Meeting Minutes #274

Members Present: Alexander Pichugin, Alisa Belzer, Alvaro Toledo, Ana Pairet, Andrew Baker, Anna Haley, Bret McCandless, Cara Cuite, Daijiro Okada, Dave Smith, Dilafruz Nazarova, David Kryscynski, Ed Cohen, Edward P. DeMauro, Francis Ryan, Francois Berthiaume, G. Tony Bell, Glenn Amatucci, Hanan Kashou, Heather Moulton, Heather Pierce, J. Sophia Fu, Janice Gobert, Jehan Mohamed, Jennifer Shukaitis, Jessey Choo, Jing Jin, Justin Kalef, Kaysha Corinealdi, Kemal Gursoy, Kenneth McKeever, Khadijah Costley White, Kraig Williams, Kristin O'Brassill-Kulfan, Laura White, Lei Yu, Luis Soto, Marci Meixler, Meenakshi Dutt, Michele Bakacs, Miranda Lichtenstein, Narayan Mandayam, Rebecca Reynolds, Rebecca Biebel, Rob Isenhower, Sanjib Bhuyan, Santiago Cuesta, Silke Severmann, Sue Shapses, Thomas Figueira, Tim Power, Tom Davis, Tom Stephens, Triveni Kuchi, Xenia Morin, Jeffey Zahn.

Non-Members Present: Jackson Lockhart, Parliamentarian; Danielle Liautaud-Watkins, Chief of Staff, Chancellor's Office; Francine Conway, Chancellor.
 

 

1. Call to Order and Welcome Statements:

The regular meeting of the Rutgers University–New Brunswick Faculty Council was called to order at approximately 1:00 PM by Associate Professor Anna Haley, Chair of the Council. Chair Haley welcomed all members, thanked them for their participation, and confirmed that the meeting was being recorded. She reminded participants that the agenda and supporting documents had been posted in the Council’s shared folder and linked in the Zoom chat for convenience.

She noted that the session would follow the standard order of business and encouraged attendees to remain for all votes and discussion items.

Chair Haley confirmed that the proposed agenda had been distributed to members in advance via email and was linked in the meeting chat. No changes or objections were raised. The agenda was approved by unanimous consent, and the Council proceeded to the next item.

The minutes from the past meeting, which were posted on the NBFC website, were approved unanimously.

2. Announcements and Administrative Updates:

Chair Haley reported that slides and reports from the day’s presenters would be posted following the meeting. She reminded members that past minutes, Council resolutions, and policy updates are available on the Faculty Council website for transparency and continuity.

Haley asked the administrative support staff to share the Word document containing the proposed resolution language on screen so members could review edits live. She emphasized that amendments would be handled formally—requiring a motion, second, discussion, and separate vote—before the full resolution vote.

Members were reminded to use the chat for raising procedural questions but to reserve substantive debate for the floor.

3. Reports and Remarks

Chair Haley provided an update on the work performed by the NBFC Ad Hoc Response Committee (AHRC), which came together as a collaboration between the Council and me as Council Chair, the Council's EC, and the Chancellor last spring, to help the Chancellor anticipate how the rapidly flowing federal policy shifts and actions could affect Rutgers New Brunswick and our mission and our work. The AHRC now works with Provost Geary, who responds to the Chancellor on these activities. Chair Haley presented a detailed overview of the membership, timeline, and scope of the AHRC. The AHRC is currently proposing three major initiatives: (1) set up an academic freedom resource hub, (2) organize freedom of speech-focused workshops and conferences, and (3) develop a rapid response standard procedure to support those whose work and/or personal safety is impacted by threats to academic freedom. Another initiative was mentioned, that would consist of an all-encompassing strategy on how to deal with disruptions in research procedures. 

Chancellor Francine Conway then addressed the Council, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to shared governance, faculty consultation, and the principles of academic freedom and inclusion. She emphasized the importance of respectful deliberation during challenging times for higher education. She also mentioned that faculty who are targeted or doxxed receive immediate support in coordination with public safety, IT, and academic affairs. Also being explored is additional legal protection. She also discussed the issues surrounding free speech boundaries, and the distinction between protected speech and harassment. 

