Final schedule was
approved by the Executive Committee.
5. Schedule
of Agenda Item Submission Dates, Academic Year 2018-19 -
Approved
6.
Issue Raised by Faculty Senator Martha
Soto, RBHS At-Large,
regarding the Communication regarding the Financial and Employment
Impacts from Barnabas and RBHS Merger.
The
following is an email sent to Chair
Peter Gillett from Senator
Soto on April 6, 2018:
To introduce
this topic, please note the two messages below (two dramatically
different messages being circulated this week about the financial and
employment impacts from the merge between Barnabas and RBHS).
The
finances of my Department, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, have
already been enormously affected by the Barnabas merger. Most of
our hospital testing, one main source of financial revenue for any
Pathology Department, was privatized overnight, putting not just our
finances at risk, but also our educational mission. Our new
chair, freshly recruited from out of state, and our new Dean were
powerless to stop this. This happened more than a year ago, and
we are still struggling to recover. At NJMS, entire medical
divisions have been shifted from U. Hospital to Beth Israel, by
Barnabas, with little or no warning.
As
one of the At-Large Senators for RBHS, and a member of the Senate
Finance Committee, I feel compelled to raise the concerns for the RBHS
faculty and staff regarding how the Barnabas-RBHS merger is being
conducted, and bout the flow of communication, or misinformation, as
the case my be.
Letter from Chancellor Brian Strom: "Update
on Discussions with Robert Wood Johnson-Barnabas Health"
Letter from AAUP-BHSNJ President Roger
Johansen: "The
Truth about RWJ Barnabas and Rutgers"
Senator Soto's concerns were discussed
at length and it was decided no Senate action was warranted at this
time. However, Peter Gillett will invite Chancellor Strom to the
June 8 Executive Committee meeting to address the issues raised.
7.
Committees/Panels
Committee Reports:
Consider
and recommend a procedure, timeline, template, and process for merger
or dissolution of, or making structural changes to, non-academic units
that have a broad educational impact. Refer to the Senate report
and
recommendations on Charge
S-1403, Process for Unit Mergers or Other Structural Changes, when
considering this charge.
Oliver summarized his committee's report on Charge S-1403:
Process for Unit Mergers or Other Structural Changes. The Executive
Committee suggested minor formatting changes and docketed the report
for the April 27 Senate meeting.
University Structure and Governance
Committee (USGC) Response to Charge A-1710 on Policy on
Centers and Institutes - Jon Oliver, USGC Chair
The USGC has been charged as follows:
Review the draft revised University
Policy on Centers and Institutes (University Policy 10.1.5) and the
accompanying
guidelines
for the preparation of proposals for the creation of centers and
institutes, and for periodic CI progress reports. Make
appropriate
recommendations.
Oliver summarized his committee's report on Charge A-1710:
Policy on Centers and Institutes. After discussing the report and
Senior Vice President Lee's suggestion to incorporate the CAPR report,
the Executive Committee docketed the report for the April 27 Senate
meeting, pending EC approval of changes via email.
The ASRAC has been charged as follows:
At the request of Senior Vice President
for Academic Affairs Barbara Lee, consider Rutgers' policies on excused
student absences for religious observance, and make recommendations on
how best to revise those policies in light of the increasing diversity
of the Rutgers student body.
Schwartz summarized his committee's report on S-1602: Policies
on Excused Student Absences for Religious Observances. Gillett
clarified, since this report makes no recommendations, it will be for
information only and there will be no debate from the senate floor.
The report was docketed for the April 27 Senate meeting.
The ASRAC has been charged as follows:
Review the current status of the educative
and adjudication process and administrative organization and support of
the Offices of Student Conduct regarding infractions of the University
Academic Integrity Policy. Identify areas of concern, and provide
appropriate recommendations. Including in deliberations input
received on this issue form the Senate's Student Affairs Committee (Charge
S-1713).
Schwartz summarized his committee's report on S-1714: Procedures
for Adjudicating Academic Integrity Policy Infractions. The
Executive Committee recommended revisions to Resolution #6.
