RUTGERS
UNIVERSITY SENATE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
M I N U T E S
November 18, 2016
MEMBERS PRESENT: Boikess, Borisovets, Cotter, Esposito,
Gillett
(Chair), Gould,
Krapivin, Krutyansky, Mouradian, Otto, Puhak, Thompson, Van Stine,
Wang
MEMBERS EXCUSED: Janniger, Pirrello
ALSO ATTENDING: R. Barchi (President of the University), B. Lee
(Senior Vice President for Academic
Affairs), S.
Rabinowitz (Faculty Representative to the Board of Governors), A.
Samant
(Faculty Representative to the Board of Trustees), M. Spiegel (Faculty
Representative to the Board of Trustees), K. Swalagin
(Executive Secretary)
The regular meeting of the University Senate Executive Committee was
held on Friday, November 18, 2016 at 1:10 p.m. in Executive Conference
Room of ASB-III on the Cook Campus.
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 said that he had that day received
responses from Deans Kukor and Scotto to questions from Senate standing
committees relating to the proposal to form a School of Graduate
Studies.
2. Secretary’s Report - Ken Swalagin,
Executive Secretary of the Senate
- Agenda: The meeting agenda was
amended to include discussion of the Dean's Evaluation Committee
request (see "Communications" below), and the Academic Standards,
Regulations and Admissions Committee response to Charge S-1609 on the
Academic Integrity Policy. The agenda was then approved as
amended.
- Minutes: The Minutes of October 28, 2016 Senate Executive
Committee Meeting were approved with one minor,
non-substantive correction.
- Communications: The
following communication was presented and acted upon as indicated:
[President Barchi joined the meeting at 1:19 p.m.]
3. Administrative Liaison
University President Robert Barchi presented
an administrative report, which
included comments on:
[President Barchi left the meeting at 2:02 p.m.]
Reports:
Research,
and Graduate and Professional Education Committee (RGPEC) Response to
Charge S-1508 on Responsible Conduct of Research - Jane Otto, RGPEC
Chair
RGPEC Chair Jane Otto summarized her committee's report on Charge
S-1508, on Responsible Conduct of Research. The report was discussed,
and minor changes that were suggested were agreed to by Otto. The
report was then docketed for action at the upcoming Senate meeting.
University
Structure and Governance Committee (USGC) Response to Charge S-1501 on
Eligibility, Nomination, and Election of Senate Leadership and Board
Representatives - Jon Oliver and Robert Puhak, USGC Co-chairs
USGC Co-chair Robert Puhak summarized his committee's report on Charge
S-1501, on Eligibility, Nomination and Election of Senate Leadership
and Board Representatives. The report was discussed at some length, and
suggestions were made to clarify some of its content. It was agreed
that Puhak, Gillett, Swalagin, and any others who wished to do so would
remain after the meeting adjourned to discuss necessary changes to the
report. The report was not docketed for Senate action.
[Barbara
Lee left the meeting at 3:03 p.m.]
Academic
Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee (ASRAC) Revised
Response to
Charge S-1609 on Revisions
to Rutgers University Academic
Integrity Policy [Note: Link goes to the report as
revised December 2016.] - Martha Cotter and Matthew Winkler,
ASRAC Co-chairs
ASRAC Co-chair Martha Cotter summarized her committee's report on
Charge S-1609, on Revisions to Rutgers University Academic Integrity
Policy. The report was a late addition to the agenda, and was
distributed in hardcopy at the meeting. Cotter said that she planned to
send a revised policy to the ASRAC, and would add a resolution. She was
to revise the report and return it to Swalagin for circulation to the
Executive Committee for docketing for action at the upcoming Senate
meeting. [Note: The report could not be revised and circulated to the
ASRAC in time for docketing for the Senate, so it was deferred.]
Issues/Charges:
Issue of PTL Access to Rutgers Email and
Other Services During Summer - Submitted by PTL Senator Karen
Thompson:
Karen
Thompson summarized the following issue, which she had submitted for
Executive Committee consideration:
"Another
PTL Senator has asked me to raise this concern, with
the intent of creating universitywide policy in the interest of
students. It
seems that SOME PTLs lose access to their university email, Sakai and
library
privileges during the summer or a semester off. This situation prevents
preparation of classes during these times which disadvantages the PTL
instructor and can undermine class management. This problem especially
occurs
immediately before a course begins (particularly for newly hired PTLs)
and
could at least be avoided by mandated, even temporary, access
requirements. Again, this is a concern for
students as well
as instructors. Can we discuss whether a charge is appropriate to
address this
problem?"
The
issue was discussed, and Adrienne Esposito was asked to research the
matter from an information technology perspective, and report back to
the Executive Committee. Thompson will also communicate directly with
Barbara Lee on this subject. No charge was issued.
Issue of Free Speech, Hate, and Violence
- Senator Boikess had suggested Senate action on the issue addressed by
the
following two communications:
The matter was discussed at length. It was decided that Gillett will
write to Barchi, explaining that the Senate is interested in the issue,
and asking what the Executive Committee could do to help. Gillett asked
Boikess to email him a summary of key points he'd like to see covered.
[Note: On December 9, 2016, the Senate adopted a
Resolution
on Rutgers, A Safe and Welcoming Environment drafted by Gillett,
and refined by the Executive Committee.]
5.
Old Business
[Mary
Mickelsen left the meeting at 4:30 p.m.]
Revised
Report of the Senate Parliamentarian - Submitted by Peter
Gillett,
Former Senate Parliamentarian, and discussed at previous meetings. This
item was again docketed, but was not discussed due to time constraints.
It will appear on the next Executive Committee agenda.
Issue/Proposed
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 rationale for this proposed charge was submitted for, and discussed
at, the previous EC meeting. Charge language was to be drafted for this
meeting.
Proposed
Charge (drafted by Ann Gould): Consider the feasibility of preference
in hiring for graduates of Rutgers University, other considerations
(including collective bargaining) being equal. Explore similar policies
at peer institutions. If deemed appropriate, recommend changes in
hiring policy. Respond to Senate Executive Committee by October 2017.
Rationale (submitted by Michael Van Stine):
"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."
The charge and issue were discussed, and a charge issued as follows,
with a November 2017 reporting deadline:
Consider the feasibility of preference
in hiring for graduates of Rutgers University, other considerations
(including collective bargaining) being equal. Explore similar policies
at peer institutions. If deemed appropriate, recommend changes in
hiring policy.
[Samuel
Rabinowitz left the meeting at 4:40 p.m.]
6.
New Business
Selection
of Senators to serve on Dean's Evaluation Committee for Cathryn Potter,
Dean of the School of Social Work and for Joanne Robinson, Dean of
Rutgers School of Nursing - Camden - Suggestions
were made for Senators to serve on the evaluation committee for Cathryn
Potter, Dean of the School of Social Work, and for Joanne Robinson,
Dean of Rutgers School of Nursing - Camden, per Barbara Lee's requests.
Gillett asked that additional suggestions be emailed to him, and that
he will communicate directly with Lee on the selections.
New Brunswick/RBHS Commencement Committee Update -
Ann Gould said that the NB/RBHS Commencement Committee had met on
November 1, and had ranked nominees for 2017 and 2018 commencement
speakers and honorary degree recipients.
7.
University Senate Agenda
December 9, 2016 Senate Meeting:
Items were docketed for the December 9, 2016 Senate agenda, as
indicated above, and also including a Rutgers Biomedical and Health
Sciences Chancellor's Report.
8.
Adjournment
The
meeting adjourned at 4:56 p.m.
Minutes written and submitted by,
Ken Swalagin
Executive Secretary of the University Senate