RUTGERS UNIVERSITY SENATE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
M I N U T E S
November 4, 2021

MEMBERS PRESENT: Boikess Daughety, Den Bleyker, Ewins, Foster, Gillett, Giraud, Oliver, Schwartz, Struble, Thompson, White, Willett

ALSO ATTENDING: F. Amjad (BOT Undergraduate Student Representative), G. Bachmann (BOT Faculty Representative), N. Garthe (Center for Tobacco Studies), M. Kennedy (Center for Tobacco Studies), P. Moghe (EVP Academic Affairs), S. Rabinowitz (BOG Faculty Representative), K. Schroth (RBHS CBI Faculty Senator), M. Smith (Senate Interim Executive Secretary), M. Sutton (BOG Student Representative)

The regular meeting of the University Senate Executive Committee was held on Friday, November 4, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. remotely via Zoom.

1. Chair’s Report– Jon Oliver, Senate Chair

Senate and Executive Committee Chair Jon Oliver called the meeting to order at 12:02 p.m. He welcomed all to the meeting and went over the President Inauguration details for November 4 – 5.

1. Secretary’s Report – Morgan Smith, Interim Executive Secretary of the Senate

• The November 4^th meeting agenda was approved with zero corrections
• The October 8^th Executive Committee meeting minutes were also approved with no additions or corrections
• Communications:
  • The following policy has been updated/added in the University Policy Library:
    • University Policy 60.1.11 Title IX Policy and Grievance Procedures (new version) Strike-out version
    • University Policy 40.2.7 Petty Cash Funds (new version) Strike-out version
    • University Policy 60.1.33 Title IX Policy and Grievance Procedures (new version) Strike-out version

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

Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Prabhas Moghe presented an administrative report, which included comments on:

• Details on the Marshal Scholarship finalist
• The student commencement for 2020-2021
• Women’s Soccer Team has a 10-0 record, and are nationally ranked along with the Field Hockey team
• The next round of Research Council Grants – has been going on for 79 years
• Update on Academic Freedom on the Presidents website
• The inauguration day for President Holloway “Rutgers, this is What Excellence Looks Like”
• Broke ground with the NJ Governor on the Innovation Hub Space
• Vaccination mandate for faculty and staff moved to January 4, 2022

He then answered questions on the following topics:

• Appreciation for the continuous efforts on Academic Freedom
• Compensation and injustice in equity committee at RWJMS

4. Standing Committees/Panels

Issues/Proposed Charges:

Proposed Charge to the Faculty and Personnel Affairs Committee on SIRS – Submitted by Senator Bob Boikess, SAS-NB (F)

Charge: The FPAC should 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 should make recommendations for its role in our new approach to the evaluation and improvement of teaching effectiveness

Background: For many years the teaching effectiveness of faculty members at Rutgers was judged primarily, if not exclusively, using the numerical results of two questions on the Student Instructional Rating Survey (SIRS). Several years ago, then EVPAA Barbara Lee initiated a process to develop a more comprehensive and accurate procedure for the evaluation of teaching effectiveness. The proposed new procedure includes peer evaluations and teaching portfolios. Unfortunately, the pandemic has to some extent derailed the implementation of the new procedure; but the University now is moving toward implementing it.

Questions and concerns about the role of the SIRS in the new procedure have been raised in various quarters, such as the New Brunswick Faculty Council. In particular, proposals have been made to use the SIRS to improve teaching effectiveness, but not for personnel decisions. Given that teaching evaluation is an issue that is of university-wide concern, it is appropriate that the Senate consider this issue and in particular the role of the SIRS.

The charge was presented by Senator Bob Boikess, and it was discussed amongst the Executive Committee and the following changes were made:

• Remove “The FPAC should” from the beginning of the charge, and also remove the word “should” following “Rutgers and” preceding “make recommendations”

The changes were agreed upon, and the Committee decided to charge FPAC with a due date of March, 2022

Committee Reports/Resolutions:

Ad Hoc Committee Response to Charge S-2107 Review of University Policy 20.1.22 – No Smoking – Kevin Schroth, Committee Chair

Ad Hoc Committee was charged as follows:

Review the University “No Smoking Policy”. Consider renaming the policy to the inclusive all tobacco products. Make recommendations on any necessary changes.

The Executive Committee reviewed the work of the Ad-Hoc committee and with a few minor edits they decided it was ready to be docketed for the November 19^th Main Senate Meeting.

Charge Extension Requests:

The Instruction, Curricula and Advising Committee requests an extension to January 2022 for the following charge:

• • S-2106: Office of Disability Services – Due November 23, 2021 (The report for this charge was submitted for review at the March 2021 EC meeting.)

The Executive Committee approved this extension.

The Information Technology Committee requests and extension to April 2022 for the following charge:

• • S-2109 Communication Mechanisms Regarding Major Changes in IT Applications (The report for this charge was submitted for review at the April 2021 EC Meeting)

The Executive Committee approved this extension.

The University Structure and Governance Committee requests extensions for the following charges:

• • S-2008: How Staff Senators are Elected – Due November 22, 2021
  • S-2019: Review the Senate’s Relationship with the Rutgers Governing Boards – Due November 22, 2021
  • S-2108: Senate Procedures for Debate, Amendment, and Voting – Due November 22, 2021

The Executive Committee suggested new extensions for March 2022 and it was unanimously approved.

5. New Business

RWJBH Resolution on Hiring Transparency and Equality – Submitted by Amy Hale

The resolution was discussed by the Executive Committee, and it was decided to be brought to FPAC with the following charge with consultation from USGC:

Charge: 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. Ascertain whether or not the adoption of such practices without prior consultation infringes upon the Senate’s responsibilities and duties. Make any appropriate recommendations.

Background: See attached letter

Proposed Resolution on Class Scheduling – Submitted by Farid Alizadeh, RBS-UN (F)

Chair Oliver and Vice Chair Gillett noted that they met with the President about this issue after this was proposed and the resolution has since been removed from consideration.

6. Old Business

There was no Old Business.

7. University Senate November 19, 2021 Agenda

• Regular Senate Meeting via Zoom
• Administrative Report by President Holloway
• Smoking Policy has been docketed for this meeting

8. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 2:22 pm

The minutes have been written and recorded by Interim Executive Secretary Morgan Smith.