Original:
Further
review is needed on Academic Integrity issues related to online courses
including prevention and adjudication processes. This evaluation
should completed as a joint task between the Office of Student Conduct
and ASRAC, after the full Task Force Report chaired by Dr. Sifuentes
has been completed and presented to the administration. This
should be an agenda item for ASRAC in Fall 2018.
Revised:
Further
review is needed on Academic
Integrity issues related to online courses. This evaluation
should completed as a joint
task between the Office of Student Conduct and ASRAC and SAC, after the
full
Task Force Report chaired by Dr. Sifuentes has been completed and
presented to the administration. This should be an agenda item
for
ASRAC in Fall 2018.
The Executive Committee docketed this report for the April 27 Senate
meeting, pending the above revisions are made.
The Ad Hoc Committee on the Sale of
Alcohol in Stadiums has been charged as follows:
Consider the rationale and RUSA resolution
on the potential sale of alcohol at Rutgers stadiums. Explore
this issue, and make recommendations, as appropriate.
Schwartz summarized his committee's
report on S-1706: Sale of Alcohol in Stadiums. After much
discussion, Senator Adrienne Esposito, an Ad Hoc Committee on the Sale
of Alcohol in Stadiums member, realized the report submitted to the
Executive Secretary was not the finalized version, and many of the
Executive Committee's recommendations were already implemented by the
Ad Hoc Committee and in the final report. The Executive Committee
docketed this report for the April 27 Senate meeting, pending EC
approval of the final report via email.
Issues/Charges:
Proposed
Charge to Executive Committee (EC) on Examining the Prevalence of the
Red Scare at Rutgers University
- Submitted
by Viktor Krapivin
Proposed
Charge: Examine
the
prevalence of the red scare at Rutgers University and its role in the
dismissals of faculty at Rutgers. Issue appropriate recommendations on
what, if
any, actions the university should take to confront and address its
past
actions, which lead to the dismissal of faculty at the University in
1952.
Rationale:
I
believe that at
this time the university has demonstrated its commitment to free speech
and the
principle of academic freedom. The University's commitment to these
ideals
should be reinforced by reexamining past actions and reflecting on them
as a
community. For more details on the substance of the cases, please see
attached
minutes of the December 12th, 1952 meeting minutes of the BOT (in
particular
page 3 to 6, under Cases of Simon W. Heimlich and Mosos I. Finley).
Additionally it may be helpful to read: Thomas F. Richards, “The
Cold War at
Rutgers University: A Case Study of the Dismissals of Professors
Heimlich,
Finley, and Glasser,” Ph. D. Dissertation, Rutgers University,
1986.
Krapivin summarized his proposed charge on Examining the Prevalence of
the Red Scare at Rutgers University. Senator Robert Boikess
mentioned this might be better tied in with the many initiatives the
University has currently underway in regards to academic freedom and
free speech. SVP Lee agreed and added the union might be
interested in partnering in this as well. It was determined
Boikess and Lee will work together and come back to the EC on this
issue at the June 8 meeting with an update.
Proposed
Charge to University Structure and Governance Committee (USGC) on
Senator Distribution on Standing Committees - Submitted by
Viktor Krapivin
Proposed
Charge: Consider
and make
recommendations on how Senators are distributed to Senate Standing
Committees.
Rationale:
I
believe that
hearing the voices of all constituencies is what makes the Senate such
an
important body at Rutgers University. In this sense, it is important
that the
voices of different classes of constituencies are heard in the various
standing
committees. While it may seem at this time that Senators are relatively
evenly
distributed between committees, there is an observable gap in the
attendance of
Senators from the various Senate constituencies in the committees.
Perhaps the
individual caucuses could help distribute Senators to committees.
Krapivin summarized his proposed charge on Senator Distribution on
Standing Committees. After discussion it was determined the
caucus chairs may have more control over this issue and may be able to
guide new senators better on committee preference choices.
Proposed
Charge to Student Affairs Committee (SAC) on Certification of Student
Senator Elections -
Submitted by Viktor Krapivin
Proposed
Charge: Consider
and make
recommendations on how Student Senator Elections should be certified to
the
Senate.
