| Senator | Constituency |
|---|---|
| Lucille Foster, Co-Chair | Newark Staff |
| Robert Schwartz, Co-Chair | New Jersey Medical School, Faculty |
| Sanjib Bhuyan, Member | School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Faculty |
| Vacant, Member | No constituency for this term. |
| Nuralhoda Elsaid, Member | Newark College of Arts and Sciences, Student |
| Cecile Feldman, Member | Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, Dean |
| Franklin Halprin, Member | EJBSPPP, Student |
| Martha Haviland, Member | School of Arts and Sciences-NB, Faculty |
| SungWoo Kahng, Member | Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Faculty |
| Neil Kothari, Member | New Jersey Medical School, Faculty |
| Howard Marchitello, Member | |
| Donna Nickitas, Member | School of Nursing-Camden, Dean |
| Meera Patel, Member | School of Arts and Sciences-NB, Student |
| Suja Patel, Member | Newark Staff |
| Sofia Pinto-Figueroa, Member | Newark College of Arts and Sciences, Dean Designee |
| Cathryn Potter, Member | School of Social Work, Dean |
| Sue Shapses, Member | School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Faculty |
| Siddharth Swamy, Member | Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Faculty |
| Ted Szatrowski, Member | Rutgers Business School: Undergraduate NB, Faculty |
| Jose Torres, Member | Lecturer-Camden, Faculty |
| Ian Whitehead, Member | New Jersey Medical School, Faculty |
| Senator | Present | Excused | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foster, Lucille | Newark Staff | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Schwartz, Robert | New Jersey Medical School, Faculty | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Bhuyan, Sanjib | School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Faculty | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Elsaid, Nuralhoda | Newark College of Arts and Sciences, Student | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Feldman, Cecile | Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, Dean | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Halprin, Franklin | EJBSPPP, Student | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Haviland, Martha | School of Arts and Sciences-NB, Faculty | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Kahng, SungWoo | Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Faculty | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Kothari, Neil | New Jersey Medical School, Faculty | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Marchitello, Howard | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Nickitas, Donna | School of Nursing-Camden, Dean | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Patel, Meera | School of Arts and Sciences-NB, Student | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Patel, Suja | Newark Staff | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Pinto-Figueroa, Sofia | Newark College of Arts and Sciences, Dean Designee | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Potter, Cathryn | School of Social Work, Dean | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Shapses, Sue | School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Faculty | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Swamy, Siddharth | Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Faculty | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Szatrowski, Ted | Rutgers Business School: Undergraduate NB, Faculty | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Torres, Jose | Lecturer-Camden, Faculty | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Whitehead, Ian | New Jersey Medical School, Faculty | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Charge Number | Title | Description | Committees Being Charged | Charge Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S-2325 | Explore the Current Virtual Senate Meeting Format and Develop Best Practices and Meeting Format Recommendations | Review the existing Senate meeting format and existing Senate Handbook meeting procedures and develop recommendations in support of virtual meetings. | Information Technology Committee | Pending | October 2, 2024 |
| S-2324 | Investigate Sunsetting of Academic Credit Across Campuses and Review Any Proposed Changes | Review 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 Committee | Pending | December 4, 2024 |
| S-2323 | Definition 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 Committee | Pending | December 4, 2024 |
| S-2322 | Coordination of Shared Governance Entities | The 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 Committee | Pending | October 30, 2024 |
| S-2321 | Poor Student Busing and Employee Transportation Services | Exploring effective, timely, and safe student and employee transportation issues across the campuses. | Student Affairs Committee | Pending | October 30, 2024 |
| S-2320 | Timing and Process for Recommending Tuition, Fees, Housing Charges, and Dining Charges | Review 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 Committee | Pending | February 21, 2024 |
| S-2320 | Timing and Process for Recommending Tuition, Fees, Housing Charges, and Dining Charges | Review 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 Committee | Pending | February 21, 2024 |
| S-2319 | Explore Mechanisms, Methods and Processes for Senators to Communicate Senate Work and Information to their Constituents | The Senate should explore mechanisms, methods and processes for senators to communicate senate work and information to their constituents. | Information Technology Committee | Pending | March 27, 2024 |
| S-2318 | Increasing Student Representation on the Rutgers University Senate Executive Committee | The 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 Committee | Pending | September 25, 2024 |
