2020-21 Research and Graduate & Professional Education Committee - Rutgers University Senate Skip to main content

2020-2021Research, and Graduate and Professional Education Committee

Standing Charge: This Committee shall have primary responsibility for matters directly related to research, graduate and professional education, and the students and faculty affiliated with such programs. These responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • To provide feedback and input to the Senate on both graduate and professional education, and on research.
  • To provide feedback to Rutgers’ central administration on University policies and practices that affect graduate and professional students.
  • 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 intellectual authorship, copyright, trademark, and patent policies of the University.
  • To review the broad educational and research policies of the University related to graduate and professional instruction, curricula, and advising.
  • To review educational policies related to times, places, and manners of graduate or professional instruction, including distance learning and the use of technology.
  • To review and advise Rutgers’ president on the termination or suspension of graduate and professional academic programs.
  • To address, in conjunction with the Faculty and Personnel Affairs Committee, issues that specifically deal with graduate faculty and research staff.
  • To address issues related to workplace climate and working conditions in the University as they concern researchers and graduate and professional students.
  • 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.
  • To advise Rutgers’ administrative officers and others, through the Senate, on questions relating to actual, possible or alleged discrimination as they may affect the researchers and graduate and professional students and faculty of Rutgers, or Rutgers’ responsibility to the public.

[Note: The Senior Vice President for Research, and the Associate Vice President for Research Regulatory Affairs shall be asked to serve as an ex officio members of this committee.]

Senator Constituency
Olga Jarrín Montaner, ChairRBHS Centers, Bureaus, and Institutes, Faculty
Jean Anderson Eloy, MemberNew Jersey Medical School, Faculty
Vrushank Bhatt, MemberSchool of Graduate Studies, Student
Debashish Bhattacharya, MemberSchool of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Faculty
Detlev Boison, MemberRutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences At-Large, Faculty
Rick Dool, MemberSchool of Communication and Information, Faculty
Chazz Fellenz, MemberNewark Staff
Linda Flynn, MemberSchool of Nursing, Dean
Grace Guo, MemberErnest Mario School of Pharmacy, Faculty
Arash Hatefi, MemberErnest Mario School of Pharmacy, Faculty
Taja-Nia Henderson, MemberGraduate School-Newark, Dean
Amanda Immidisetti, MemberRobert Wood Johnson Medical School, Student
John Joergensen, MemberRutgers Law School in Newark, Faculty
Rachel Kaye, MemberNew Jersey Medical School, Faculty
John Kettle, MemberNewark At-Large, Faculty
Jerome Kukor, MemberSchool of Graduate Studies, Dean
Adam Kustka, MemberUniversity College-Newark, Faculty
Valentine Lamar, MemberGraduate School-Newark, Student
Laura Lawson, MemberSchool of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Dean
Liping Liu, MemberSchool of Arts and Sciences-NB, Faculty
Carol Lutz, MemberSchool of Graduate Studies, Faculty
Luke Madson, MemberSchool of Graduate Studies, Student
Monica Mazurek, MemberSchool of Graduate Studies, Faculty
Juan Mena-Segovia, MemberNewark Centers, Bureaus, and Institutes, Faculty
Christopher Molloy, MemberNew Brunswick Chancellor
Deborah Silver, MemberSchool of Graduate Studies, Faculty
Adrienne Simonds, MemberSchool of Health Professions, Faculty
, Member TERM LIST DOES NOT EXIST
Paul Takhistov, MemberSchool of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Faculty
Michael Van Stine, MemberGraduate School-Camden, Student
Carolyne White, MemberGraduate School-Newark, Faculty
, Member TERM LIST DOES NOT EXIST
Senator Present Excused Absent
Jarrín Montaner, Olga | RBHS Centers, Bureaus, and Institutes, Faculty 2 0 8
Anderson Eloy, Jean | New Jersey Medical School, Faculty 1 0 9
Bhatt, Vrushank | School of Graduate Studies, Student 3 0 7
Bhattacharya, Debashish | School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Faculty 3 0 6
Boison, Detlev | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences At-Large, Faculty 3 0 7
Dool, Rick | School of Communication and Information, Faculty 3 0 7
Fellenz, Chazz | Newark Staff 1 0 9
Flynn, Linda | School of Nursing, Dean 0 3 7
Guo, Grace | Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Faculty 3 0 7
