RUTGERS UNIVERSITY SENATE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
MINUTES
February 3, 2023

MEMBERS PRESENT: Bachmann, Boikess, Cooper, Foster, Giraud, Oliver, Olivera, Ortiz, Roth, Schwartz, Simonds (Chair), Struble, Szatrowski, Thompson, Van Stine

ALSO ATTENDING: S. Abdelwahab (BOG Student Representative), F. Amjad (BOT Undergraduate Student Representative), N. Cantor (Newark Chancellor), V. Hewitt (University Senate Executive Secretary), M. Kelly (President, RWJMS Faculty Council), P. Moghe (Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs), K. O’Halloran (Vice President for Academic Planning & Administration, EVPAA), T. Ozel (BOT Faculty Representative), S. Rabinowitz (BOG Faculty Representative), M. Smith (University Senate Administrative Assistant)

The regular meeting of the University Senate Executive Committee was held on Friday, February 3, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. remotely via Zoom.

Chair’s Report– Adrienne Simonds, Senate Chair

Chair Simonds called the February 3, 2023 Senate Executive Committee meeting to order at 12:02 p.m. and reviewed the agenda for the meeting.

Secretary’s Report– Vicki Hewitt, Senate Executive Secretary

• Approval of Agenda
• Approval of the Jan. 6, 2023 Senate Executive Committee Minutes
• Administrative Responses
  • Response to S-2110: Research Information Systems

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

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

• Faculty accolades
• President’s Report on University Finances at the Feb. 17 University Senate meeting
• Research grant awards
• Sandra Richtermeyer named Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost at Rutgers University-Camden
• Ongoing searches
• University-wide faculty and staff recognition awards

Dr. Moghe then answered questions on the following topics:

• Challenges related to ChatGPT
• Advocacy with New Jersey state government regarding fringe rates
• Length of service for department chairs
• Enrollment concerns at Camden and Newark campuses
• Research support for department chairs

Discussion with Dr. Nancy Cantor, Newark Chancellor

Results of Survey of Faculty on “Envisioning the Future of Medicine at Rutgers University – Next Steps” – Michael Kelly, President, RWJMS Faculty Council

Format of University Senate April 28 Meetings

University Senate meetings will be held remotely via Zoom on April 28, 2023.

Administrative Requests for Follow-Up

None.

Standing Committees/Panels

Proposed Charge:

Review Proposal for Merger of the Medical Schools – Senator Adrienne Simonds, School of Health Professions, Faculty

Charge: Constitute an ad hoc committee in anticipation of a proposal to the Senate for a merged medical school at Rutgers.

Rationale: We welcome participation on this ad hoc committee, especially from Senators within RBHS and those with experience with mergers at Rutgers. We recognize and emphasize the timeliness and ongoing commitment of this ad hoc committee to convene multiple times throughout the Spring 2023 semester in order to prepare a thorough and detailed Senate response to the anticipated proposal.

Envisioning the Future of Academic Medicine: Report to the Rutgers University Senate

Outcome: The Executive Committee charged an ad hoc committee with a deadline of April 2023.

Proposed Charge:

Common Hour Exams– Senator Fauzan Amjad, School of Arts and Sciences-NB, Student

Charge: Review common hour exams at Rutgers University. Make any appropriate recommendations.

Rationale: Common hour or weekend exams can present logistical challenges for students. For example, if exams are scheduled on the weekends, students who live off campus may have to commute to campus or arrange to stay in a dorm or off-campus housing for the weekend. Similarly, late-night exams can be a problem for commuters who may need to catch a train or bus home after their exam. Additionally, late-night exams may not be safe for students who have to travel alone after dark. These infrastructure issues can be a burden for students and may make it more difficult for them to fully participate in their studies. By researching and considering these issues, the Rutgers University Senate can help ensure that exams are scheduled in a way that is fair and considerate of the needs and well-being of all students.

Outcome: The Executive Committee amended the charge to: “Review the experiences of students, faculty, and staff with common hour exams at Rutgers University. Make any appropriate recommendations.” The Instruction, Curricula, and Advising Committee and the Student Affairs Committee were issued this charge with a deadline of November 2023.

Proposed Charge:

Auditing Courses at Rutgers – Senator Fauzan Amjad, School of Arts and Sciences-NB, Student

Charge: Review course auditing at Rutgers. Make any appropriate recommendations.