Rationale: Currently,
it is not
exactly clear who certifies the election of Senators to the Senate from
various
student constituencies. I believe some schools certify the results
through
their deans, while other schools have staff who certify the results.
For
example, the Rutgers--New Brunswick School of Arts and Sciences
Senators are
certified by a staff member affiliated with Student Centers and
Involvement.
Additionally, as student elections are generally held in March and
April, the
necessity of a particular staff member to certify election results may
result in
delays. As Student Governing Associations are tasked with running their
own
elections, the committee should consider the role of those
organizations in
certifying their own election results to the Senate.
Krapivin summarized his proposed charge on Certification of Student
Senator Elections. The Executive Committee agreed when Jon Oliver
mentioned this aligns with S-1605 on Size and Composition of the
Senate: Reviewed and could be added to the charge.
Proposed
Charge to Student Affairs Committee (SAC) on How Student Senators are
Elected -
Submitted by Viktor Krapivin
Proposed
Charge: Evaluate
and make
recommendations on how Student Senators are Elected. Consider if there
should
be a requirement for direct election of Senators.
Rationale:
The
role of the Senate is to represent the diverse views of
the various students from different units within the university. While
many
units provide for direct election of student Senators, some SGAs
appoint
Senators. Other units may I believe it is important that the Student
Affairs
Committee consider how to best represent the views of students in the
Senate
and this committee is the one with the most expertise on this
issue.
Krapivin summarized his proposed charge on How Student Senators are
Elected. The Executive Committee debated, and eventually agreed,
this is limited to students and issued a charge to the Student
Affairs Committee (SAC) with a reporting deadline of January 2019.
Proposed
Charge to Instruction, Curricula, and Advising Committee (SAC) on
Complementary Credentialing and Digital Badges for Rutgers University
-
Submitted by Ann Gould
Proposed
Charge: Consider the feasibility of, and approach to, developing a
complementary digital badging credentialing system at Rutgers
University. Examine complementary credentialing programs already
in place at Rutgers. Make appropriate recommendations, including
guidelines for departments and programs.
Rationale:
The
School of Environmental and
Biological Sciences is exploring the feasibility and possible
implementation of
competency-based complementary credentialing, including the use of
digital
badging. Before moving forward, however,
a University-wide conversation on the philosophy of complementary
credentialing,
use of credentialing elsewhere at the University, and development of
guidelines
for departments and programs who wish to offer these types of
credentials,
specifically digital badging, is needed.
Digital
badges are online,
verified certificates of achievement that learners earn based on
specific
goals, activities, and assessments. Digital
badges document transferable skills, learning, and other co-curricular
experiences
not apparent on the standard transcript that can be shared with
employers and
others. These activities may include
soft skills (e.g., communication, leadership, team work, and
problem-solving),
library and research skills, and field work.
Credentialing
implies a
communication conduit between Rutgers and potential employers that
anticipate
employer needs in hiring while providing incentives and benefits (such
as
expanded career opportunities and advancement) for the learner
(students, employees,
alumni, adult learners). Credentialing
at Rutgers should be flexible and allow for innovation and
experimentation, but
guidelines for departments and programs on the badging process must be
robust
to ensure quality and useful assessment of any badge verified and
issued by this
institution.
Currently,
Credly (Credly.com)
is a platform compatible with Canvas that supports the digital badging
process. This platform is quickly becoming
the
industry standard and has been adopted by other institutions of higher
learning. The Rutgers Division of
Continuing Studies is contracting with Credly for adult learning and
other
activities, and use of this platform should considered in this charge.
Gould summarized her proposed charge on
Complementary Credentialing and Digital Badges for Rutgers University.
The Executive Committee discussed this proposal and agreed to
issue the charge to Instruction, Curricula and Advising with a
reporting deadline of March 2019.
8.
New Business
Proposed Resolution by Viktor Krapivin on
Standards of Accepting Excused Absences for Senate Executive Committee
Meetings.
Resolved, the
standards under which absences are excused
from University Senate meetings shall be used for excused absence
requests from
the University Senate Executive Committee.
