Meeting Minutes #195

Members Present: S. Bhuyan, R. Boikess, S. Connolly, M. Cotter (Chairperson), M. Doerfel, D. Fishman, M. F. DiNardo, J. Friedman, Z. Gajic, M. Gliserman, T. Glynn, M-K Joo, J-H Kim, P. Klein, D. C. Lammerts, X. Liu, K. McKeever, N. Minsky, L. Morrow, R. Niederman, D. O'Connor, M. Radford, L. Schein, T. Stephens, L. Sun, T. Szatrowski, Z. Tan, K. Thompson, W. Ward, Y-K. Yong, J. Zahn
  
Non-Members Present: R. Edwards (Interim New Brunswick Chancellor), Peggy McGlone (The Star-Ledger reporter, present for part of the meeting), K. Swalagin (Recording Secretary) 

1.    Call to Order – Martha Cotter, New Brunswick Faculty Council (NBFC) Chairperson 
  
Council Chairperson Martha Cotter called the 195th meeting of the New Brunswick Faculty Council to order at 1:21 p.m. on Friday, February 28, 2014 in Room AB of Brower Commons, College Avenue Campus. 

2.    Approval of Agenda 
  
Cotter asked to amend the agenda to include, time permitting, discussion of Rutgers' athletics budget, and the NBFC response to the New Brunswick strategic planning process, on which Interim Chancellor Richard Edwards would report. The agenda, so amended, was approved. 
  
3.    Approval of Minutes of January 31, 2014 
  
The Minutes of the January 31, 2014 NBFC meeting were approved as distributed. 
 
4.    Administrative Report – Richard Edwards, Interim New Brunswick Chancellor
  
Richard Edwards, Interim New Brunswick Chancellor, presented an administrative report which included comments on:

  • strategic planning for the New Brunswick Campus, and initiatives for the first 100 days of the full strategic plan; and
  • plans for chaired professorships, term chairs, and distinguished professorships.

Edwards then responded to questions, or heard comments, on the above and additional subjects including:

  • the need for emergency generators for lab science buildings;
  • procedures by which departments may make strategic plan proposals;
  • fellowships;
  • PTLs working full-time teaching loads;
  • rankings of Rutgers' doctoral programs; and
  • formation of committees to look at instructional technology in Rutgers classrooms, and the academic structure of the University, including the now duplicated microbiology departments, and law and business schools.

5.    Chair's Report - Martha Cotter, NBFC Chair

NBFC Chair Martha Cotter's Chair's Report included comments on the following:

  • the NBFC Teaching Conference, which will take place on October 15, 2014 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room of the Rutgers Student Center;
  • strategic planning for New Brunswick, and nine related committees, and the need for more faculty to be on the committee addressing shared governance; and
  • the activity level of NBFC committees.

Robert Boikess raised a point of order, noting that NBFC meetings are open to New Brunswick faculty, and to deans by invitation. He asked that the meeting be closed, at which point Peggy McGlone, a Star-Ledger reporter who was present at the meeting, left.

6.    Resolution in Opposition to Condoleezza Rice as Commencement Speaker - Robert Boikess

Robert Boikess presented, and moved for adoption, a Resolution in Opposition to Condoleezza Rice as Commencement Speaker. Considerable discussion on this matter also included the process by which commencement speakers are selected. It was agreed that a separate resolution could be drafted to address those process issues. Naftaly Minsky moved to modify or eliminate the first paragraph. The motion failed. Other modifications were discussed, but none was adopted. Following continued discussion, the resolution was adopted as presented, with a majority in favor.

7.    Committee-of-the-Whole Discussion on Issues Related to the Athletics Budget

On motion and duly seconded, the NBFC was moved into committee-of-the-whole to discuss issues related to Rutgers' athletics budget. Cotter explained the committee-of-the-whole process, and the discussion began at 3:01 p.m. Cotter summarized some of the issue, as well as her repeated, failed attempts to contact Julie Hermann, Rutgers Athletic Director. Discussion on this matter continued until the NBFC rose from committee-of-the-whole at 3:41 p.m.

8.    Old Business

There was no old business.

9.    New Business

There was no new business.

10.    Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 3:41 p.m.

Minutes written and submitted by,
Ken Swalagin
Recording Secretary of the New Brunswick Faculty Council