Senate Governance C'tee on Graduate and Professional Education Committee

Rutgers University Senate

University Structure and Governance Committee

Report on Graduate and Professional Education Committee

S-0409. Senate Committee Structure, Graduate and Professional Education: Consider revising the Senate committees’ standing charges to include among them responsibility for exploring issues related to graduate and professional education. Also consider placement of responsibility for considering research-related issues in the committees’ standing charges. Respond to Senate Executive Committee by March 24, 2005.

Background. The University Senate does not have a committee whose primary focus is graduate and professional education and research-related issues, nor are those responsibilities clearly assigned to any standing committee. Because graduate and professional education and research are central to the educational mission of the University, the University Structure and Governance Committee was asked to consider how these areas can best be addressed.

Discussion and Recommendations: The committee was in agreement that issues related to graduate and professional education and research fall within the broad educational concerns of the University Senate described under Regulation 2.2.2. B. Most discussion centered on whether the best way to address these issues was through a separate committee, or by modifying the charge of existing committees. In the reorganization of committee structure in 1995, the Senate greatly reduced the number of committees to streamline Senate structure, and committee members felt that this had generally been successful. There was concern that adding a new committee would begin a proliferation of committees and create a committee with a narrow focus at odds with the broader responsibilities of the existing committees. At the same time, issues relating to graduate and professional education and research span a number of areas that already intersect existing committees. The committee members felt that research related issues are of greatest concern to faculty, since most research at the University is carried out or directed by faculty. Since graduate and professional students work closely with their faculty mentors on research projects, members agreed to broaden the charge of the Faculty Affairs and Personnel Committee to consider these issues. However, graduate and professional students are also students, and concerns in areas such as fees, student policies, etc, overlap with undergraduate concerns. Committee members felt that these areas were best considered by the Student Affairs Committee. Similarly, some educational issues might best be considered by the Academic Standards and Regulations Committee or the Committee on Instruction, Curricula, and Advising. In fact, Instruction, Curricula and Advising was responsible for producing the TA training report. The committee members also felt that these changes in charges might not be inclusive, and that they should be reviewed after two years in light of issues brought to the Senate, and the appropriateness of their disposition. The wording of the proposed changes is shown in the attached text.

Resolution: Be it resolved that the Rutgers University Senate recognizes the need for issues related to graduate and professional education and research to be included within the current Senate committee structure, and recommends that the charges of the Student Affairs Committee, the Faculty Affairs Committee, and the Committee on Instruction, Curricula and Advising be modified to reflect their responsibilities in these areas. Be it further resolved that the Senate Structure and Governance Committee be charged to review and reevaluate these changes after two years.

4. Student Affairs Committee

Standing Charge: This Committee shall have primary responsibility for matters directly concerning both graduate and undergraduate students. These shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

To examine and address general student interests in University policies and operations, including, but not limited to, such matters as University policies on student use of drugs and alcohol, on reporting student records, and on regulating dormitories and fraternities.
To further concern itself with student disciplinary policies and procedures, student health services, bookstores, etc.
To advise the administration, through the Senate, on policies governing the athletic fees, programs, and facilities of the University.
To advise administrative officers and others, through the Senate, on questions relating to actual, possible or alleged discrimination as it affects the students of Rutgers.

5. Faculty Affairs and Personnel Committee

Standing Charge: This Committee shall have primary responsibility for matters directly concerning faculty, research, and graduate and professional education, with the exception of matters included under the collective bargaining agreement. These shall include, but will not be limited to, the following:

To survey the general policy of the University with respect to the rank and standing of all faculty personnel.
To review all procedures and regulations by which appointments, promotions and tenure are governed.
To study the relations of the faculty members to administrative officers and the manner in which administrative requirements affect faculty.
To evaluate and recommend policies concerning both internal funding for research and the conditions under which external research funds are solicited, accepted and administered.
To consider patent, and human subject policies of the University.
To advise administrative officers and others, through the Senate, on questions relating to actual, possible or alleged discrimination as it affects the faculty and staff of Rutgers or Rutgers' responsibility to the public.
To review matters concerning academic freedom, equal opportunities, and personnel practices and procedures, as these matters affect the educational mission of the University.
To consider broad policy issues relating to graduate and professional education.

6. Instruction, Curricula and Advising Committee

Standing Charge: This Committee shall have primary responsibility for issues directly related to instructional matters, curricula and advising, including but not limited to:

To review the broad educational and research policies of the University related to graduate and undergraduate instruction, curricula and advising.
To review agreements and formal relationships with other institutions, particularly as they relate to the educational mission of the university.
To review educational policies related to different times, places, and manners of instruction[ REMOVE , including distance learning and use of technology].
To make recommendations to the Senate concerning advice to the Central Administration about meetings, forums, and conferences on major issues in educational policy and public service.
[REMOVE (revise, and place under Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee, where it should have been originally) To study issues affecting the Academic Calendar, including receiving comment from all sectors of the University community concerning the Academic Calendar, offering recommendations for the University Academic Calendar to the University Senate, monitoring unit departures from the University Academic Calendar, reviewing matters concerning the University Commencement, and making recommendations, as needed.]
To examine and evaluate University-wide operations such as the Libraries and Computer Services.
To consider matters related to the use of technology in education and the use of distance learning technologies.

7. Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee

Standing Charge: This Committee shall have primary responsibility for matters directly related to academic standards, regulations and admissions as they apply to both graduate and undergraduate students, including but not limited to:

To bring to the Senate proposals that exercise its legislative authority to formulate minimum standards of admission, scholarship and honors (University Regulation 2.2.2A)
To review broad educational and research policies of the University as they apply to issues related to academic standards and admissions (University Regulations 2.2.2B).
To study issues affecting the Academic Calendar, including receiving comment from all sectors of the University community concerning the Academic Calendar, offering recommendations for establishing the University Academic Calendar to the University Senate for action under its legislative authority (University Regulation 2.2.2A), monitoring unit departures from the University Academic Calendar, reviewing matters concerning the University Commencement, and making recommendations, as needed.To formulate policies on academic issues related to athletic programs and student athletes.
To consider university-wide issues related to recruitment, retention, publications, financial aid, and minority student interests.
To review university-wide regulations governing academic practices and standards, including grading.
To advise administrative officers and others, through the Senate, on questions relating to actual, possible or alleged discrimination as it affects the students, faculty, and staff of Rutgers or Rutgers' responsibility to the public.