Hatefi, Arash | Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Faculty 3 0 7
Henderson, Taja-Nia | Graduate School-Newark, Dean 0 0 10
Immidisetti, Amanda | Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Student 2 0 8
Joergensen, John | Rutgers Law School in Newark, Faculty 3 0 7
Kaye, Rachel | New Jersey Medical School, Faculty 0 0 10
Kettle, John | Newark At-Large, Faculty 2 1 7
Kukor, Jerome | School of Graduate Studies, Dean 1 2 7
Kustka, Adam | University College-Newark, Faculty 2 0 8
Lamar, Valentine | Graduate School-Newark, Student 2 1 7
Lawson, Laura | School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Dean 3 0 7
Liu, Liping | School of Arts and Sciences-NB, Faculty 0 1 9
Lutz, Carol | School of Graduate Studies, Faculty 3 0 7
Madson, Luke | School of Graduate Studies, Student 0 0 10
Mazurek, Monica | School of Graduate Studies, Faculty 2 0 8
Mena-Segovia, Juan | Newark Centers, Bureaus, and Institutes, Faculty 3 0 7
Molloy, Christopher | New Brunswick Chancellor 0 0 10
Silver, Deborah | School of Graduate Studies, Faculty 0 1 9
Simonds, Adrienne | School of Health Professions, Faculty 3 0 7
, | TERM LIST DOES NOT EXIST 0 0 10
Takhistov, Paul | School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Faculty 3 0 6
Van Stine, Michael | Graduate School-Camden, Student 0 0 8
White, Carolyne | Graduate School-Newark, Faculty 2 0 8
, | TERM LIST DOES NOT EXIST 0 0 10
Charge NumberTitleDescriptionCommittees Being ChargedCharge StatusDue Date
S-2325Explore the Current Virtual Senate Meeting Format and Develop Best Practices and Meeting Format RecommendationsReview the existing Senate meeting format and existing Senate Handbook meeting procedures and develop recommendations in support of virtual meetings.Information Technology CommitteePendingOctober 2, 2024
S-2324Investigate Sunsetting of Academic Credit Across Campuses and Review Any Proposed ChangesReview how course credits earned at Rutgers can be sundowned across all Rutgers campuses, recognizing many students are unable to complete a desired academic degree in the usual time sequence. Report and explain the rationale for any proposed changes and offer possible recommendations concerning changes to policy of earned credit toward graduation, with consideration of potential complexities with respect to professional/graduate studies that are externally accredited.Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions CommitteePendingDecember 4, 2024
S-2323Definition of Environmentally and Socially Responsible Materials and Products (University Policy 20.1.11 Procurement and Payment Policy)Section 6A. University Policy 20.1.11 Procurement and Payment Policy states “…that Rutgers uses environmentally and socially responsible materials and products.” How are these materials and products defined? There is no statement given in the policy and as such it is hard to determine whether the policy is being enacted as described.University Structure and Governance CommitteePendingDecember 4, 2024
S-2322Coordination of Shared Governance EntitiesThe possibility of establishing a formal mechanism for the coordination of the Senate, the Faculty Councils, the student governing associations, and any other shared governance groups. Among the possibilities the committee could consider is a coordinating council with representation from each shared governance group to facilitate collaborative interaction with the President and the Boards of Governors and Trustees. They should also determine whether any change in University Regulations would be needed to accomplish this goal.University Structure and Governance CommitteePendingOctober 30, 2024
S-2321Poor Student Busing and Employee Transportation ServicesExploring effective, timely, and safe student and employee transportation issues across the campuses.Student Affairs CommitteePendingOctober 30, 2024
S-2320Timing and Process for Recommending Tuition, Fees, Housing Charges, and Dining ChargesReview the process and timing whereby recommendations are developed and made for annual changes in tuition, required fees, and room and board, including mechanisms for input from students, parents, and other stakeholders (including tenants with rents affected by Rutgers housing rates) and including the role of shared governance in this process. Make recommendations for any changes in this process to increase transparency and confidence in the process.Student Affairs CommitteePendingFebruary 21, 2024