Members expressed appreciation for her participation and for the administration’s willingness to engage directly with the Council.

Chancellor Conway then proceeded to describe her Shared Governance Initiative, which is described in more detail on the Chancellor's website. The initiative set up standing committees covering many different aspects of university life.

A Q&A session followed and Chair Haley thanked the Chancellor for attending.

4. Main Business: Academic Freedom and Free Expression Resolution

a) Introduction and Purpose

The central item of business was consideration of the proposed Academic Freedom and Free Expression Resolution, drafted to affirm the Council’s support for scholarly independence and the free exchange of ideas within the University.
Chair Haley summarized the objectives of the resolution and explained the debate procedure, noting that members could introduce amendments before the final vote.

b) Presentation of Amendment

Professor Thomas Figueira introduced a substantive amendment. His proposal struck a clause that some members found overly restrictive and replaced it with new language clarifying that academic freedom encompasses research, teaching, and public engagement free from external political or donor influence.

Professor Figueira’s amendment was seconded and displayed on screen for review.

c) Debate on Amendment

A detailed discussion followed.

  • Professor Francis Ryan supported the amendment, emphasizing the need for explicit language affirming institutional neutrality while protecting scholarly autonomy.
     
  • Professor Xenia Morin sought clarification on the relationship between individual speech and institutional statements, suggesting wording to avoid misinterpretation.
     
  • Professor Justin Kalef raised the importance of distinguishing academic work from personal expression in public forums.
     
  • Professor Rebecca Reynolds expressed concern that administrative responses to controversy could unintentionally chill academic inquiry.
     
  • Professor Sanjib Bhuyan highlighted the importance of maintaining consistent faculty protections across schools and departments.
     

Chair Haley ensured that all participants had the opportunity to comment, restating the amendment text after incorporating one friendly editorial correction for grammatical clarity.

A Zoom poll was conducted to vote on the amendment. Once participation exceeded two-thirds of attendees, the Chair announced that the amendment passed by a clear majority.

d) Final Discussion on Amended Resolution

Following the amendment’s adoption, debate continued on the resolution as amended. Members commended the revised wording for its balance and reaffirmation of core academic values. A few participants raised additional considerations:

  • The representation of adjunct faculty in shared governance structures;
     
  • Ensuring clarity between the University’s official stance and individual scholarly positions; and
     
  • The need for follow-up mechanisms to address policy conflicts as they arise.

After concluding debate, Professor Andrew Baker moved to call the question. The motion carried, and a final Zoom poll was launched.

Chair Haley announced that the amended resolution passed decisively. The approved version will be formatted and posted publicly on the Council website, with recorded amendments incorporated into the official text.

5. Additional Discussion and Motions

After the main vote, Council members discussed related matters of governance. Several participants reiterated concerns about adjunct representation and election procedures. It was proposed that governance bodies draft future resolutions or bylaw amendments to clarify eligibility and ensure fair inclusion of part-time and non-tenure-track faculty.

Members also suggested greater coordination with University legal counsel when drafting resolutions intersecting with institutional policy. Chair Haley recorded these recommendations and indicated that they would be forwarded to the appropriate committees for follow-up.

6. Action Items

The following action items were identified:

  1. Post the final amended Academic Freedom and Free Expression Resolution to the Faculty Council website.
    Responsible: Chair Haley / Administrative Support.
     
  2. Distribute presentation materials and committee reports to all Council members.
    Responsible: Chair Haley / Office of Faculty Affairs.
     
  3. Refer governance issues on adjunct representation and election procedures to the Governance and Elections Committees.
    Responsible: Committee Chairs / Secretary.
     
  4. Finalize and archive the amended resolution text, including tracked changes and voting results.
    Responsible: Chair Haley, Professor Figueira, and Council Recorder.
     
  5. Schedule continued committee updates for the next regular Council meeting.

7. Adjournment

Chair Haley thanked all members for their thoughtful debate and collegial participation. She commended the Council for its constructive approach to addressing sensitive topics and reiterated the importance of transparency and shared governance.

Chair Haley thanked the committees for their reports and reminded them to submit written summaries on Teams.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 2:51 PM. Members were reminded to review the follow-up communications and committee notices that would be distributed in the following week.