Rationale: The University Senate should research and make recommendations on course auditing because the process of auditing a course is not standardized and can be confusing and difficult for students to navigate. Many students may not be aware of the option to audit a course or may have difficulty finding information about how to do so on the university’s website. Additionally, auditing a course can have an impact on a student’s transcript and could potentially affect their financial aid. By researching and making recommendations on course auditing, the University Senate can help ensure that the process is clearer and more transparent for students and that the potential impacts on transcripts and financial aid are fully understood and considered.

Outcome: The Instruction, Curricula, and Advising Committee was issued this charge with a deadline of November 2023.

Proposed Charge:

Investigate Admissions Policies Across Campuses and Review Proposed Changes – Senator Rob Scott, School of Arts and Sciences-NB, Faculty

Charge: Review how admissions policies across all Rutgers campuses affect each other and investigate current admissions policies. Study Chancellor-Provost Conway’s new Spring admission plan and report on possible consequences for all Rutgers campuses. Report on the rationale for proposed changes and offer possible recommendations concerning any changes to admissions policy.

Rationale: Camden Chancellor Tillis reported to the University Senate on a steep drop in Camden undergraduate enrollments. On questioning, he indicated that enrollments across the Camden, Newark and New Brunswick campuses are likely interconnected. While Camden enrollments fell steeply, Fall 2022 New Brunswick enrollments increased. Chancellor-Provost Conway has announced a plan to create a new Spring cohort of New Brunswick students (Fall applicants that will be offered Spring admission). This change will have consequences for New Brunswick programs and will potentially affect Newark and Camden enrollments.

This is a revision of a previously proposed charge.

Outcome: The Executive Committee amended the charge to: “Review how undergraduate admissions policies across all Rutgers campuses affect each other and investigate current admissions policies related to enrollment trends. Study the proposed Spring 2023 admission plan for New Brunswick and report on possible consequences for Camden and Newark campuses. Report on the rationale for proposed changes and offer possible recommendations concerning any changes to admissions policy.” The Academic Standards, Regulations, and Admissions Committee was issued this charge with a deadline of October 2023.

Proposed Charge:

RCM Detailed Recommendations – Senator Troy Shinbrot, School of Engineering, Faculty

Charge: Investigate and propose detailed recommendations for implementing two central elements of the 1/20/2023 Senate-approved resolution on S2010-1: “transparency” and “shared governance” in University budget preparation and reporting.

Rationale: The Rutgers University Senate approved recommendations for improvements to Responsibility Center Management (RCM) implementation (Senate Charge S2010-1). During discussions, senators suggested that details be provided in areas including providing particulars of the types of financial exemptions by cost centers that should not be allowed, and specifying a broad representation of community members to be involved in shared governance.

To accommodate these suggestions, it is proposed here that the Budget & Finance Committee of the Senate investigate and provide recommendations of details that would make the previous charge more complete and its implementation more concrete.

Outcome: The Executive Committee amended “Investigate” to “Examine.” The Budget and Finance Committee and Faculty and Personnel Affairs Committee were issued this charge with a deadline of December 2023.

Old Business

Proposed Charge:

Conflict of Interest Declarations – Senator Troy Shinbrot, School of Engineering, Faculty

Charge: Investigate and make recommendations on public declarations of conflicts of interest by politically exposed persons at Rutgers, including members of the BoG and all SVPs involved in significant financial decision making.

Rationale: Rutgers University has a documented history of conflicts of interest associated with budgetary decisions (See “Higher Education: Vulnerable to Abuse”). It is concerning that our President has filed a public disclosure of interests, but those who make major financial decisions for the university, textbook examples of “Politically Exposed Persons” have not.

As one example, members of the Rutgers Board of Governors are required by Governor Murphy’s Executive Order #2 (“Outlining Ethics and Standards” p11, item (2)) to file conflict of interest forms, but have not done so according to New Jersey’s State Ethics Commission.

Related to this first example, Board member William Tambussi is George Norcross’ personal attorney (NJ Globe, 1/30/2020), and has longstanding interests in Rutgers real estate (Phila Inquirer, 12/22/2019) and other financial (70and73 12/13/2022) and legal (Politico 6/5/2019) matters.

As another example, SVP Gower has a documented history of engaging in conflicted business decisions (Daily Targum 10/1/2013) that available evidence suggests he may be continuing (available on request), yet his disclosure is also not available.

Outcome: The Executive Committee voted against issuing this charge.

New Business

The Executive Committee considered possible future charges on certificate programs and on busing in New Brunswick.

Adjournment

The Executive Committee adjourned at 4:41 p.m.

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