Governors hear new president's agenda Archived article from Nov 18, 2002 By Mark Maben   <1-- At the board Governors hear new president¡¯s agenda By Mark Maben --> In a historic moment, acting President Norman Samuels introduced President-designate Richard L. McCormick at the Nov. 8 meeting of the Rutgers Board of Governors in Camden, giving the new president the opportunity to outline his agenda for the early days of his administration. McCormick had returned to New Jersey earlier in the week to meet with members of the university community and local government leaders in Newark and Camden. "I am so proud to be president of Rutgers," he told the board. "The university is fortunate in its campuses. It's really exceptional what's going on here." Noting that the university is facing a number of challenges and opportunities, he said, "I am coming Dec. 1 because I want to be here on the ground, sleeves rolled up, to help tackle those issues." He told the board that his preliminary agenda encompasses six key elements. "Number one on the list is to listen and listen a lot," McCormick said. "If there is a feeling in some quarters that not enough listening has been done in recent years, I want to rectify that." McCormick said that by early winter, he will be hard at work on his second agenda item: communicating the goals, values and vision of Rutgers. "Based on what I hear and the values and experience I bring to the table, I will be out and about on campus and across our state articulating what Rutgers is facing, what Rutgers is doing and how best to achieve the goals that we share," he said. "The third and fourth of my initial goals are distinctly in the public arena," McCormick continued. "There are tremendous opportunities presented for public higher education in New Jersey, and indeed for the people in our state, by the report of the Commission on Health Science, Education and Training. It is a report whose goals and ambitions I admire very much, but it requires a good deal of discussion. It is my responsibility, along with the boards of governors and trustees, to provide leadership for a thorough discussion of the report and its recommendations." McCormick also pledged to provide leadership on the budget. "Public higher education in New Jersey is not nearly as well funded as it needs to be, and one of my chief responsibilities is to be in Trenton talking with our governor and legislators about the importance of investing in educational opportunity, research and service -- the things we do best." The final areas of focus are internal ones. McCormick said he is considering the administrative structure of the university, including giving provosts and deans more decision-making authority. "This university has long flourished because of the spirit of entrepreneurship that resides fundamentally on campuses, in departments and programs. When faculty are spotting opportunities and seizing them, then Rutgers moves forward." McCormick will also review the structure of the central administration. "Coming on board as a new president provides a logical opportunity to take a look at how the place is administered," he said. While noting that this plan may change as he learns more about Rutgers, McCormick expressed his eagerness to start moving forward with his agenda. "I will try to add value immediately to those six items," he said. Later in the meeting, Camden Provost Roger Dennis shared with the board two "absolute conclusions' that his campus had reached in regard to the commission's report. "The name of Rutgers is very important to us," Dennis said. "Second, we want to continue to be an excellent research university. That is what we were built to be, and that is what we want to continue to be." Dennis introduced five members of the Rutgers-Camden faculty, who presented to the board their areas of scholarly pursuit and teaching. Also during the meeting, the board passed a resolution approving the concept document for the Food Innovation Research and Extension (FIRE) Center in Bridgeton. The plan calls for the construction of an off-campus facility to house and expand operations of the FIRE Center, a recently established agricultural research station. The mission of the center is to stimulate business creation and expansion of New Jersey¡¯s agricultural and food-processing industries. By transferring key technologies and business development expertise, as well as promoting public-private partnerships, the FIRE Center will contribute to long-term economic stability and prosperity in the region. The 32,000-square-foot facility will be built in the city of Bridgeton in Cumberland County, the hub of South Jersey's agricultural industry. A business incubator, the center will host product development labs, training areas, food processing facilities and office space. The project is estimated to cost $6.7 million. The city of Bridgeton and the Cumberland Empowerment Zone, its redevelopment agency, will play lead roles in the development, funding and construction of the project. Rutgers has committed $750,000 toward the project and will enter into a long-term lease for the space. Construction is anticipated to begin in early 2003, with completion in fall of 2004. Senate reacts to merger proposal At the Nov. 8 board of governors meeting, Paul Panayotatos, chair of the University Senate, presented the senate's initial response to the proposed merger of Rutgers, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and the New Jersey Institute of Technology. The senate's report is one of a number of responses to the recommendations of the Commission on Health Science, Education and Training that are being submitted by faculty groups, administrative departments and other constituents. "We recognize the great potential benefits of a carefully implemented merger of the three research universities," said Panayotatos, "provided that the state provides adequate, sustained and predictable funding to advance to the next level of excellence; that there is a commitment to enhancing research in all areas, rather than those related to health education only; and that the major stakeholders in higher education play a leading role in all stages of the restructuring." Panayotatos outlined several areas of concern with the proposal. These include the lack of thorough assessments of the impact of restructuring on undergraduate education, on academic areas not related to health sciences and on program and faculty collaborations across campuses. The senate also noted the commission makes no reference to Rutgers' land-grant status and does not address issues of funding, both in terms of supporting a necessary increase in per-student spending and in meeting the costs of duplicating services and infrastructures at the proposed three new institutions. Even if these issues are addressed, other areas of concern will remain, Panayotatos said. "The case has not been made for a three-way split of Rutgers itself. In particular, separating Camden from New Brunswick may be ill-advised." The report also called for preserving the Rutgers name. The response suggested a modified review and implementation process. This process would first allow, if warranted, the merger of the three research universities while deferring a decision concerning campus separation until after full completion and review of the merger. Panayotatos noted the senate will continue to study and respond to the commission's proposal. -- Mark Maben

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