Resolutions on the Proposed College of Applied and Professional Studies (CAPS)

Date

Resolution 1

Be it resolved that the New Brunswick Faculty Council endorses the following principles with regard to the need for Rutgers to offer additional applied and professional programs:

  • In the State of New Jersey, there are unmet needs for off-campus applied and professional programs, including baccalaureate degree-completion and Masters programs, aimed primarily at adult learners beyond the age of traditional undergraduates.
  • As the State University of New Jersey, Rutgers has a responsibility to address these needs with programs of the highest quality.
  • These needs should be addressed in a manner that does not drain resources from existing on- or off-campus programs.

Resolution 2

Be it resolved that if a College of Applied and Professional Studies is established at Rutgers, its structure should conform to the twenty-two specific recommendations of the CAPS Advisory Committee.

Be it further resolved that if a College of Applied and Professional Studies is established, additional regulatory language should be added to the CAPS proposal to ensure that:

  • CAPS will not offer, or directly  hire or supervise teaching staff to offer, any liberal arts and sciences courses.
  • Whether CAPS courses fulfill on-campus major or collegiate general education (distribution) requirements, or receive on-campus free elective credit, will be left entirely up to the faculty or fellows of the individual schools.
  • CAPS will not offer any "general studies" majors; all students will be required to complete a major concentration in a specified field.

Be it further resolved that the CAPS Advisory Committee should consider incorporating the following recommendations:

  • That the majority of the Executive Board consist of tenured faculty representing appropriate departments or units.
  • That these faculty be elected to their position by the faculty of said departments or units.
  • That their units be compensated by CAPS for their release time.
  • That if the Executive Board, when acting in an advisory capacity to the CAPS Dean, is in disagreement with the Dean on academic issues, the Executive Board have access to the University Vice-President for Academic Affairs.