RUTGERS UNIVERSITY SENATE

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

MEETING AGENDA

Friday, October 2, 2026, 12:00 p.m. via Zoom 

https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/98909708339?pwd=tMYFxTEMoN5wSWtELHZUj9v9zoqCCK.1

Chair’s Report– Anna Haley, Senate Chair

Secretary’s Report– Taryn Cooper, Senate Executive Secretary

• Approval of Agenda
• Approval of the September 4, 2026 Senate Executive Committee Minutes
• Communications
  • Ad Hoc Committee on Cross-Campus Equity in Student, Faculty, and Staff Experiences, Support, and Recognition volunteers requested.
  • NCHEMS Strategic Insights for NJ Higher Education Study volunteers collected and sent.
  • Ad Hoc Committee on Senate Internal Budget volunteers requested.
  • Middle States Report Committee responses sent.
  • Senate Social Planning Meeting – Response requested by Wed. October 7^th.

Budget Model Review – Subcommittees and Presentation (12:15 – 12:35 p.m.)

Executive Committee Subcommittee on Social Media (12:35 – 12:45 p.m.)

Senate Communication Conversation – (12:45 – 1:00 p.m.)

Preparation for Forum with Kenneth Cop – (1:00 – 1:15 p.m.)

SAS-C Dean Evaluation Committee Volunteers – (1:15 – 1:20 p.m.)

University Apocalypse: AI Presentation and ChatGPT Impacts (1:20 – 1:25 p.m.) – Senator Miklos Vasarhelyi

Other Dean Concerns (refer to previously emailed material) (1:25 – 1:35 p.m.)

Hiring Freeze Discussion (1:35 – 1:45 p.m.)

Standing Committees/Panels

2026-2027 Committee Chair Positions (1:45 – 1:50 p.m.)

         ABIDE: Malica Dock (2) and Ronald Quincy (1)

         ASRAC: Robert Schwartz (2) and Jose Torres (1)

         BFC: Brian Everett (1) and Michelle Gittleman (2)

         FPAC: Sara Campbell (1) and Caitlin McCoyd (2)

         ICAC: Natalie Borisovets (2) and Katarzyna Klimczak (1)

         ITC: Jim Brown (2) and Katie Anderson (1)

         RGPEC: Detlev Boison (2) and Monica Mazurek (1)

SAC: Elections on 10/16 – Past co-chairs Rachel Maeng Brown and Gary Santos Mendoza

         USGC: Wendy Purcell (1) and Kevin Emmons (2)

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

None.

Proposed Charge (1:50 – 2:00 p.m.)

Standardizing Library Operating Hours and Closing Times – Senator Tesia Yachimovicz

Charge: Investigate the feasibility of implementing uniform, 2:00 AM closing hours across all University libraries (New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden campuses). Assess the current closing times at each campus and the impact of each library closing at different hours on student wellbeing.

Rationale: Many students have expressed concern about the differing opening and closing hours of libraries at Rutgers University. When unexpected library closing times force students to leave before they finish their work or relocate to less ideal study environments, their academic progress is disrupted. This is especially relevant for students who can only study at later hours due to working during the day, schedule conflicts, childcare responsibilities, and other competing obligations. A comprehensive assessment will help identify what adjustments may be needed to better support our students.

Follow up feedback from ICAC/SAC following EC 9/4 meeting:

• Seems to be the same charge slightly reworded. “Findings with regards to operating hours of the libraries” is in the report that was submitted and approved by the Senate only 9 months ago.
• As cited in the report, “In response to the question “Would you use the library if they were open later than midnight (12am)” only 29 students responded; 17 said “No.”
• Also from the report: “In response to the question “If there was a designated study space open for 24 hours on campus not in the library, would you use it?” 100 students responded and 78 students said “Yes,” and in many cases elaborated on their responses. This was the one area that seemed to generate interest on the part of the surveyed students, which is why that is where our recommendations focused.
• Unsure how someone who regularly uses a particular library (and most have a “usual library”) would encounter “unexpected library closing times.”
• No idea what more the committees can do with it.
• VP for University Libraries was one of the people who served on the subcommittee that specifically addressed the previous charge.
• Question: Did the committee address the issue of inequitable hours across campuses? E.g., Dana and Alexander are open until 12:00 a.m. but Robeson only until 10:00 p.m.
  • Answer: Robeson opens earlier than either Alexander or Dana. While there are always other factors at play, individual library hours tend to reflect campus/community makeup (for example, mostly commuter vs. mostly residential) and needs.

Proposed Charge (2:00 – 2:10 p.m.)

Financial Aid Access for Part-Time, Graduate, and Summer-Inclusive Program Students – Senator Christine Chapais

Charge: Review the impact of recent federal financial aid changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) on Rutgers students, with an emphasis on part-time students, graduate students, and students enrolled in summer-inclusive programs (including summers). The committee should examine how new restrictions on federal loan eligibility, borrowing limits, enrollment requirements, proration, and the removal of the Graduate PLUS Loan affect Rutgers students’ ability to afford, fund, continue attending classes, and complete their chosen educational program(s). The committee should specifically examine whether Rutgers’ current financial aid policies, course/program enrollment requirements, academic program structures, and institutional aid practices might mitigate or exacerbate these impacts, including possible barriers created for students whose programs require summer enrollment or who attend less than full-time. The committee should also consider the impact on graduate programs that are not included in the federal definition of “professional degree” programs and, therefore, may be subject to lower federal borrowing limits. The committee should identify disparities in impact across student populations and programs and recommend University policies or practices that could reduce unintended barriers to enrollment, persistence, and timely degree completion resulting from these federal changes.