S-2320Timing and Process for Recommending Tuition, Fees, Housing Charges, and Dining ChargesReview the process and timing whereby recommendations are developed and made for annual changes in tuition, required fees, and room and board, including mechanisms for input from students, parents, and other stakeholders (including tenants with rents affected by Rutgers housing rates) and including the role of shared governance in this process. Make recommendations for any changes in this process to increase transparency and confidence in the process.Budget and Finance CommitteePendingFebruary 21, 2024
S-2319Explore Mechanisms, Methods and Processes for Senators to Communicate Senate Work and Information to their ConstituentsThe Senate should explore mechanisms, methods and processes for senators to communicate senate work and information to their constituents.Information Technology CommitteePendingMarch 27, 2024
S-2318Increasing Student Representation on the Rutgers University Senate Executive CommitteeThe University Structure and Governance Committee of the Rutgers University Senate is charged with investigating and making recommendations on the need to expand student representation on the Rutgers University Senate Executive Committee. Currently, faculty members have representation on the Rutgers University Senate Executive Committee through seats allocated to each chancellor-led unit, in addition to two at-large positions. In contrast, students are limited to four seats representing New Brunswick, Camden, Newark, and RBHS. Given that students constitute the largest constituency at Rutgers, this committee is tasked with examining whether the current representation adequately reflects the student body’s diversity, concerns, and interests. The committee shall explore potential modifications to the Rutgers University Senate Executive Committee structure to ensure a more equitable and comprehensive student representation.University Structure and Governance CommitteePendingSeptember 25, 2024
S-2317Faculty Governance, Executive Appointments and Proposed Dual Positions at RutgersRecently appointed Dean of MGSA Jason Geary is to become Senior Vice Provost of academic Initiatives, while still maintaining the Deanship (albeit part-time) of MGSA. The faculty has not been consulted or asked to vote on this highly unusual arrangement. In addition, the Dean has appointed his Associate Dean of Academic Affairs (a position only created under his Deanship) to effectively serve as part-time Dean of MGSA in his absence. Again, the faculty has not been consulted on this change of arrangements and was merely informed. Offer recommendations on this situation or a statement on whether this is appropriate.University Structure and Governance CommitteePendingJanuary 24, 2024
S-2317Faculty Governance, Executive Appointments and Proposed Dual Positions at RutgersRecently appointed Dean of MGSA Jason Geary is to become Senior Vice Provost of academic Initiatives, while still maintaining the Deanship (albeit part-time) of MGSA. The faculty has not been consulted or asked to vote on this highly unusual arrangement. In addition, the Dean has appointed his Associate Dean of Academic Affairs (a position only created under his Deanship) to effectively serve as part-time Dean of MGSA in his absence. Again, the faculty has not been consulted on this change of arrangements and was merely informed. Offer recommendations on this situation or a statement on whether this is appropriate.Faculty and Personnel Affairs CommitteePendingJanuary 24, 2024
S-2316University Senate Representation on Formal Governance BoardsDetermine if there should be University Senate voting representation on all of the governing boards: Rutgers University Board of Governors and Board of Trustees, The Rutgers University Board of Directors (Foundation), The Camden Board of Directors; and, The Rowan University / Rutgers-Camden Board of Governors. Additionally, make recommendations regarding the make-up of Board membership, including faculty, staff, students, and alumni.University Structure and Governance CommitteePendingMarch 27, 2024
S-2315University Vision BenefitsInvestigate the policies which currently govern the University’s practice of reimbursing employees for eye exams, glasses and contact lenses, frames, and coatings. Determine if current policies match industry practices. Investigate how many employees actually receive reimbursements, and explore possible recommendations for new policies, plans, or programs related to vision and eye care for Rutgers employees.Faculty and Personnel Affairs CommitteePendingSeptember 25, 2024
S-2314Continued Assessment of Ongoing Merger Process of New Jersey Medical School and Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolThis charge is twofold:
  • Reconvene the Ad Hoc Committee on Reviewing Proposal for the Merger of the Medical Schools to fully review information obtained from the RBHS Chancellor to date, and offer an evaluative decision concerning the ongoing merger process.
