2021-22 Budget and Finance Committee - Rutgers University Senate Skip to main content

2021-2022 Budget and Finance Committee

Senator Constituency
Menahem Spiegel, ChairRutgers Business School: Newark/NB, Faculty
Andrea Baldi, MemberSchool of Arts and Sciences-NB, Faculty
Joseph Barbarese, MemberFaculty of Arts and Sciences-Camden, Faculty
Joseph Barone, MemberErnest Mario School of Pharmacy, Dean
Ashley Bernstein, MemberSchool of Graduate Studies, Student
Emma Broggi, MemberMason Gross School of the Arts, Student
Jessey Choo, MemberSchool of Arts and Sciences-NB, Faculty
Peter Cole, MemberRobert Wood Johnson Medical School, Faculty
Tyrone Davidson, MemberNew Brunswick Staff
Siatta Davis, MemberCamden Staff
Antoinette Farmer, MemberSchool of Social Work, Faculty
Thomas Farris, MemberSchool of Engineering, Dean
Thomas Figueira, MemberSchool of Arts and Sciences-NB, Faculty
Bryan Knode, MemberLecturer-New Brunswick, Faculty
Kathryn Kovacs, MemberCamden At-Large, Faculty
Lei Lei, MemberRutgers Business School: Newark/NB, Dean
Lisa Maddox Douglas, MemberAlumni Association
Kenneth McKeever, MemberSchool of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Faculty
Paul Miranti, MemberRutgers Business School: Undergraduate NB, Faculty
David Moore, MemberVP Financial Planning/Budget
James O'Connor, MemberNew Jersey Medical School, Faculty
John Pintar, MemberSchool of Graduate Studies, Faculty
Olivia Robalino, MemberSchool of Arts and Sciences-NB, Student
Monica Roth, MemberRobert Wood Johnson Medical School, Faculty
Aanchel Shah, MemberRutgers Law School in Newark, Student
John Smith, MemberEJBSPPP, Student
Malachi Sutton, MemberSchool of Arts and Sciences-NB, Student
Matt (Monther) Tadros, MemberSchool of Management and Labor Relations, Student
Lily Todorinova, MemberLibraries, Faculty
Thomas Tsakalakos, MemberNew Brunswick At-Large, Faculty
Sean Valverde, MemberRutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences Staff
Carolyne White, MemberGraduate School-Newark, Faculty
Senator Present Excused Absent
Spiegel, Menahem | Rutgers Business School: Newark/NB, Faculty 0 0 9
Baldi, Andrea | School of Arts and Sciences-NB, Faculty 0 0 9
Barbarese, Joseph | Faculty of Arts and Sciences-Camden, Faculty 0 0 9
Barone, Joseph | Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Dean 0 0 9
Bernstein, Ashley | School of Graduate Studies, Student 0 0 7
Broggi, Emma | Mason Gross School of the Arts, Student 0 0 9
Choo, Jessey | School of Arts and Sciences-NB, Faculty 0 0 9
Cole, Peter | Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Faculty 0 0 9
Davidson, Tyrone | New Brunswick Staff 0 0 9
Davis, Siatta | Camden Staff 0 0 9
Farmer, Antoinette | School of Social Work, Faculty 0 0 9
Farris, Thomas | School of Engineering, Dean 0 0 9
Figueira, Thomas | School of Arts and Sciences-NB, Faculty 0 0 9
Knode, Bryan | Lecturer-New Brunswick, Faculty 0 0 9
Kovacs, Kathryn | Camden At-Large, Faculty 0 0 9
Lei, Lei | Rutgers Business School: Newark/NB, Dean 0 0 9
Maddox Douglas, Lisa | Alumni Association 0 0 9
McKeever, Kenneth | School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Faculty 0 0 9
Miranti, Paul | Rutgers Business School: Undergraduate NB, Faculty 0 0 5
Moore, David | VP Financial Planning/Budget 0 0 9
O'Connor, James | New Jersey Medical School, Faculty 0 0 9
Pintar, John | School of Graduate Studies, Faculty 0 0 9
Robalino, Olivia | School of Arts and Sciences-NB, Student 0 0 9
Roth, Monica | Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Faculty 0 0 9
Shah, Aanchel | Rutgers Law School in Newark, Student 0 0 9
Smith, John | EJBSPPP, Student 0 0 3
Sutton, Malachi | School of Arts and Sciences-NB, Student 0 0 7
Tadros, Matt (Monther) | School of Management and Labor Relations, Student 0 0 9
Todorinova, Lily | Libraries, Faculty 0 0 9
Tsakalakos, Thomas | New Brunswick At-Large, Faculty 0 0 9
Valverde, Sean | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences Staff 0 0 9
White, Carolyne | Graduate School-Newark, Faculty 0 0 9
Charge NumberTitleDescriptionCommittees Being ChargedCharge StatusDue Date
S-2407Code of Conduct for Senate Virtual MeetingsAt the February 21, 2025 Senate meeting, the Senate adopted a recommendation that the Senate develop a code of conduct for University Senate virtual meetings. This ad hoc committee is charged with implementing that recommendation.Ad Hoc CommitteePendingNovember 5, 2025
S-2406Senate Role in Shared GovernanceRequest 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 in shared governance.University Structure and Governance CommitteePendingJanuary 7, 2026
S-2405Teaching Faculty InclusionReview and report the extent to which teaching faculty (i.e. NTTs & Lecturers) are included in the decision-making structures and advisory spaces at the local (departmental and program) and (decanal) unit levels. Potentially propose guidelines to make local and unit-level governance more inclusive of all faculty and stakeholders, and to make practices more equitable across departments, units, and campuses.University Structure and Governance CommitteePendingDecember 3, 2025
S-2404Inter-campus Inclusion and Equity in the Rutgers Academic CalendarInvestigate the most efficient way to broaden the development, implementation, and online display of the Rutgers Academic Calendar to ensure that all campuses are fully included in a manner that supports and promotes major calendar milestones such as convocation and commencement.Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions CommitteePendingApril 2, 2025
S-2401-1Automatic Textbook BillingThe University Senate should explore the nature and impact of automatic textbook billing by investigating the following issues: 1) Why automatic textbook billing was initiated; 2) Whether and the university and professors can better inform students about enrollment in automatic textbook billing; and 3) What steps can be taken to transform this program from “opt out” (automatic charges) to “opt in” (voluntary charges).Student Affairs CommitteeReissuedNovember 5, 2025