Rationale: Recent OBBBA-enacted federal student aid changes have introduced many obstacles for Rutgers students, especially those who attend school part time, pursue a graduate degree, or participate in a summer-inclusive program. Federal borrowing limits, enrollment-based qualifications, and the cancellation of the Graduate PLUS Loan Program will limit the amount of financing available to help fund the education of many students. Students participating in programs without the “Professional Degree Designation” from the U.S. Department of Education and/or those required to enroll during the summer months will be disproportionately impacted by this. The Senate should investigate how recent federal student aid policy changes are affecting students at Rutgers, and assess whether there is anything that University policies and procedures can do to counteract unintended barriers to accessing a college education, persisting in it, and completing it in a timely manner.

Proposed Charge (2:10 – 2:20 p.m.)

Compulsory Charges for First Day Course Material – Senator Francisco Quevedo

Charge: Currently, students are charged for First Day Course Material in many classes. These charges can sometimes exceed $250 per class, and they are compulsory. Students are forced to opt out.

Rationale: If First Day Course Material were required in two classes per semester, the student would incur an avoidable cost of $1,000 per year. Avoidable, because sometimes the professor does not use or require the materials, and also because in this day and age, e-books, PDF copies, and lab material can be found for free on the web, or physical copies can be handed down or sold at a discount from friends who already took the class. I propose to change these compulsory charges to an opt-in mode, so students are charged only if they want to buy the material.

Proposed Charge (2:20 – 2:30 p.m.)

To review the current Faculty Survey (Form1a) used for all reappointment, tenure, and promotion applications. This form is very lengthy, cumbersome to navigate, and somewhat unclear to those completing it, especially for those who are early career faculty and to explore the uniformity of the tenure process across schools and colleges of the University. For example, to what extent are schools and colleges consistent in the way they conduct the tenure process? – Senator Sara Campbell

Charge: We want to identify ways to improve and streamline the tenure and promotion process for all schools and colleges within Rutgers University. We would like to establish a more standardized approach to expectations and processes of all tenure track faculty for reappointment, tenure, and promotion.

Rationale: Standardizing and streamlining the tenure and promotion process across schools and colleges at Rutgers University would strengthen fairness, transparency, and quality, while improving efficiency and accountability. It aligns the interests of faculty, departments, and the institution, and it supports a culture of trust and merit in academic advancement.

Proposed Charge (2:30 – 2:40 p.m.)

Review of Secondary Teaching Opportunities for Non-Exempt Rutgers Staff– Non-Senator, Gabrielle Land

Charge: The Faculty and Personnel Affairs Committee should review Rutgers University’s policies and practices governing secondary teaching appointments for full-time staff, with particular attention to the restrictions affecting employees whose primary University positions are classified as non-exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The Committee should examine the basis and continued necessity of the University’s current restrictions and determine whether legally compliant alternatives could permit otherwise qualified non-exempt staff to accept secondary teaching assignments while maintaining their non-exempt status and appropriately accounting for all compensable work, overtime, workload, scheduling, compensation, supervisory approval, and other applicable requirements. As part of this review, the Committee should examine relevant FLSA regulations and U.S. Department of Labor guidance addressing employees who hold full-time non-exempt positions while also performing additional teaching duties for the same educational institution, as well as the University’s rationale and prior review of its Multiple Assignment policies. The Committee should also review the University’s processes for approving and verifying secondary teaching appointments, including what safeguards are in place to identify eligibility concerns before a semester begins and how academic continuity and student impact should be addressed when an appointment issue is discovered after instruction has already begun. Based on its findings, the Committee should recommend whether University policies or procedures should be revised or clarified to provide legally compliant and equitable opportunities for qualified staff to contribute to Rutgers’ teaching mission while maintaining appropriate wage-and-hour protections.

Rationale: Rutgers employs staff members with advanced degrees, professional expertise, and academic qualifications that may make them valuable contributors to the University’s teaching mission. Current University policy restricts certain secondary teaching appointments based on an employee’s exempt or non-exempt status, in part because of wage-and-hour compliance concerns. However, U.S. Department of Labor guidance has addressed circumstances in which full-time non-exempt employees also perform part-time teaching duties for the same educational institution, raising an important question about whether a categorical prohibition is necessary or whether compliant alternatives may exist that appropriately account for hours worked, compensation, and overtime. A University-wide review could clarify the legal and policy basis for the current restriction, examine whether alternative arrangements are feasible, and strengthen appointment-review procedures so eligibility concerns are identified before courses begin. Such a review could support employee protections and compliance while also promoting professional opportunities, academic continuity, and the University’s educational mission.

Open Charge Request (2:40 – 2:45 p.m.)

SAC requests an extension until January 6, 2027, and language update for the following charge:

• S-2321-1: Inadequate Transportation and Parking Services for Students and Employees

Description: Exploring effective, timely, and safe student and employee transportation issues across the campuses.

UPDATED Title and Language:

• S-2321-1: Examining Transportation and Parking Services for Students and Employees, Including the Automated Parking Fines System

Description: Exploring effective, timely, accessible, and safe transportation options for students and employees across Rutgers campuses, including the administration and communication of parking regulations, violations, and fines. Investigate Rutgers parking fines and the manner in which parking violations, fines, and related policies are communicated to the Rutgers community

Rationale: Investigate Rutgers parking fines and the manner in which parking violations, fines, and related policies are communicated to the Rutgers community.  

Open Charge Request (2:45 – 2:50 p.m.)

ITC requests an extension until January 6, 2027, for the following charge:

• S-2506: Artificial Intelligence Usage at Rutgers

Old Business

New Business

University Senate October 16 Agenda (2:50 – 2:55 p.m.)

• Forum on Public Safety – Chief Kenneth Cop – Executive Director, Police Services | Chief of University Police: To begin at 1:30 p.m.

Adjournment