RUTGERS UNIVERSITY SENATE

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

MINUTES

Friday, April 10, 2026, 12:00 p.m. via Zoom

MEMBERS PRESENT: Andrews, Asch, Foster (Chair), Boxer, Davis, Haley, Kiss, Ntiwunka-Ifeanyi, Pierce, Purcell (Vice Chair), Salas-de la Cruz, Schwartz, Scott

ALSO ATTENDING: T. Cooper (University Senate Executive Secretary), R. Gigliotti (Chief of Staff, President’s Office-Rutgers), M. Smith (University Senate Administrative Assistant), W. Tate (President)

The regular meeting of the University Senate Executive Committee (EC) was held on Friday, April 10, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. remotely via Zoom.

Chair’s Report– Lucille Foster, Senate Chair

Chair Foster called the meeting to order at 12:03 p.m. Chair Foster gave a brief overview of the Free Expression Guidelines meeting held with Jennifer McGruther and Senator Pierce on April 9, 2026.

 Secretary’s Report– Taryn Cooper, Executive Secretary

• Approval of Agenda: A motion was made and approved to add new business by Senator Pierce to discuss the Free Expression Guidelines meeting after Chancellor Conway’s discussion with the EC.
• Approval of the March 6, 2026 Senate Executive Committee Minutes
• Policy Updates:
  • 10.3.5 Military Leave, Academic Credit and Tuition Refunds-Undergraduate and Graduate Students– Updated on interim basis.
• Communications
  • Senate Social postponed to Friday May 1, 2026 from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. due to weather.
  • Call for Nominations for 2026-2027 Senate Elections – due Fri. April 17.

 Discussion- Chancellor Francine Conway, Rutgers New Brunswick (12:20 – 12:50 p.m.)

Chancellor Conway engaged the EC by answering questions regarding the following topics:

• How to best incorporate faculty input relating to budget cuts.
• How can administration work towards clear and transparent process regarding budgeting practices and issues?

Report on the Free Expression Guidelines Meeting

Senator Pierce and Chair Foster gave an overview of the conversation with OGC regarding the Free Expression Guidelines. The next step is for the EC and OGC to meet over the summer after graduation to review an updated draft of the guidelines and to have them go through the Policy Development Process.

Camden Chancellor Search Committee Representatives (12:50 – 12:55 p.m.)

The EC approved the full list of volunteers to be approved by the Senate during the April 24, 2026 meeting.

Update from Camden-Senator David Salas de la Cruz (12:55 – 1:05 p.m.)

Senator Salas de la Cruz reported that President Tate and Dr. Arbuthnot will be visiting the Camden campus to hold discussions with constituencies. Senator Davis requested a meeting with President Tate just for staff to discuss topics that require a confidential space.

Grant Funding Requirements & Tenure- Vice Chair Wendy Purcell (1:05 – 1:10 p.m.)

Vice Chair Purcell has been approached by a School of Public Health constituent regarding concerns about moving requirements with respect to tenure within Rutgers Health. The EC suggested that the individual could submit a charge to do a broad overview, though some aspects of tenure are set by collective bargaining.

Update on Development of Draft Letter in Response to President Tate (1:10 – 1:30 p.m.)

The EC docketed the topic for the April Senate agenda to receive feedback from Senators. Their response will inform the next draft of the response letter to be reviewed during the June EC meeting.

Senate Website Follow Up – Executive Secretary (1:30 – 1:40 p.m.)

The Executive Secretary presented an update from the IT Team regarding a quorum button to be built into the business page for Senators to check in for attendance and for quorum checks during meetings. The EC did not feel a quorum check in the middle of the meeting is necessary.

 Standing Committees/Panels

            Committee Report and Recommendations (1:40 – 1:50 p.m.)

Faculty and Personnel Affairs – Christine Morales, Sara Campbell (co-chairs)

S-2317: Prevalence, Procedures, and Challenges of Faculty Occupancy of Dual Leadership Roles

FPAC was charged as follows:

FPAC is charged with investigating and making recommendations it deems necessary on the following two issues: How common are dual full-time faculty leadership role situations at Rutgers, and what are the rationales under which such dual roles are undertaken? What is the process by which such dual role leadership situations are undertaken, regarding (but not necessarily limited to): the potentially unfilled portion of FTE in one or both positions; 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); 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; 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).

Outcome: The EC docketed this report for the April Senate agenda.

Proposed Charge (1:50 – 2:00 p.m.)

Air Conditioning and Heating- Senator Antonio Pichardo, Student-New Brunswick

Charge: Evaluate Rutgers University’s current heating and air conditioning policies across academic buildings and residential facilities. Investigate seasonal transition practices and current temperature conditions across campuses, gather input from students and faculty, assess whether there are existing reporting and response systems, compare these with how other universities approach their practices, and recommend policy or operational changes to improve temperature consistency and overall campus comfort.

Rationale: The Senate should research and make recommendations on this topic primarily because of the unworkable room temperatures in buildings such as College Avenue, Cook/Douglass, Busch, and Livingston. There have been many complaints from students living in Residence Halls and Apartments with air conditioning about room temperatures being way too high at the beginning of March. From those I’ve spoken with, room temperatures can range from 80 degrees to 91 degrees, which is uncomfortable for those who already pay more for those living spaces. All this to say, staff, faculty, and students have shown a growing dissatisfaction with building climates during seasonal transitions, and I’m hoping the senate could look more into it.

Outcome: The EC agreed to send the charge language to Henry Velez and ask for a detailed response letter on the current processes and procedures, to inform next steps on whether it needs to be a charge or not.

Open Charge Request (2:00 – 2:10 p.m.)

BFC requests to amend charge language (in bold) for S-2333-1: Cost Cutting and Budget Deficits:

Charge: Identify cost cutting measures that are being imposed on departments by their schools. Investigate and report the budgetary process, rationales for these cuts and their impact on the quality of academic programs.  Examine the shared governance processes that inform the budgetary process and measures taken.

Outcome: The EC amended the charge language.

Old Business

Senator Davis inquired about if an amendment can be made to a resolution that has previously been passed, in relation to the Resolution on Support of Education Without Intimidation that was passed at the March 28, 2026 Senate meeting,. Senator Pierce clarified that a resolution could be reconsidered on the Senate floor if there is new information to present or context has changed.

New Business

Senator Scott raised a concern for colleagues at RWJMS providing gender affirming care to pediatric patients being told they could no longer provide this care. The EC suggested that a resolution may be appropriate to support the rights of doctors associated with Rutgers to practice medicine according to best practices in their field.

Senator Andrews suggested a parliamentarian training for all Senators as well as access to links to Roberts Rules of Order for all Senators. The new Senator orientation reviews Roberts Rules of Order in September, but the information can also be shared with the full Senate.

Adjournment

The Executive Committee adjourned at 2:23 p.m.

Minutes prepared by: Taryn Cooper, Executive Secretary of the University Senate