| S-2317 | Faculty Governance, Executive Appointments and Proposed Dual Positions at Rutgers | Recently 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 Committee | Pending | January 24, 2024 |
| S-2317 | Faculty Governance, Executive Appointments and Proposed Dual Positions at Rutgers | Recently 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 Committee | Pending | January 24, 2024 |
| S-2316 | University Senate Representation on Formal Governance Boards | Determine 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 Committee | Pending | March 27, 2024 |
| S-2315 | University Vision Benefits | Investigate 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 Committee | Pending | September 25, 2024 |
| S-2314 | Continued Assessment of Ongoing Merger Process of New Jersey Medical School and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School | This charge is twofold:
| University Structure and Governance Committee | Pending | February 21, 2024 |
| S-2314 | Continued Assessment of Ongoing Merger Process of New Jersey Medical School and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School | This charge is twofold:
| Ad Hoc Committee | Pending | February 21, 2024 |
| S-2313 | Whether Students Should Substitute for Workers in Urgent Situations | This 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 Committee | Pending | May 29, 2024 |
| S-2313 | Whether Students Should Substitute for Workers in Urgent Situations | This 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 Committee | Pending | May 29, 2024 |
| S-2312 | Senate Officer Compensation | To 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 Committee | Pending | February 21, 2024 |
| S-2311 | Professional Development Opportunities | Review 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 Committee | Pending | February 21, 2024 |
| S-2309 | Increased Representation of Graduate Students and PTL Faculty in the University Senate | Evaluate 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 Committee | Pending | December 20, 2023 |
| S-2308 | Conflict of Interest Declarations | Investigate 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 Committee | Pending | February 21, 2024 |
| S-2305 | Auditing Courses at Rutgers | Review course auditing at Rutgers. Make any appropriate recommendations. | Instruction Curricula and Advising Committee | Pending | October 25, 2023 |
| S-2304 | Common Hour Exams | Review the experiences of students, faculty, and staff with common hour exams at Rutgers University. Make any appropriate recommendations. | Student Affairs Committee | Pending | October 25, 2023 |
| S-2304 | Common Hour Exams | Review the experiences of students, faculty, and staff with common hour exams at Rutgers University. Make any appropriate recommendations. | Instruction Curricula and Advising Committee | Pending | October 25, 2023 |
| S-2302 | Budgetary Considerations Underlying Potential Merger of the RBHS Subunits Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and New Jersey Medical School into One Medical School | Investigate 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 Committee | Pending | May 24, 2023 |
| S-2301 | Science Communication Efforts at Rutgers University | Review 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 Committee | Pending | October 25, 2023 |
| S-2301 | Science Communication Efforts at Rutgers University | Review 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 Committee | Pending | October 25, 2023 |
| S-2208 | Divestment of Retirement Funds from Fossil Fuels | Investigate 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 Committee | Pending | September 27, 2023 |
| S-2204-1 | Impact of CourseAtlas | Explore 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 Committee | Reissued | November 22, 2023 |
| S-2115-1 | Academic Freedom | Identify 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 Committee | Reissued | February 21, 2024 |
| S-2207 | Office of Climate Action | Consider 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 Committee | Pending | October 25, 2023 |
| S-2206 | Socially Responsible Investment | Consider 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 Committee | Pending | October 25, 2023 |
| S-2205-1 | Review of the University Senate’s Governance Documents and Formulation of University Senate Bylaws | Review 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 Committee | Reissued | November 22, 2023 |
| S-2204-1 | Impact of CourseAtlas | Explore 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 Committee | Reissued | November 22, 2023 |
| S-2201-1 | Approved Electronic Notebook Programs | Investigate 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 Committee | Reissued | November 22, 2023 |
| S-2202-1 | Honors College Student Senators | Investigate 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 Committee | Reissued | November 22, 2023 |
| S-2117-1 | Hiring Transparency and Equality | Investigate 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 Committee | Reissued | November 22, 2023 |
| S-2116-1 | SIRS | Investigate 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 Committee | Reissued | November 22, 2023 |
| S-2115-1 | Academic Freedom | Identify 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 Committee | Reissued | February 21, 2024 |
| S-2103-1 | Review of the Current Procedures for the Periodic Evaluation of Deans | Review the current procedures for the periodic evaluation of deans. | Faculty and Personnel Affairs Committee | Reissued | November 22, 2023 |
| S-2020-1 | Investigation of Changes to the Rutgers University Patent Policy | Review 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 Committee | Reissued | November 22, 2023 |
| S-2002-2 | Challenges Related to Parking and Transportation | Review 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 Committee | Reissued | November 22, 2023 |