  • Request that the University Structure and Governance Committee closely review and evaluate University policy 50.2.2 with the goal of further clarifying, verifying, and delineating the Senate’s official role and powers with respect to mergers of academic units, and the meaning of shared governance in that regard and more broadly.
Please note that this is co-submitted with Senator Monica Roth, and should also be assigned to a reconvened Ad-Hoc Committee on the Medical School Merger. This charge requests continued review of the ongoing merger process given that prior Senate requests for information have not been fully addressed.		University Structure and Governance CommitteePendingFebruary 21, 2024
S-2314Continued Assessment of Ongoing Merger Process of New Jersey Medical School and Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolThis charge is twofold:
  • Reconvene the Ad Hoc Committee on Reviewing Proposal for the Merger of the Medical Schools to fully review information obtained from the RBHS Chancellor to date, and offer an evaluative decision concerning the ongoing merger process.
  • Request that the University Structure and Governance Committee closely review and evaluate University policy 50.2.2 with the goal of further clarifying, verifying, and delineating the Senate’s official role and powers with respect to mergers of academic units, and the meaning of shared governance in that regard and more broadly.
Please note that this is co-submitted with Senator Monica Roth, and should also be assigned to a reconvened Ad-Hoc Committee on the Medical School Merger. This charge requests continued review of the ongoing merger process given that prior Senate requests for information have not been fully addressed.		Ad Hoc CommitteePendingFebruary 21, 2024
S-2313Whether Students Should Substitute for Workers in Urgent SituationsThis charge, to FPAC and USGC, is to explore and provide recommendations for the appropriate deployment of any students during crisis situations. Exceptions to this must also be examined, in light of national emergencies, such as the COVID pandemic. However, a recent nursing strike over staffing issues at RWJ-Barnabas would not fall into this category.University Structure and Governance CommitteePendingMay 29, 2024
S-2313Whether Students Should Substitute for Workers in Urgent SituationsThis charge, to FPAC and USGC, is to explore and provide recommendations for the appropriate deployment of any students during crisis situations. Exceptions to this must also be examined, in light of national emergencies, such as the COVID pandemic. However, a recent nursing strike over staffing issues at RWJ-Barnabas would not fall into this category.Faculty and Personnel Affairs CommitteePendingMay 29, 2024
S-2312Senate Officer CompensationTo provide guidelines for appropriate compensation for Senate officers and other Senators whose duties as Senators represent a significant fraction of their university obligations. The resources for such compensation should be provided in a manner that does not create conflicts of interest. Procedures for such compensation already in place at some of our peer aspirant universities may serve as useful models.Ad Hoc CommitteePendingFebruary 21, 2024
S-2311Professional Development OpportunitiesReview the university’s policies regarding professional development opportunities to attend conferences and meetings. Investigate and, when appropriate, make recommendations regarding campus and unit rules on (i) How long a faculty member may be absent for professional development opportunities? (ii) What are the policies for making alternative arrangements if a faculty member is absent? (iii) Who covers costs if a guest lecturer is hired? (iv) Can all faculty members, including PTLs, teach occasional classes online if necessary due to justified absences? (v) How do policies about professional development opportunities differ among schools and Chancellor-led units?Faculty and Personnel Affairs CommitteePendingFebruary 21, 2024
S-2309Increased Representation of Graduate Students and PTL Faculty in the University SenateEvaluate the current criteria, bylaws, and policies that decide graduate student representatives and PTL faculty in the Senate. Make appropriate changes to increased graduate student representation and PTL faculty in the Senate.University Structure and Governance CommitteePendingDecember 20, 2023
