RUTGERS
UNIVERSITY SENATE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
M I N U T E S
October 28, 2016
MEMBERS PRESENT: Boikess, Borisovets, Cotter, Esposito, Gillett
(Chair), Gould, Janniger, Krapivin, Mouradian, Otto, Pirrello, Puhak,
Thompson, Van Stine
MEMBERS EXCUSED: Krutyansky, Wang
ALSO ATTENDING: B. Lee (Senior Vice President for Academic
Affairs), S.
Rabinowitz (Faculty Representative to the Board of Governors), M.
Spiegel, (Faculty Representative to the Board of Trustees), Swalagin
(Executive Secretary)
The regular meeting of the University Senate Executive Committee was
held on Friday, October 28, 2016 at 1:10 p.m. in the Chancellor's
Conference Room at the Center for Law and Justice at Rutgers University
- Newark.
1.
Chair’s Report
- Peter Gillett, Senate Chair
Senate and Executive Committee Chair Peter Gillett called the
meeting to order at 1:10 p.m. He spoke about:
- the status of responses from Deans Kukor and Scotto to questions
from Senate committees on the proposal to create a School of Graduate
Studies in New Brunswick (expected in time for December Senate and
committee meetings);
- the low response to the University Commencement Panel's
solicitation of volunteers for the Chancellors' Commencement
Committees; and
- the NJ Higher
Education Affordability Study Commission Report recommendation of
three-plus-one programs, which he successfully moved to add to the
agenda for discussion and possible charge.
2. Secretary’s Report - Ken Swalagin,
Executive Secretary of the Senate
3. Administrative Liaison
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Barbara Lee presented
an administrative report, which
included comments on:
- an upcoming conference on Cuba, to be held in Camden, and a
memorandum of understanding signed with the University of Havana;
- plans to create a postdoc office within her office, which will
probably launch early in the spring semester;
- the well-attended Symposium on the Humanities;
- Rutgers rankings in services to veterans (although the ranking
was embargoed at the time, so she was not specific);
- plans universitywide for the November 10 official Rutgers 250th
anniversary; and
- three-plus-one programs.
Lee then responded to questions, or heard comments on the above
subjects, as well as:
- whether she would consider forming a PTL office similar to the
one planned for postdocs; and
- Senate consideration of a charge on religious observances and
class attendance.
4. Standing
Committees
Reports:
Student
Affairs Committee (SAC) Response to Charge S-1305-2 on Smoke-Free
Rutgers - Viktor Krapivin and Samuel Rabinowitz,
SAC Co-chairs
This report was discussed at the
previous Executive Committee meeting, and was then withdrawn by SAC
Vice Chair Viktor Krapivin. The now-revised report was summarized by
SAC Co-chairs Viktor Krapivin and Samuel Rabinowitz. The report was
discussed at some length, and additional changes were
recommended. The
revised report was docketed for action at the upcoming Senate meeting.
Issues/Charges:
Proposed Charge to Academic Standards,
Regulations and Admissions Committee (ASRAC) on Considering Religious
Issues with the University Calendar - Submitted by Professor
Leslie Fishbein
The
following issue and rationale, submitted by Professor Leslie Fishbein,
was discussed as a proposed charge to the ASRAC:
"I
would suggest that the university
annually poll the religious organizations of every denomination on
campus to ask which of their religious holidays preclude work so that
instructors would know definitely when students have religious
obligations that entitle them to accommodations and would be obliged by
university policy to provide appropriate accommodations. Disseminating
such information to faculty also would make it easier to make sure that
when events are scheduled they are less likely exclude students who
have religious obligations that might interfere with the timing of such
events."
ASRAC Chair Martha Cotter noted that her committee already has a charge
that could incorporate this issue (Charge S-1602 on Policies on Excused
Student Absences for Religious Observance). No additional charge was
issued.
Proposed Charge to Student Affairs Committee (SAC) on Allowing Absentee
Ballots in Special Student Organization Funding Referenda -
Submitted by Student Senator and SAC Co-chair Viktor Krapivin
The
following proposed charge and rationale, submitted by Viktor Krapivin,
were discussed:
Investigate
the desirability of changing University Policy 10.3.3 on Funding for
Special Student Organizations to allow for absentee ballots in
referenda conducted based on that policy. Recommend revisions, as
needed.
Rationale:
"I
currently serve as the chair of the NJPIRG Referendum Oversight
Committee for the New Brunswick and RBHS campuses. An issue brought up
by one of the members of the committee is that a large portion of the
students in that member's unit are online students. These students
cannot vote in the referendum as they do not physically attend Rutgers
on a regular basis. While the current rules allow for mail in ballots
for use with the University College community or graduate schools,
there is no general procedures for students at other units to request
mail in ballots."
