Meeting Minutes #168

Members Present: M. Baykal-Gursoy, R. Boikess, L. Clarke, M. Cotter, J. Crowley, P. Findley, D. Fishman, P. Gambarota, N. Glickman (Chairperson), T. Jiang, R. Larrier, G. McGhee, K. McKeever, J. Markert, N. Minsky, P. Panayotatos, N.A. Peterson, J. Phillips, E. Ramsamy, J. Reed, H. Sackrowitz, A. St.John, J. Shapiro, T. Szatrowski, K. Thompson, S. Tomasello, M.B. Weber, L. Wiggins, R. Wilson

Non-Members Present: J. Bennett, P. Furmanski, P. Leath, R. Sewell, K. Swalagin (Recording Secretary), C. Wall

1. Call to Order - Norman Glickman

Council Chairperson Norman Glickman called the 168th meeting of the New Brunswick Faculty Council (NBFC) to order in the Graduate Student Lounge of the Rutgers Student Center, College Avenue Campus. The meeting agenda was approved by the Council.

2. Approval of Minutes

The Minutes of the December 5, 2008 NBFC meeting were approved.

3. Administrative Report - Philip Furmanski

Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Philip Furmanski presented an update on the state of the New Brunswick Campus and Rutgers University, which included comments on:

  • markers of excellence,
  • facilities,
  • academic opportunities for students, and
  • notable external grants and contracts.

A complete list of the report's highlights is posted online at the link above.

Furmanski then responded to questions on, or heard comments about, the following subjects:

  • construction initiatives related to dormitories, hotels, and student housing;
  • the need, and plans, to increase the size of the School of Engineering;
  • pros and cons of absorption of UMDNJ by Rutgers;
  • faculty retention and retirement;
  • availability of student loans; and
  • departmental and curricular competition in the all-funds-budgeting environment.

4. University Senate Report - Paul Panayotatos

Paul Panayotatos reported on the University Senate’s November 21, 2008 meeting, and January 23, 2009 meeting. Panayotatos suggested that it was important that the Faculty Council report at Senate meetings, and that someone from the Council should be assigned that role. In response to this observation, Panayotatos himself was awarded that privilege by acclamation.

5. Committee Reports

Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee Chair Robert Boikess reported that his committee has started working on its charge related to developing a new, permanent policy on academic integrity, and was looking at the policies of Rutgers’ peer institutions.

Joel Shapiro, NBFC webmaster, reiterated his need to be informed of what committees are active in the Council, and the membership of those committees, so he can post the information on the Council website. Chairperson Glickman then reiterated his instruction that everyone send him an email stating their committee preference. Panayotatos asked Glickman to send an email to the Council to that effect, and Glickman agreed that he would.

6. Report on Attempts to Increase Diversity Among Faculty - Cheryl Wall and Joan Bennett

Cheryl Wall, Co-chair of Rutgers’ President’s Council on Institutional Diversity and Equity, and Joan Bennett, Associate Vice President for the Promotion of Women in Science, Engineering and Mathematics, spoke to the Council on activities related to increasing faculty diversity at Rutgers. Wall and Bennett then responded to questions from the Council on subjects including:

  • whether Rutgers looks at schools, programs and departments from a perspective of underrepresentation, and, if so, what is done when underrepresentation is found;
  • identifying and communicating best practices in achieving faculty diversity;
  • cluster-hiring initiatives;
  • the declining number of women students in engineering; and
  • Rutgers personnel involved in increasing and promoting faculty diversity.

7. Status Report on Rutgers Libraries - Robert G. Sewell

Associate University Librarian for Collection Development and Management Robert G. Sewell presented a Status Report on Rutgers Libraries. The comprehensive PowerPoint slides of that report, which include links to other relevant websites, can be viewed at the foregoing link. Dan Fishman, chair of the Council’s Library Committee, also spoke on the subject, particularly about the University of California’s efforts related to open-access publishing.

8. New Business

There was no new business.

9. Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 3:12 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Ken Swalagin, Recording Secretary