S-2308Conflict of Interest DeclarationsInvestigate and make recommendations on public declarations of conflicts of interest by politically exposed persons at Rutgers, including all members of the BoG and all those involved in significant financial decision-making.Budget and Finance CommitteePendingFebruary 21, 2024
S-2305Auditing Courses at RutgersReview course auditing at Rutgers. Make any appropriate recommendations.Instruction Curricula and Advising CommitteePendingOctober 25, 2023
S-2304Common Hour ExamsReview the experiences of students, faculty, and staff with common hour exams at Rutgers University. Make any appropriate recommendations.Student Affairs CommitteePendingOctober 25, 2023
S-2304Common Hour ExamsReview the experiences of students, faculty, and staff with common hour exams at Rutgers University. Make any appropriate recommendations.Instruction Curricula and Advising CommitteePendingOctober 25, 2023
S-2302Budgetary Considerations Underlying Potential Merger of the RBHS Subunits Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and New Jersey Medical School into One Medical SchoolInvestigate any relevant financial issues that will emerge if there is a proposed merger of RWJMS and NJMS. Make necessary recommendations to the Senate.Budget and Finance CommitteePendingMay 24, 2023
S-2301Science Communication Efforts at Rutgers UniversityReview efforts in science communication initiatives across the University and provide recommendations for any measures and limitations to raise awareness of the current limitations in the field of science communication across the entire Rutgers research community.Research, and Graduate and Professional Education CommitteePendingOctober 25, 2023
S-2301Science Communication Efforts at Rutgers UniversityReview efforts in science communication initiatives across the University and provide recommendations for any measures and limitations to raise awareness of the current limitations in the field of science communication across the entire Rutgers research community.Instruction Curricula and Advising CommitteePendingOctober 25, 2023
S-2208Divestment of Retirement Funds from Fossil FuelsInvestigate whether the investment companies utilized by Rutgers for university employees should divest from fossil fuel companies within their retirement portfolios that are known to contribute to climate change. Report back to the Senate Executive Committee.Budget and Finance CommitteePendingSeptember 27, 2023
S-2204-1Impact of CourseAtlasExplore the impact of CourseAtlas to benchmark institutional goals of the system, on academic units and departments, on faculty work-life balance, and make recommendations as appropriate. Specifically, (i) Investigate to what degree CourseAtlas has achieved the goals it was designed and implemented to achieve, (ii) explore the impact of CourseAtlas on academic units and departments’ ability to manage their own academic programs, (iii) assess the impact of CourseAtlas on the work-life balance of faculty, and (iv) propose feedback mechanisms which allow timely and meaningful faculty input on scheduling changes.Faculty and Personnel Affairs CommitteeReissuedNovember 22, 2023
S-2115-1Academic FreedomIdentify and investigate any recent attacks on the academic freedom of our faculty and students with a particular focus on the University's response to these attacks.Student Affairs CommitteeReissuedFebruary 21, 2024
S-2207Office of Climate ActionConsider the current funding for the Office of Climate Action and investigate the funding model. Based on the action plan, determine if an adequate level of funding is provided to the office and report back to the Senate with any recommendations.Budget and Finance CommitteePendingOctober 25, 2023
S-2206Socially Responsible InvestmentConsider the University Investment policy 40.2.14. Investigate whether the current investment policies should be modified by environmental, social and governance metrics to modify, add or remove investments based on the Endowment Justice Collective 2022 Divestment Proposal and the Resolution adopted by the Board of Trustees in March 2021. Report back to the Senate with any recommendations.Budget and Finance CommitteePendingOctober 25, 2023
