Charge S-0403: Respond to Rutgers Chapter of AAUP requests for Senate endorsement of its Vision Statement and two resolutions. [Response requested immediately, for action at 4/23/04 Senate meeting.]
Overview of Committee’s Considerations
The Rutgers University Senate routinely considers actions brought to it from other bodies which deal with the broad mission of the university. Paramount considerations are whether statements are consistent with the role of the Senate, the mission of the University and University regulations. These three factors were considered in acting on the several resolutions referred to the Governance Committee.
AAUP Vision Statement
This vision statement, produced by the Rutgers Chapter of the American Association of University Professors, sets forth goals for the University, as follows:
conducting the cutting-edge research which contributes to the medical, environmental, social and cultural well-being of the state, as well as aiding the economy and the state’s businesses and industries;
performing public
service in support of the needs of the citizens of the state and its local,
county, and state governments.
In pursuit of its mission, Rutgers seeks to be both academically excellent and fully accessible and representative of the state's diverse citizenry."
Resolution
Be it resolved that the Rutgers University Senate endorses the actions set forth in the AAUP vision statement as critical for achieving the goals of the University.
Resolutions on Graduate Education and Instruction
The Governance committee declined to act on the resolutions from the Graduate School-New Brunswick and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences-New Brunswick as written (see Appendix). The specificity of the issues raised, particularly in the Graduate Education resolution, involved the need for more analysis and examination than time permitted. Some members present felt the resolutions as written violated the spirit of the Senate’s policy on collective bargaining, although other members did not feel that was the case. All committee members agreed with many of the principles set forth in these resolutions, and felt that it was important to bring these issues forward. The committee therefore decided to refer to the Senate alternate resolutions dealing with important principles and policies raised by the initial resolutions.
Resolution on Graduate Education
Whereas, the Rutgers University Senate holds that a top priority of the University should be the enhancement of the quality of instruction and appropriate compensation for those providing instruction,
Therefore be it resolved,
that the University Senate supports appropriate and competitive compensation
for its faculty as a top priority and calls upon the parties involved in
the negotiations to reach a fair and equitable agreement as soon as possible.
Appendix: Original Resolutions
Resolution In Support Of Graduate
Education
Graduate School – New Brunswick
Whereas, we are committed to advancing Rutgers to the top echelon of public research universities; and
Whereas, an outstanding and diverse graduate student body is an essential part of every top echelon research university; and
Whereas, our ability to recruit and retain such a graduate student body is now severely compromised by our low and noncompetitive stipends for TAs/GAs;
Now be it resolved that the University
Senate calls upon the administration to make appropriate and competitive
compensation for TAs/GAs a top priority;
and
Now be it further resolved that the
Senate wishes to express its strong support for fair and competitive compensation
for the TAs/GAs.
Resolution in Support of Instruction
Faculty of Arts and Sciences – New Brunswick
In agreement with the New Brunswick Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Rutgers University Senate holds that the absolute top priority of the University should be preservation of the quality of instruction and appropriate compensation for those providing instruction.