Meeting Minutes #205

Members Present: E. Alessi, D. Ballentine, S. Bhuyan, R. Boikess, S. Cirignano, S. Connolly, M. Cotter, J. Crowley, M. Doerfel, M. Flahive DiNardo, J. Friedman, Z. Gajic, M. Gliserman, P. Hirschfield, M. Killingsworth (Chair), P. Klein, D. Kumar, J. Langsam, K. McKeever, R. Niederman, T. Ozel, A. Pichugin, J. Pietruska, M. Rockland, D. Scheck, M. Schwander, J. Shandler, S. Shapses, T. Stephens, T. Szatrowski, P. Takhistov, K. Thompson, J. Worobey, J. Zahn

Non-Members Present: B. Sifuentes-Jauregui (Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Academic Affairs), K. Swalagin (Recording Secretary)

1.    Call to Order - Mark Killingsworth, New Brunswick Faculty Council (NBFC) Chair
 
Council Chairperson Mark Killingsworth called the 205th meeting of the New Brunswick Faculty Council to order at 1:13 p.m. on Friday, October 23, 2015 in Brower Commons Room ABC, College Avenue Campus. He noted that this was the 205th NBFC meeting; not the 206th as stated on the agenda. 

2.    Approval of Agenda
 
The agenda was approved, with the notation that it was actually the 205th meeting; not the 206th.
 
3.    Approval of Minutes of September 25, 2015
 
The Minutes of the September 25, 2015 NBFC meeting were approved.
 
4.    Chair's Report - Mark Killingsworth, NBFC Chair

NBFC Chair Mark Killingsworth presented a Chair's Report that included comments on subjects including:

  • his recent discussions and investigation of University of Michigan's football program, and presidential election;
  • Rutgers athletic director and president qualifications, and what Rutgers wants in a senior administrator; and
  • how the NBFC can have input on the kind of search firms engaged for senior administrator positions.

5.    Administrative Report - Ben Sifuentes-Jauregui, Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Academic Affairs

Ben Sifuentes-Jauregui, Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Academic Affairs, presented an administrative report, which included comments on the following:

  • his past four months as Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Academic Affairs;
  • lingering, unimplemented aspirations of the Transformation of Undergraduate Education;
  • his recent meetings with undergraduate deans or their counterparts in various schools;
  • his goal of bringing faculty back into undergraduate academic affairs;
  • the need to think about the value of faculty service;
  • first-year interest groups, run by students;
  • mentoring, learning centers, and the learning assistantship program;
  • Career Services;
  • scheduling; and
  • space and intellectual support.

Sifuentes-Jauregui then responded to questions, or heard comments, on the above topics, and others, including:

  • the changing profile of faculty;
  • technology and accessibility;
  • disability services;
  • the structure of PTL employment;
  • the role of faculty in advising;
  • sectioning and registration; and
  • potential competition for students among programs and units as a result of implementation of Responsibility Center Management.

 

6.    Follow-Up to Resolution on PTLs Adopted September 25, 2015

Killingsworth said that he had sent a copy of the NBFC's September 25, 2015 Resolution on Part-Time Lecturers to Sifuentes-Jauregui and Chancellor Edwards..

7.    Committee Membership and Charges for 2015-16

Committee chairs spoke about their committee activities and plans. 

8.    Ad Hoc Committee on Academic Analytics - Sanjib Bhuyan, NBFC Vice Chair

Council Vice Chair Sanjib Bhuyan presented and handed out hardcopy of a report on Academic Analytics. The report was then discussed by the Council. Killingsworth said that he had asked Bhuyan to put together a committee to generate a full report on this issue, and that volunteers were needed for that work, which he would like to see completed in December. He asked anyone who would like to volunteer to email him or Bhuyan.

9.    New Business

Deepa Kumar noted that the merit pool has been awarded, and that chairs have been notified. There was also some discussion of the spring teaching conference, as well as the possibility of an NBFC-sponsored event for Rutgers' 250th anniversary.

10.    Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 3:04 p.m.

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