Meeting Minutes #278

Members Present: Alexander E. Pichugin, Alexander Pichugin, Ana Pairet Vinas, Andrew Baker, Anna Haley, Anne McPherson, Bret McCandless, Carmel Schrire, Crystal Akers, Daijiro Okada, David Kryscynski, Dilafruz Nazarova, Don Schaffner, Ed Cohen, Edward P. DeMauro, Ellen Williams, Francis Ryan, Francois Berthiaume, G. Tony Bell, Gerben Zylstra, Glenn Amatucci, Hanan Kashou, Heather Moulton, Heather Pierce, J. Sophia Fu, Janice Gobert, Jeff Zahn, Jehan Mohamed, Jennifer Shukaitis, Jeremy Morgan, John Evans, Justin Kalef, Kaysha Corinealdi, Kaysha Corinealdi, Kemal Gursoy, Khadijah Costley White, Kraig Williams, Lei Yu, Marci Meixler, Mariann Bischoff, Matt Sequin, Peter Morrone, Rebecca Reynolds, Rob Isenhower, Sanjib Bhuyan, Santiago Cuesta, Sue Shapses, Thomas Davis, Tim Power, Tom Stephens, Triveni Kuchi, Xenia Morin.
 

Non-Members Present: Jackson Lockhart, Parliamentarian.
 

1. Call to Order and Opening Remarks

Chair Anna Haley called the meeting to order and confirmed quorum. The agenda and prior minutes were approved without objection. Opening remarks emphasized the importance of shared governance during a period of institutional uncertainty. Anna Haley highlighted concerns about budget pressures, policy changes, and the need for continued faculty engagement in decision-making processes.

2. Standing Committee Updates and Announcements

Faculty and Personnel Affairs Committee: Members reported ongoing collection and review of departmental bylaws. Particular attention is being given to whether non-tenure-track (NTT) faculty are included in governance structures. Several departments have yet to submit updated materials, and follow-up outreach is ongoing.

Student Affairs Committee: Discussion focused on the ongoing revision of the Code of Student Conduct. Members expressed concern about transparency and potential implications for student rights. It was clarified that free expression policies are not currently under revision, though future changes may occur depending on state-level developments.

Budget Planning & Infrastructure: Updates included changes to bus contracts, adjustments in parking enforcement, and broader infrastructure concerns. Members noted that financial constraints are influencing planning decisions, particularly regarding deferred maintenance.

Athletic Affairs Committee: The committee is reviewing the relationship between athletics funding and the broader FY27 budget environment. They are paying particular attention to the scale and structure of financial support allocated to athletics, how athletics expenditures compare to reductions experienced in academic units and the extent to which athletics funding decisions impact overall budget constraints.

3. Resolutions: FY27 Budget and DEI Terminology

Two major resolutions were introduced, discussed, amended, and approved.

FY27 Budget Resolution:
• Initial focus on disproportionate impact on the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS).
• An agreed upon amendment added requiring both qualitative and quantitative evaluation of budget reductions.
• Additional language emphasized transparency in decision-making and reporting.
• Discussion highlighted concerns about long-term academic impacts, including staffing and course availability.
• Final amendment noted need to account for differences across departments and existing resource disparities.

DEI Terminology Protection Resolution:
• Aimed to preserve existing DEI-related language and frameworks.
• An agreed upon amendment strengthened language to formally request administrative accountability.
• Additional amendment required a report detailing any current or planned changes.
• Faculty raised concerns about removal or restructuring of DEI initiatives without consultation.
• Resolution passed following agreement on final language.

Both resolutions were approved by vote following amendments.

4. Discussion: Budget and Financial Pressures

Extended discussion addressed broader financial challenges facing the university. Members referenced pressure to maintain an operating surplus and address deferred maintenance needs. Faculty expressed concern about uneven distribution of budget cuts and lack of transparency in how decisions are made.

Concerns included:
• Potential reductions in lecturer compensation and hiring
• Impacts on course availability and student access
• Long-term effects on academic quality and departmental sustainability

Members emphasized the importance of faculty involvement in budget planning and called for clearer communication from administration.

5. Discussion: Artificial Intelligence (AI) at Rutgers

Council members engaged in a discussion about the role of artificial intelligence in teaching, research, and administration. Key themes included:
• Academic integrity concerns related to student use of AI tools and how it can appropriately be used by students without being exploited
• Need for clearer institutional guidance and policies
• Importance of preserving faculty autonomy in determining classroom use
• Resource limitations for training and instructional support
• Environmental and ethical considerations associated with large-scale AI use

6. Other Business

Ana Pairet announced an upcoming 'Know Your Rights' workshop focused on immigrant justice and encouraged faculty participation. Members discussed the relevance of such programming in supporting students and campus communities.

Additional discussion referenced potential federal policy changes and their possible impact on higher education institutions, though no formal actions were taken.

7. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned following completion of all agenda items.