RUTGERS UNIVERSITY SENATE
MEETING AGENDA
Friday, February 20, 2026, 1:10 p.m. via Zoom

https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/93354128846?pwd=MjlSTNOELwaOtoMJblp2bEsQVToTaA.1

CALL TO ORDER, DETERMINATION OF A QUORUM, AND CHAIR’S REPORT – Lucille Foster, Chair

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY – Taryn Cooper, Senate Executive Secretary

• Approval of the Agenda* (including time limits)
• Approval of the January 23, 2026 Senate Meeting Minutes
• Administrative Responses:
  • Response to Resolution on Senator Elections Timeline
  • Response to Resolution on Alternative Route to Policy Changes
• Communications
  • Senate Social February 27, 2026 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. Rutgers Club. Details have been emailed.
  • Staff and Lecturer elections will be starting next month. Communications will be coming from Vivian Fernandez.
  • Entitlement email reminders have been sent to all units along with the Resolution on Senator Elections Timeline.
  • Committee on Academic Student Affairs report received.
  • Several committees are working on surveys. Communications will be coming from Executive Secretary.
  • Reminder to Senators log in to the website for attendance and access to voting.
  • Email Morgan Smith regarding attendance and committee activities.

CAMDEN CAMPUS REPORT – Antonio Tillis, Chancellor, Camden (1:20 – 1:50 p.m.)

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.

Committee Report and Recommendations (1:50 – 2:05 p.m.)

Information Technology Committee- Timothy Knievel, Susan DeMatteo (co-chairs)

Information Only:

ITC AI Survey- Student Version  

ITC AI Survey- Faculty/Staff Version

ITC was charged as follows:

Prepare and conduct anonymous surveys of Rutgers faculty, staff and students to collect baseline data on how A.I. tools are being used at the university.

Committee Report and Recommendations (2:05 – 2:20 p.m.)

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

S-2502: Guidance for Promotions to Tenure During Uncertain Conditions of Federal Funding

Presentation Slides

FPAC was charged as follows:

Consider developing guidance for promotion and tenure committees within schools and colleges related to supporting faculty in disciplines where federal funding is traditionally expected during the course of the pre-tenure period as a key marker for advancement.  Chairs, deans, and others involved in supporting pre-tenure faculty on their pathway to tenure can make use of this guidance when advising junior faculty in those disciplines on ways to demonstrate and sustain scholarly excellence in the absence of federal funding for research and related activities.

Committee Report and Recommendations (2:20 – 2:35 p.m.)

Rutgers MADC Taskforce Update Report – Paul Boxer, Anna Haley, Heather Pierce, Co-Chairs

OLD BUSINESS

NEW BUSINESS**

SENATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT (2:35 – 2:40 p.m.) – Wendy Purcell, Vice Chair

REPORTS OF THE REPRESENTATIVES TO BOARDS OF GOVERNORS AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES (2:40 – 2:50 p.m.) 

REPORTS OF CAMPUS FACULTY AND STUDENT LIAISONS (2:50 – 3:05 p.m.)

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).”]

Remaining 2025-26 University Senate Meetings
All meetings are on Zoom

March 27, 2026

April 24, 2026 – Organizational Meeting of the 2025-2026 Senate
April 24, 2026 – Last Meeting of the 2025-2026 Senate