Meeting Minutes #172

Members Present: M. Baykal-Gursoy, R. Boikess, S. Brill, M. Cotter, D. Fishman, M. Flahive DiNardo, P. Gambarota, T. Jiang, R. Larrier, G. McGhee, B. McKay, K. McKeever, D. Minch, N. Minsky, L. Nepomnyaschy, P. Panayotatos, J. Phillips, H. Sackrowitz, A. St.John, J. Shapiro, T. Szatrowski, K. Thompson, S. Tomasello, M. Weber, R. Wilson (Chair), T. Yang

Non-Members Present: M. Brazier, P. Furmanski, P. Leath, L. Rodenburg A. Safari, K. Swalagin (Recording Secretary)

 

1. Call to Order - Robert Wilson, NBFC Chairperson

Council Chairperson Robert Wilson called the 172nd meeting of the New Brunswick Faculty Council (NBFC) to order in Room 411A/B/C of the Rutgers Student Center, College Avenue Campus.

 

2. Approval of Agenda and Minutes

The current meeting agenda, and the Minutes of the April 3, 2009 NBFC meeting were approved. [The 171st NBFC meeting, held in May 2009, was the annual “members only” meeting, and was conducted as a committee of the whole proceeding. There are no minutes from that meeting.]

 

3. Administrative Report - Philip Furmanski, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Philip Furmanski made an administrative report, which included comments on:

  • that morning’s Academic Integrity Conference, sponsored by the NBFC, which Furmanski described as “valuable,” and for which he thanked, among others, Martha Cotter, Monica Devanis, and Michelle Brazier;

  • New Jersey’s and Rutgers’ budgets;

  • budget-related discussions with unions regarding salary concessions;

  • the “unprecedented” number of requests for financial aid, sparked largely by the current economic downturn, and Rutgers’ efforts to deal with those requests;

  • Rutgers’ “very competitive” position in federal research support;

  • last year’s record fundraising total of $128 million, and other funding from philanthropy and grants; and

  • record enrollment of about 54,500 total students overall.

Furmanski then spoke about two issues he asked the NBFC to consider, both of which concern military veterans:

  • the possibility of Rutgers joining the institutions participating in the Servicemembers’ Opportunity College; and

  • the possibility of adding a Navy ROTC unit to the existing Rutgers Army and Air Force ROTC units.

Furmanski suggested the NBFC consult first with people involved in Rutgers Camden’s recent joining of the SOC, and then speak with Greg Blimling and Ray Caprio on that issue.

At Student Affairs Committee Chair Ken McKeever’s request, the Navy ROTC issue was charged to his committee.

Furmanski then responded to questions, or heard comments, on topics including:

  • the current status of negotiations with Rutgers’ administrators union;

  • video streaming for conferences;

  • progress on links between Rutgers and UMDNJ, and Rowan University;

  • the clemency clause which is expected to be added to the Code of Student Conduct by the Board of Governors; and

  • the need for increased and improved facilities in response to increasing enrollment.

     

4. Commencement Schedule in 2010 and Beyond - Michelle Brazier, Senior Executive Associate, Office of the Vice President for Undergraduate Education

Michelle Brazier, Senior Executive Associate in the Office of the Vice President for Undergraduate Education, spoke about recent changes, or requests for changes to the academic calendar’s commencement dates. Given the urgency of the request to change the 2010 commencement date, the University Senate Executive Committee, acting on behalf of the Senate, had approved that change, but had assigned to its Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee a charge to consider the remainder of the requested changes. (Any and all changes to the academic calendar must be approved by the University Senate.) Paul Panayotatos suggested that post-2010 changes not be made, or even considered, until the 2010 commencement could be evaluated. Following considerable discussion, Brazier thanked the NBFC for letting her come and speak about the issue, and invited anyone who wished to do so to email their concerns or comments to Barry Qualls.

 

5. Chairperson’s Report - Robert Wilson, New Brunswick Faculty Council Chair

Chairperson Wilson spoke about the organization of the Council and what it can hope to accomplish over the coming year. He asked that everyone choose one of the Council’s standing committees, and email their committee preference to him. He asked that members pay attention to the University Senate’s agendas and issues under consideration by Senate committees, and to decide if the Council should express opinions on them.

Discussion on committees and issues continued and resulted in charges being issued to NBFC standing committees on the following issues:

To Curriculum, Teaching and Honors Committee:

  • Servicemembers’ Opportunity College (SOC) in New Brunswick, including: consultation withG. Blimling and R. Caprio and people from Camden responsible for Camden joining the SOC; whether it would be individual units or overall in NB; separating the principles of being a member of the SOC from the technicalities of accepting particular courses (especially in areas like engineering); and the issue of online courses

  • Students online during classes

  • Establishment of a committee/mechanism to enable comprehensive, NB-campuswide coordination and consideration of proposed new courses (bring a resolution to the next NBFC meeting proposing this be established; P. Furmanski agreed with the idea)

To Student Affairs Committee:

  • Establishment of Naval ROTC in New Brunswick

  • Ways to decrease textbook costs

To Academic Standards, Regulations, and Admissions

  • Academic Integrity Policy

  • Academic calendar commencement dates (weigh in before Senate deadline of January 2010)

To Faculty Affairs Committee:

  • Changes to academic reappointment and promotion instructions, including the tech sheet and the letters

  • Evaluation of Administrators

To Budget and Planning Committee:

  • Effect of all-funds budgeting

  • Input by faculty on planning process for budget cuts

Discussed but not charged/assigned:

  • Add/Drop period (M. Cotter said the Senate committee had already disposed of this)

  • Report of task force for non-tenure-track faculty (may want to charge this after the report is received from P. Furmanski)

     

6. Old Business

There was no old business.

 

7. New Business

There was no new business.

 

8. Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 3:52 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,
Ken Swalagin, Recording Secretary