Rutgers Board of Trustees votes to support Report of the Task Force on Undergraduate Education
Archived article from Jan 23, 2006
By Greg Trevor
After months of deliberation, the Rutgers Board of Trustees Dec. 15 voted to adopt a resolution endorsing the recommendations of a task force of faculty, students and staff that proposed sweeping changes to the undergraduate experience on the university’s New Brunswick/Piscataway campus.
“The Board of Trustees . . . has reviewed the report of the task force and found that it enunciates a bold vision for the reorganization of undergraduate education,” says the board’s resolution, which the trustees adopted by a substantial majority. The resolution also praises President Richard L. McCormick for “undertaking the challenge of fostering an environment and structure at the university that will enhance undergraduate education and integrate it with the mission of a public research university.”
McCormick and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Philip Furmanski created the Task Force on Undergraduate Education in April 2004 to review learning and academic life in New Brunswick/Piscataway and to propose a comprehensive plan to transform the undergraduate academic experience, student services and student affairs.
“The task force has done an outstanding job identifying the challenges that undergraduates face in New Brunswick/Piscataway and recommending thoughtful and realistic solutions that will greatly enhance the educational environment throughout this outstanding university,” said Board of Trustees Chair Robert A. Laudicina. “The members of the task force and their recommendations deserve the full support of the entire university community.”
An ad hoc committee of seven trustees appointed by Laudicina held a public forum Oct. 11. Speakers included deans, members of the task force, students and representatives of alumni associations.
“The members of the ad hoc committee spent several months carefully considering the recommendations of the task force,” said trustee Gerald C. Harvey, who co-chaired the ad hoc committee. “In addition, we actively sought input from all parts of the university community – students, faculty, staff, trustees and alumni. We found an overwhelming desire to enhance undergraduate education on the New Brunswick/Piscataway campus and widespread support for the recommendations of the task force to achieve those goals.”
“The majority of the members of the board of trustees are Rutgers University alumni. We care deeply about the university’s past and traditions because we were once Rutgers students ourselves, but we also recognize the need to move the university forward to greater excellence in the future,” said trustee Rochelle Gizinski, the ad hoc committee’s other co-chair.
After thoroughly considering the input that he has received from the university community, the board of trustees and other bodies, President McCormick will prepare and submit a set of recommendations to the board of governors. The board of governors will make the final decision on how the university will proceed.
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