S-2205-1Review of the University Senate’s Governance Documents and Formulation of University Senate BylawsReview the existing governance documents of the University Senate, including University policies, past Senate reports, and the Senate Handbook. Develop Bylaws for the University Senate consistent with Robert’s Rules of Order.University Structure and Governance CommitteeReissuedNovember 22, 2023
S-2204-1Impact of CourseAtlasExplore the impact of CourseAtlas to benchmark institutional goals of the system, on academic units and departments, on faculty work-life balance, and make recommendations as appropriate. Specifically, (i) Investigate to what degree CourseAtlas has achieved the goals it was designed and implemented to achieve, (ii) explore the impact of CourseAtlas on academic units and departments’ ability to manage their own academic programs, (iii) assess the impact of CourseAtlas on the work-life balance of faculty, and (iv) propose feedback mechanisms which allow timely and meaningful faculty input on scheduling changes.Student Affairs CommitteeReissuedNovember 22, 2023
S-2201-1Approved Electronic Notebook ProgramsInvestigate the use of electronic lab notebooks. Review the current policies and practice of notebook creation and cloud storage. Recommend the best practices for maintaining the security, integrity, and accessibility of these notebooks.Research, and Graduate and Professional Education CommitteeReissuedNovember 22, 2023
S-2202-1Honors College Student SenatorsInvestigate and recommend how Honors College Students from each campus can best be represented in the Senate. The creation of the Honors Colleges on each campus has created a new unit and community that students live, learn and participate in within the University. Student entitlements to the Senate are based on their academic association and Honors College Students can participate based on those associations if elected via their student governing associations. However, since student Senators are not specifically elected from the Honors College they may not be able to properly represent the needs of the Honors College community.University Structure and Governance CommitteeReissuedNovember 22, 2023
S-2117-1Hiring Transparency and EqualityInvestigate the current practice of hiring faculty at RBHS with full titles but described on appointment as part time and contingent on their maintaining employment at RWJBH. Make any appropriate recommendations.Faculty and Personnel Affairs CommitteeReissuedNovember 22, 2023
S-2116-1SIRSInvestigate the validity and accuracy of Student Evaluation of Teaching (SET), as well as the details of how the SIRS is implemented at Rutgers and make recommendations for its role in our new approach to the evaluation and improvement of teaching effectiveness. Please report to the Senate Executive Secretary by March 16, 2022.Faculty and Personnel Affairs CommitteeReissuedNovember 22, 2023
S-2115-1Academic FreedomIdentify and investigate any recent attacks on the academic freedom of our faculty and students with a particular focus on the University's response to these attacks.Faculty and Personnel Affairs CommitteeReissuedFebruary 21, 2024
S-2103-1Review of the Current Procedures for the Periodic Evaluation of DeansReview the current procedures for the periodic evaluation of deans.Faculty and Personnel Affairs CommitteeReissuedNovember 22, 2023
S-2020-1Investigation of Changes to the Rutgers University Patent PolicyReview the changes made to University Policy 50.3.1 - Patent Policy. Investigate potential impacts the changes may have on research, innovation & technology transfer, faculty retention and recruitment, and the financial viability of research units. Explore the extent of faculty input and notification prior to the change in policy. Make recommendations on appropriate processes for faculty consultation on these and similar issues in the future. Respond to the Senate Executive Secretary by March 31, 2021.Research, and Graduate and Professional Education CommitteeReissuedNovember 22, 2023
S-2002-2Challenges Related to Parking and TransportationReview the ongoing planning and financial status of parking and transportation, including its use of permits and citations as a source of revenue, and the long-term planning as it relates to transportation and parking, including plans to reduce parking on campus and how the administration plans to meet the challenges this will create. Budget and Finance CommitteeReissuedNovember 22, 2023