Following
discussion, a modified charge was issued to the SAC, as follows:
Investigate
changing University Policy 10.3.3 on Funding for Special Student
Organizations to allow for absentee ballots in referenda conducted
based on that policy. Recommend revisions, as needed. Respond to Senate
Executive Committee by April 3, 2017.
Issue/Potential
Charge to Faculty and Personnel Affairs Committee (FPAC) on Staff and
Faculty Hiring Eligibility and Screening Protocols - Submitted
by Student Senator Michael Van Stine
The following rationale for a proposed
charge, submitted by Michael Van Stine, was discussed:
Rationale:
“The
university has a complex set of eligibility and
screening protocols for hiring for staff and faculty positions. They
range from
minimal educational and experience requirements and varied
proficiencies to
veterans and collective bargaining unit preference. The university is
at core
mission designed to serve students and students are the primary revenue
source
for the university. Students have in many cases skills and knowledge
that set
them apart from open outside competition for open positions. I would
like to
propose that the FPAC committee explore possibilities after all
existing
primary considerations are satisfied – including veteran’s
and existing staff
preference, that active students (and possibly alumni) be afforded
first
consideration for open positions over outside market competition. It
would be
of interest if there is a precedent for this at any of our peer
universities.”
Ann Gould, FPAC member and former
chair, and Van Stine will discuss this issue and bring it back to the
Executive Committee at a subsequent meeting. No charge was issued.
Requests
for Charge Deadline Extensions
The
University Structure and Governance Committee (USGC) had requested
charge-deadline extensions, which were summarized by USGC Co-chair
Robert Puhak, discussed by the Executive Committee, and acted upon as
noted below:
- Charge
S-1404 on Revisions to University Policy Library, from December 2016 to
February 2017. Changed as requested.
- Charge
S-1605 on Size and Composition of the Senate, Reviewed, from February
2017 to May 2017. Not changed.
- S-1607
on Senate Committee Structure Review, from February 2017 to September
2017. Changed to December 2017.
5. Old Business
Review of Budget and Finance Committee
(BFC) Charge S-1613 on Tuition Freeze: BFC Chair Menahem Spiegel
spoke about the complexity of addressing a charge on a tuition freeze
in the context of the enormous amount of budget data that would need to
be examined. He asked that the charge be withdrawn. The request was
discussed at some length, and a majority of the Executive Committee
members voted in favor. Charge S-1613 was withdrawn.
Update
on Selection
of Members of University Commencement Panel (UCP) -
UCP Chair Robert Puhak presented an update on the status of the UCP.
The
Executive Committee acted on this matter at the previous meeting, but
the panel selections exceeded the requirements, and were subsequently
revised via email. Puhak said the UCP will begin meeting in the next
few weeks. The UCP assignments are:
a.
Executive Secretary of the Senate (non-voting) - Ken Swalagin
b.
Vice Chair of the Senate (chairs the UCP) - Robert Puhak
c.
Four Faculty Senators, with each of the following groups being
represented:
tenure-track:
Samuel Rabinowitz, Camden; and Michael Shapiro, RBHS
non-tenure-track: Eleanor LaPointe, Assistant Instructor, New Brunswick
part-time lecturers: Ray Leibman, PTL, Newark
d.
One Staff Senator - David Edward, Newark
e.
One Alumni Senator - Josephine Marchetta
f.
Two Student Senators- Christopher Shinn, Camden; and Karla Dimatulac,
New Brunswick
6.
New Business
Discussion
of NJ Higher
Education Affordability Study Commission Report Recommendation of Three-plus-one Programs:
This
matter was discussed, and it was decided that Martha Cotter and Natalie
Borisovets would draft a resolution opposing Rutgers participation in
three-plus-one programs. The resolution would be circulated to the EC
for approval to docket it as an action item from the Executive
Committee for the upcoming Senate meeting.
5.A. Old Business
- Continued
Revised
Report of the Senate Parliamentarian - Submitted by Peter
Gillett,
Former Senate Parliamentarian, and first discussed at the June 2016
meeting: The revised Report of the Senate Parliamentarian, which Peter
Gillett wants added to the Senate Handbook, was summarized by Gillett,
focusing on changes made since the previous Executive Committee
meeting. Discussion of the report was not completed because the bus
that had transported some Executive Committee members to Newark was
scheduled to return to New Brunswick at 4:00 p.m., and the Senate
agenda had to be established at this meeting.
7.
University Senate Agenda
The
November 11, 2016
Senate Meeting agenda was discussed, and will include:
- Meeting
to be held in Camden.
- Camden
Chancellor's Report to be given by Provost Michael Palis because
Chancellor Haddon has a conflicting commitment.
- Student
Affairs Committee (SAC) Response to Charge S-1305-2 on Smoke-Free
Rutgers
8.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 4:05 p.m.
Minutes written and submitted by,
Ken Swalagin
Executive Secretary of the University Senate