RUTGERS UNIVERSITY SENATE
MEETING AGENDA
Friday, April 26, 2024, 1:10 p.m. via Zoom

https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/94226017684?pwd=RTJYUzFDbWp4M3dqSGRnVnNCV1Rwdz09

CALL TO ORDER, DETERMINATION OF A QUORUM, AND CHAIR’S REPORT – Adrienne Simonds, Chair

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY – Vicki Hewitt, Senate Executive Secretary

• Approval of the Agenda* (including time limits)
• Approval of the March 22, 2024 Meeting Minutes
• Communications
  • 2024-2025 Senate Calendar
  • Reminder to log in to the Senate website for attendance and voting access

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT – Prabhas Moghe, Executive Vice President, Academic Affairs

NEW BRUNSWICK CHANCELLOR REPORT – Francine Conway, Chancellor, Rutgers University-New Brunswick

COMMITTEE REPORTS/RESOLUTIONS: The report will be presented/summarized by the committee chair, then will be discussed, and acted upon by the Senate. Substantive amendments to these reports should be given to the Senate secretary in writing prior to or at the time the amendment is moved.

Information Technology Committee
Katie Anderson and Adrienne Esposito, Co-Chairs
Report on S-2319: Explore Mechanisms, Methods and Processes for Senators to Communicate Senate Work and Information to their Constituents

The committee was charged as follows:

The Senate should explore mechanisms, methods and processes for senators to communicate senate work and information to their constituents.

Ad Hoc Committee on Senate Officer Compensation
Michael Joseph and Suja Patel, Co-Chairs
Report on S-2312: Senate Officer Compensation

The ad hoc committee was charged as follows:

To provide guidelines for appropriate compensation for Senate officers and other Senators whose duties as Senators represent a significant fraction of their university obligations. The resources for such compensation should be provided in a manner that does not create conflicts of interest. Procedures for such compensation already in place at some of our peer aspirant universities may serve as useful models.

Ad Hoc Committee to Propose Changes to the Senate Handbook to Add the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee
Antoinette Farmer and Ronald Quincy, Co-Chairs
Report on S-2328: Propose Changes to the Senate Handbook to Add the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee

The ad hoc committee was charged as follows:

To propose changes to the Senate Handbook to add the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee. The Senate adopted a resolution on Fri. Oct. 20, 2023 to re-instate this standing committee and, to formally complete the process, a Standing Charge for the committee needs to be added to the Senate Handbook.

Budget and Finance Committee
Abdelrahman Ibrahim and Carolyne White, Co-Chairs
Report on S-2320-1: Timing and Process for Recommending Tuition, Fees, Housing Charges, and Dining Charges

The committee was charged as follows:

Review the process and timing whereby recommendations are developed and made for annual changes in tuition, required fees, and room and board, including mechanisms for input from students, parents, and other stakeholders (including tenants with rents affected by Rutgers housing rates) and including the role of shared governance in this process. Make recommendations for any changes in this process to increase transparency and confidence in the process.

OLD BUSINESS

Senate Handbook Change – Name of the Nominating Panel

Budget and Finance Committee
Abdelrahman Ibrahim and Carolyne White, Co-Chairs
Report on S-2302: Budgetary Considerations Underlying Potential Merger of the RBHS Subunits Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and New Jersey Medical School into One Medical School

The BFC was charged as follows:

Investigate any relevant financial issues that will emerge if there is a proposed merger of RWJMS and NJMS. Make necessary recommendations to the Senate.

Senate Handbook Change – Committee Co-Chair Elections and Eligibility Requirements for Senate Officers

University Structure and Governance Committee
Perry Dane and Kevin Schroth, Co-Chairs
Report on S-2202-1: Honors College Student Senators (Information Only)

The USGC was charged as follows:

Investigate and recommend how Honors College Students from each campus can best be represented in the Senate. The creation of the Honors Colleges on each campus has created a new unit and community that students live, learn and participate in within the University. Student entitlements to the Senate are based on their academic association and Honors College Students can participate based on those associations if elected via their student governing associations. However, since student Senators are not specifically elected from the Honors College they may not be able to properly represent the needs of the Honors College community.

Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee
Lucille Foster and Robert Schwartz, Co-Chairs
Report on S-2324: Investigate Sunsetting of Academic Credit Across Campuses and Review Any Proposed Changes

The ASRAC was charged as follows:

Review how course credits earned at Rutgers can be sundowned across all Rutgers campuses, recognizing many students are unable to complete a desired academic degree in the usual time sequence. Report and explain the rationale for any proposed changes and offer possible recommendations concerning changes to policy of earned credit toward graduation, with consideration of potential complexities with respect to professional/graduate studies that are externally accredited.

Ad Hoc Committee on Develop Nomination Procedures for a Senate Representative for the Policy Approval Committee
Lucille Foster and Kerry Hennessy, Co-Chairs
Report on S-2327: Develop Nomination Procedures for a Senate Representative for the Policy Approval Committee

The ad hoc committee was charged as follows:

To develop nomination procedures for a Senate Representative for the Policy Approval Committee for addition to the Senate Handbook. As part of the new policy approval process, the University Senate is entitled to a representative on the University-wide Policy Approval Committee. As the Policy Approval Committee begins meeting in February 2024, the current representatives to the Board of Governors will serve as interim representatives to the Policy Approval Committee in the meantime.

Budget and Finance Committee
Abdelrahman Ibrahim and Carolyne White, Co-Chairs
Report on S-2308-1: Conflict of Interest Declarations

The committee was charged as follows:

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

NEW BUSINESS**

SENATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT – Lucille Foster, Senate Vice Chair

REPORTS OF THE REPRESENTATIVES TO BOARDS OF GOVERNORS AND TRUSTEES

REPORTS OF CAMPUS FACULTY AND STUDENT LIAISONS

ADJOURNMENT

*Note: Addition of items to the Agenda requires a two-thirds vote (Senate Handbook, Article III, Agenda). There is an overall time limit of 3 hours for Senate meetings. Specific time limits are set for questions and debate, not for presentation of reports (Senate Handbook, Article III, Procedures). After approval, extension of time limits requires a two-thirds vote.

**Note: The Senate Handbook, Article IV, 1 states, “All new matters shall be referred to committee before coming to the Senate (unless extenuating circumstances apply, as indicated in Article III, Agenda, 3 above).”]