Be it
further
resolved, members absent from Executive Committee meetings shall be
included in
the minutes of the Executive Committee
Krapivin explained his rationale for the motion. The Executive
Committee voted on and passed the Senate Office changing it's reporting
procedures to include non-excused absences from Executive Committee
meetings.
9.
Old Business
Six-month
Review of Senate Meeting Web Streaming - Ann Gould, Ad Hoc
Committee on Senate Meeting Web Streaming and Senate Vice Chair Jon
Oliver
The Ad Hoc Committee on Senate Meeting
Web Streaming was charged as follows: Consider the feasibility
and desirability of video recording and live web streaming University
Senate meetings, and archiving those video recordings online for later
viewing. Include in discussions aspects of the issues of
transparency, technology, costs, benefits, audience, need, personal
privacy of participants, etc. Present both arguments both for and
against the streaming and archiving.
At the April 28, 2017 meeting, the Senate adopted the
committee's
report and two recommendations, including:
After
six months, and before recommending any future modifications to the
process, the Senate Executive Committee shall review the effectiveness
and practicality of web streaming and archiving, considering actual
costs, any impact on Senate attendance (Senators and non-Senators),
quorum, and perceived openness of Senate deliberations, and how often
archived materials are accessed. This review may involve a survey
of Senators in which they are asked if they are other constituents have
utilized the web streaming or archives, and if they found it useful.
Gould, Oliver, and Mickelsen summarized
the details of the six-month pilot on Senate Meeting Webstreaming.
After much discussion on the successes and failures of the
program, it was determined the EC will go forward with the second piece
of the pilot which will involve a much wider audience and reviewing
methods to streamline the voting process. Oliver and Mickelsen
will collaborate on a plan to move forward and report back to the EC.
Charges issued to committees
lapse in March of the year following the
year in which the charge was issued. Hardcopies of pending committee
charges were distributed at the meeting, were discussed, and deadlines
extended as indicated:
- University Structure and Governance Committee (USGC) charge
S-1501-1 on Eligibility, Nomination, and Election of Senate Leadership
and Board Representatives. Reissued
for May 30, 2018
- Budget and Finance Committee (BFC) charge S-1601 on Allocation of
Faculty Lines/Positions in RCM Units. Reissued for November 19, 2018
- University Structure and Governance Committee (USGC) charge
S-1605 on Size and Composition of the Senate, Reviewed. Reissued for October 24, 2018
- University Structure and Governance Committee (USGC) charge
S-1607 on Senate Committee Structure Review. Reissued for January 2, 2019
- Faculty and Personnel Affairs Committee (FPAC) charge S-1701 on
Reconciling RBHS procedures for Review of Deans and Programs with Other
Existing Procedures. Reissued
for October 24, 2018
- Faculty and Personnel Affairs Committee (FPAC) charge S-1705 on
Review of Rutgers' Policy on Workplace Violence. Reissued for September 26, 2018
- Faculty and Personnel Affairs Committee (FPAC) charge S-1712 on
Procedures for Handling Student Complaints Against Rutgers
Personnel. Deadline Extended to
May 30, 2018
10.
University Senate Agenda
The April 27, 2018
Senate Meeting agenda was discussed, and will include:
- Meeting
to be held in New Brunswick
- 2018-19
Organizational Meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m.
- Committee
chairs will be given the option to begin their meetings at 9:00 a.m. or
cancel
- Caucuses
will be held at 12noon and the regular Senate meeting will be
held at 1:10
- University
Structure and Governance Committee (USGC) report on S-1604 on Process
for Unit Mergers or Other Structural Changes
- University Structure and Governance Committee (USGC) report on
A-1710 on Centers and Institutes
- Academic Standards, Regulation, and Admissions Committee (ASRAC)
report on S-1602 on Policies on Excused Absences for Religious
Observances
- Academic Standards, Regulation, and Admissions Committee (ASRAC)
report on S-1714 on Procedures for Adjudicating Academic Integrity
Policy Infractions
- Ad Hoc Committee on the Sale of Alcohol in Stadiums report on
S-1706 on the Sale of Alcohol in Stadiums
11.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 5:05 p.m.
Minutes written and submitted by,
Mary Mickelsen
Executive Secretary of the University Senate