S-2334-1Senate CommunicationsAn ad committee will be created with broad representation to evaluate procedures to regulate use of the Senate listserv.Ad Hoc CommitteeReissuedNovember 5, 2025
S-2333-1Cost Cutting and Budget DeficitsIdentify cost cutting measures that are being imposed on departments by their schools. Investigate the budgetary rationales for these cuts and their impact on the quality of academic programs.Instruction Curricula and Advising CommitteeReissuedDecember 3, 2025
S-2333-1Cost Cutting and Budget DeficitsPending BFC‘s investigation into outcomes of cost cutting measures that are being imposed on departments by their schoolsFPAC will investigate departments’ responses with particular focus on manifestations and impacts on faculty and staff.Faculty and Personnel Affairs CommitteeReissuedDecember 3, 2025
S-2333-1Cost Cutting and Budget DeficitsIdentify cost cutting measures that are being imposed on departments by their schools. Investigate the budgetary rationales for these cuts and their impact on the quality of academic programs.Budget and Finance CommitteeReissuedDecember 3, 2025
S-2331-1Research Trainee Compensation and Benefit InequityInvestigate current practices in postdoc and current doctoral student remuneration, in particular as it relates to inequality following fellowship funding and to develop solutions to reward talent.Research, and Graduate and Professional Education CommitteeReissuedDecember 3, 2025
S-2330-1Expanding Access to University Libraries Across CampusesInvestigate current University library hours across all campuses. Determine if those hours are adequately meeting student needs (access to collections; access to study spaces; access to technology) on each campus. Make recommendations as appropriate.Student Affairs CommitteePendingDecember 3, 2025
S-2330-1Expanding Access to University Libraries Across CampusesInvestigate current University library hours across all campuses. Determine if those hours are adequately meeting student needs (access to collections; access to study spaces; access to technology) on each campus. Make recommendations as appropriate.Instruction Curricula and Advising CommitteeReissuedDecember 3, 2025
S-2329Senate Role in the Policy on Policies Processes and ProceduresStudy and provide recommendation to increase University Senate’s role on the Policy on Policies in the matters related academic affairs, educational and research matters.University Structure and Governance CommitteePendingApril 2, 2025
S-2321-1Inadequate Transportation and Parking Services for Students and EmployeesExploring effective, timely, and safe student and employee transportation issues across the campuses.Student Affairs CommitteeReissuedOctober 1, 2025
S-2318-1Increasing 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 CommitteeReissuedApril 2, 2025
S-2317-3Prevalence, Procedures, and Challenges of Faculty Occupancy of Dual Leadership RolesFPAC is charged with investigating and making recommendations it deems necessary on the following two issues:
  1. How common are dual full-time faculty leadership role situations at Rutgers, and what are the rationales under which such dual roles are undertaken?
  2. What is the process by which such dual role leadership situations are undertaken, regarding (but not necessarily limited to):
    1. the potentially unfilled portion of FTE in one or both positions;
    2. the identification and selection of other individuals to supplement one or both of the dual roles, including how existing procedures for filling such positions are or are not followed (e.g., is one or both role in such situations reverted to being appointed rather than competitively hired in any circumstances);
    3. the clarification of the work tasks required for each of the leadership roles held, and evaluation of performance in those roles, given that they are engaged at less than 100% FTE;
    4. assurance that potential conflict of interest is identified and pre-empted or managed?
Note: This charge focuses on faculty specifically, excludes roles fulfilled through funding buy-outs and/or by involving summer work for those on 9-month contracts, and also omits focus on within-unit dual leadership roles unless each role historically constitutes 100% FTE (e.g., a department chair assuming the chairship of a second department within a school or college).
Faculty and Personnel Affairs CommitteeReissuedDecember 3, 2025
S-2316-1University 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 CommitteeReissuedApril 2, 2025
S-2313-1Whether 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 CommitteeReissuedSeptember 3, 2025
S-2313-1Whether 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 CommitteeReissuedSeptember 3, 2025
S-2311-2Professional 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 CommitteeReissuedDecember 3, 2025
S-2309-2Increased 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 CommitteeReissuedApril 2, 2025
S-2305-2Auditing Courses at RutgersReview course auditing at Rutgers. Make any appropriate recommendations.Instruction Curricula and Advising CommitteeReissuedOctober 1, 2025
S-2304-2Common Hour ExamsReview the experiences of students, faculty, and staff with common hour exams at Rutgers University. Make any appropriate recommendations.Student Affairs CommitteeReissuedDecember 3, 2025
S-2304-2Common Hour ExamsReview the experiences of students, faculty, and staff with common hour exams at Rutgers University. Make any appropriate recommendations.Instruction Curricula and Advising CommitteeReissuedDecember 3, 2025
S-2115-3Academic 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 CommitteeReissuedNovember 5, 2025
S-2206-2Socially 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 CommitteeReissuedDecember 3, 2025
S-2204-3Impact 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 5, 2025