UNIVERSITY SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE CHARGES
ISSUED BY THE SENATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, AND
PENDING AS OF FEBRUARY 2012

NOTE: Unless otherwise stated, deadlines are for response to Senate Executive Committee.
Comments on these charges/issues can be sent directly to the committee chairs, or to the Senate Secretary.
Some charges have been resolved in committees, but have not yet been acted upon by the Senate.
Charges with "S" prefix originate in the Senate or its Executive Committee. Charges with "A" prefix originate in Rutgers' central administration.
Charges with "CI" prefix result from Committee Initiative.

S-0808A
Instruction, Curricula, and Advising Committee
Chair:
Natalie Borisovets
Implementation of 2006 Senate Recommendations on Availablility of Syllabi: Consider and report on the Proposal submitted by Senator Candice Greaux, and the related resolution from the Rutgers University Student Assembly, regarding implementation of the Senate's recommendations on availability of syllabi, contained in the 2006 Instruction, Curricula and Advising Committee's Response to Charge S-0313, Availability of Syllabi during Add/Drop. Also consider how new technologies, and emphasis on learning goals and assessment objectives for courses, have changed the definition of "syllabus." Respond to Senate Executive Committee by February 2012.
A-0812A
Faculty and Personnel Affairs Committee
Co-Chairs:
Ann Gould
Paul Panayotatos

Evaluation of Administrators, Part 2 - Evaluation of Upper Administration: Examine the feasibility of extending the process of faculty, staff and student evaluation of deans to include vice presidents and other administrators. Respond to Senate Executive Committee by February 2012. 

S-0909A
Student Affairs Committee
Co-Chairs:
Sam  Rabinowitz
Robert Barraco
Sheel Sanghvi
University College: Investigate and make recommendations for improvement upon the current scope of University College on each of the regional campuses. Include in your investigation admissions criteria, marketing techniques separate from the general university, availability for support and student services, as well as general campus life information for these “non-traditional” students. In addition, explore ways that University College can be expanded to improve the university as a whole. Recognizing the lack of a designated “University College” on the New Brunswick-Piscataway Campus, explore the support structure which is in place in the University College Community. Respond to Senate Executive Committee by February 2012.
S-1003A
Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee
Co-chairs:
Martha Cotter
Dan Schantz
Academic Calendar, Part 2, Continued: Continue consideration of future changes to the academic calendar to extend beyond what was recommended for September and November 2011 by the Senate in October 2010. Respond to Senate Executive Committee by March 2012.

Original Charge with Subsequent Addenda: Consider the potential problems with the Fall 2010 academic calendar brought to the Senate’s attention by Senator Ted Szatrowski; namely, the fact that the first class meeting for sections of courses meeting on Monday only will not take place until near the end of the second week of classes. Evaluate the difficulties this will cause for faculty and students. Consult with Arun Mukherjee, University Director of Scheduling and Space Management, with appropriate staff in the Office of Information Technology (OIT), and with representatives of various schools and colleges and recommend whether or not changes should be made to the Fall 2010 academic calendar to solve the problems identified. Also revisit the academic calendar for subsequent years to see if changes should be made in order to avoid similar problems with Monday classes in the future.  [Note: Two partial responses to this charge have been adopted by the Senate and sent to the administration. They are:
Response to Charge S-1003, Fall 2010 Academic Calendar (April 2010) and Partial Response to Charge S-1003 on Fall 2011 Academic Calendar (October 2010).] 
S-1012
Faculty and Personnel Affairs Committee
Co-Chairs:
Ann Gould
Paul Panayotatos
Balance of Full-time and Part-time Faculty Teaching: Consider the 1999 Report on the Balance of Full-time and Part-time Faculty Teaching at Rutgers University, and, with updated numbers and charts from the Office of Academic Affairs, make recommendations concerning changing trends and shifting percentages.  Respond to Senate Executive Committee by March 2012.
S-1013
Budget and Finance Committee
Chair:
Menahem Spiegel
Rutgers' Financial Investments: Explore and report on Rutgers’ income from investment in financial assets and from other capital investments. Respond to Senate Executive Committee by January 2012.
S-1016
Faculty and Personnel Affairs Committee
Co-Chairs:
Ann Gould
Paul Panayotatos
Academic Freedom and Faculty Participation in University Governance: Review current recognition and protection of academic freedom in University policies, traditions and practices, with particular emphasis on the relationship between academic freedom and faculty participation in University governance. Respond to Senate Executive Committee by December 2011.
S-1103
Budget and Finance Committee
Chair:
Menahem Spiegel
Information Technology and IT Services at Rutgers: Evaluate aspects of information technology services at Rutgers including whether systems communicate effectively with each other, incorporate user experience levels and feedback, are user-friendly, improve data flow, and enhance coordination among information technology personnel. Explore ways that the Office of Information Technology can more efficiently provide services to users. Identify opportunities for Rutgers to centralize or take a more distributive approach to various information technology functions, and investigate the advantages and disadvantages of deploying more open software. If developments during the time of deliberations warrant it, consider the ramifications of a reunification of Robert Wood Johnson Medical with Rutgers New Brunswick on the above. Respond to Senate Executive Committee by February 2012.
S-1104
Instruction, Curricula, and Advising Committee
Chair:
Natalie Borisovets
Online Teaching Evaluations, and Best Practices in Evaluation of Teaching Performance: Investigate best practices in the evaluation of teaching performance, in particular addressing the question of whether paper or online evaluation formats should be used and whether any appropriate safeguards can be put in place to make the use of whatever format or formats might be employed more efficient and accurate. Obtain data relating to changes in response rates and average evaluations since the adoption of online teaching evaluations. Respond to Senate Executive Committee by January 2012. [Note: Faculty and Personnel Affairs Committee to review and comment on the ICAC report on this charge before it is docketed for Senate action.]
S-1107
Research, and Graduate and Professional Education Committee
Co-Chairs:
Victor Greenhut
Gayle Stein
Publication Repository: Examine the possibility of a Rutgers-specific, centrally driven publication repository for published papers and books. Provide data about similar services at peer and aspirant universities. Respond to Senate Executive Committee by March 2012.
S-1108
Research, and Graduate and Professional Education Committee
Co-Chairs:
Victor Greenhut
Gayle Stein
Research Support Infrastructure: In preparation for the Rutgers/UMD merger, investigate the status of the research support infrastructure at Rutgers, including instrumentation, equipment, maintenance contracts, site licenses, and shared data storage. Provide recommendations that have the potential to reduce associated costs and enhance opportunities for information, equipment, and instrumentation sharing. Provide recommendations about research data security and academic and non-academic support services. Respond to Senate Executive Committee by March 2012.
S-1201
University Structure and Governance  Committee
Co-Chairs:
Peter Gillett
Jon Oliver
Senate Size and Composition: Consider the effecctive functioning of the University Senate in light of past and possible future changes in its composition and size, together with recent patterns of active participation, and the structure of comparable bodies at other universities, and recommend changes to University Policies and the Senate Handbook, as appropriate. Respond to Senate Executive Committee by March 2012.