Meeting Minutes #215

Members Present:  J. Aiello, E. Alessi, S. Bhuyan, R. Boikess, M. Cotter, M. Doerfel, D. Fishman, J. Friedman, Z. Gajic, M. Gasparotto, M. Gliserman, D. Hamilton, A. Hetling, P. Hirschfield, M. Kiessling, M. Killingsworth, T. Kuchi, J. Langsam, C. Lugg, M. Mayer, K. McKeever, N. Minsky, T. Ozel, J. Pietruska, J. Rubin, N. Sheflin, T. Stephens (Chair), T. Szatrowski, P. Takhistov, K. Thompson, J. Worobey, J. Zahn, D. Zimmerman

Non-Members Present: R. Edwards (New Brunswick Chancellor), K. Swalagin (Recording Secretary), M. Mickelsen

1.    Call to Order – Tom Stephens, New Brunswick Faculty Council (NBFC) Chair
 
Council Chairperson Tom Stephens called the 215th meeting of the New Brunswick Faculty Council to order at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, February 24, 2017 in Busch Campus Center Room 120ABC, Busch Campus. 

2.    Approval of Agenda
 
The Agenda was approved as distributed.
 
3.    Approval of Minutes of January 27, 2017

The January 27, 2017 NBFC Minutes were approved with one change to the attendance.

4.    Chair's Report - Tom Stephens, New Brunswick Faculty Council Chair

Council Chair Tom Stephens' Chair's Report included comments on:

  • his continuing work to correct roster omissions;
  • Susan English, of the New Brunswick Chancellor's office, is available to help with the NBFC website;
  • he will send missing items/resolutions to Martha Cotter, who will post them on the website;
  • the need to elect new chair, vice chair, and Executive Committee members for next year; and
  • urging all Council members to reach out to their deans to identify continuing or replacement Council members.


5.    Administrative Report - Richard Edwards, New Brunswick Chancellor

New Brunswick Chancellor Richard Edwards' administrative report included comments on:

  • the Scarlet and Black book project, and associated renaming of Rutgers facilities to honor slaves who worked at Rutgers, as well as related, additional plans and activities;
  • upcoming lecture by François Cornilliat, Distinguished Professor of French;
  • immersive synchronous lecture classrooms; and
  • the Big Ten Academic Leadership Program (ALP).

Edwards then responded to questions, or heard comments, on the above subjects, as well as Study Abroad programs.

[At this point in the meeting, the guest speakers for the next docketed item had not yet arrived, so the Council moved ahead in the agenda.]

6.    NBFC Teaching Conference - Martin Gliserman

Martin Gliserman, Teaching Conference organizer, spoke about the upcoming April 21 Teaching Conference, which will be held in the Busch Campus Center. Robert Boikess noted that April 22 is the date of the March for Science in Washington, DC.

7.    Committee Reports

Faculty and Personnel Affairs Committee (FPAC): FPAC Chair Jeff Friedman presented a draft report and Recommendations Concerning Presidential Search and Selection, which was discussed. Suggestions were made for changes to the report. Stephens asked the Council members present to send further suggestions to him and Friedman. Friedman then continued, presenting a Resolution on PTL Professionalization, which was discussed, amended, and adopted unanimously.

Budget and Planning Committee (BPC): BPC Chair Mark Killingsworth presented a Resolution on the Financial Situation of the Rutgers Athletics Program, which was discussed. Suggestions were made for amendments to the report. A motion to send the report back to the BPC for further discussion and wordsmithing was seconded, and adopted.

Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee (ASRAC) on Academic Advising: ASRAC Chair Robert Boikess presented a report on Student Evaluation of Teaching. The report was discussed, and remanded back to the ASRAC for further consideration, after which it will be docketed for the last NBFC meeting of this academic year. Boikess also spoke about admissions testing, and test-optional admissions.

Teaching, Curricula, and Honors Committee (TCHC): TCHC Chair Martha Cotter said her committee wants to address the issue of eliminating Sakai, and to make Canvas the Rutgers standard course-management program. Stephens asked Cotter to send him an email on the subject, which he would forward to New Brunswick faculty.

8.    Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 3:29 p.m.

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