RUTGERS UNIVERSITY SENATE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
MINUTES
February 7, 2025

MEMBERS PRESENT: Boikess, Boxer, E. Brown, Esposito, Foster (Chair), Godoy, Haley, Kiss, Olivera, Pierce, Purcell, Rodriguez, Roth, Salas-de la Cruz, Simonds

ALSO ATTENDING: V. Hewitt (University Senate Executive Secretary), P. Moghe (Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs), K. O’Halloran (Vice President for Academic Planning & Administration, EVPAA), J. Oliver (Senate Parliamentarian), M. Smith (University Senate Administrative Assistant)

The regular meeting of the University Senate Executive Committee was held on Friday, February 7, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. remotely via Zoom.

Chair’s Report– Lucille Foster, Senate Chair

Chair Foster called the February 7, 2025 Senate Executive Committee meeting to order at 12:03 p.m.

Secretary’s Report– Vicki Hewitt, Senate Executive Secretary

• The February 7, 2025 Executive Committee Agenda was approved.
• The January 10, 2025 Senate Executive Committee Minutes were approved.
• Communications announced:
  • President Holloway’s Report on University Finances: Fri. Feb. 14 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
  • Budget Town Hall: Thu. March 13 from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

Administrative Report – Prabhas Moghe, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dr. Moghe provided the Administrative Report consisting of the following topics:

• Schwartzman Scholarship winners
• Faculty awards and honors
• Academic Freedom: Expression, Controversy, and State-Level Challenges Panel Discussion
• Federal Government Landscape
  • Frequently Asked Questions About the Impact of the Federal Government Changes on Research
  • Navigating New Federal Government Actions and Requirements

Dr. Moghe then answered questions on the following topics:

• Improving the Senate’s ability to communicate with the broader University community
• Federal grants with diversity supplements
• Support for faculty on the tenure clock
• Improving Senators’ ability to communicate with their constituents

USGC Draft Open Letter to the EC

The Executive Committee added this to the February Senate agenda as an information-only item.

Federal Grant Funding Freeze Small Group Selection

The Executive Committee recommended this group be elected by the Senate at the February Senate meeting. Nominees will be asked to submit a statement summarizing their experience with federal grants, DEI, and the area of their grant/research focus.

Standing Committees/Panels

Committee Report and Recommendations:

Instruction, Curricula, and Advising Committee – Natalie Borisovets and Taryn Cooper, Co-Chairs

Report on S-2301-1: Science Communication Efforts at Rutgers University

The committee was charged as follows:

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.

Outcome: The Executive Committee docketed this report for the February  Senate agenda.

Committee Report and Recommendations:

Budget and Finance Committee – Thomas Figueira and Troy Shinbrot, Co-Chairs

Trends in Rutgers Budget Priorities and Allocations

Outcome: The Executive Committee declined to docket this to the February Senate agenda. The Executive Committee will meet with the Budget and Finance Committee to discuss this report. EVP Gower will also be invited to attend part of the meeting.

Committee Report and Recommendations:

Information Technology Committee – Katie Anderson and Timothy Knievel, Co-Chairs

Report on S-2325: Explore the Current Virtual Senate Meeting Format and Develop Best Practices and Meeting Format Recommendations

The committee was charged as follows:

Review the existing Senate meeting format and existing Senate Handbook meeting procedures and develop recommendations in support of virtual meetings.

Outcome: The Executive Committee docketed this report for the February Senate agenda.

Open Charge Request:

FPAC requests that S-2115-1: Academic Freedom be revised or discharged.

Status Report on Senate Charge 2115-2: Academic Freedom

Note this was also charged to SAC.

Outcome: S-2115-1 was discharged from FPAC.

Open Charge Request:

FPAC requests the charge language of S-2333: Cost Cutting and Budget Deficits be updated to:

Pending BFC‘s investigation into outcomes of cost cutting measures that are being imposed on departments by their schools, FPAC will investigate departments’ responses with particular focus on manifestations and impacts on faculty and staff.

Note this was also charged to BFC and ICAC.

Outcome: The Executive Committee approved the amended charge for FPAC.

Old Business

None

New Business

None

Adjournment

The Executive Committee adjourned at 1:29 p.m.

Minutes prepared by: Vicki Hewitt, Executive Secretary of the University Senate