The Rutgers Board of Governors took the following actions at its June 13, 2007, meeting:

Congratulations for Rutgers Baseball  For the third time in the past 10 seasons, the Rutgers University baseball team won both the 2007 BIG EAST Conference regular season and tournament championships. Head Coach Fred Hill recorded his 900th career victory and his 750th win at Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights baseball team was ranked as high as 23rd nationally during the season and ranked in three national polls during the season.

New appointments  The following people were named to prestigious faculty positions at Rutgers:

• Leslie Kennedy was named a University Professor. Kennedy served nine years as dean of the School of Criminal Justice at Rutgers–Newark. Under his leadership, the school witnessed remarkable growth, attained a diversified faculty and administration, and became known for academic excellence and community outreach statewide and nationally
• Acclaimed geologist Dennis V. Kent was named a Board of Governors Professor of Geological Sciences. Kent is the most-cited geologist in recent years, and his scholarly impact is evidenced by his more than 230 refereed journal articles. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Geophysical Union, and the Geological Society of America.
• Eviatar Zerubavel was named a Board of Governors Professor of Sociology. Zerubavel has been recognized for his influential contributions to the field of sociology and has been acclaimed in the documented testimonies of distinguished experts for his original and creative explorations of the sociology of culture and cognition. Zerubavel is a fellow of the Sociological Research Association and the author of eight widely influential books.
• Professor Debra Lynn Laskin was appointed the first holder of the Roy A. Bowers Chair at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy for a five-year term commencing July 1, 2007. Laskin is an internationally recognized leader in immunology. The Bowers Chair was established in 2002 with a generous gift from Robert E. Martini, a longtime friend of the pharmacy school.
• Professor Chung S. Yang was named the first holder of the John L. Colaizzi Chair in Pharmacy, made possible by a gift from the Ernest and Mildred Martha Mario Foundation. Yang is a distinguished scientist with more than 400 publications. Appointed to the Colaizzi Chair for a five-year term, Yang established and directs the Center for Cancer Prevention Research.

New degree programs  The board approved the establishment of the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree to be offered jointly through the Graduate School–Camden and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. The two schools jointly offer a Master of Physical Therapy degree. The doctorate will better prepare practitioners for the future in the fast-growing field of physical therapy.

            The board also approved the establishment of the Master of Arts for Teachers degree program in Chinese. A growing interest in teaching Chinese to K–12 students created a demand for a new program, which will give teachers instruction in language and culture content. The degree will be offered by the Graduate School–New Brunswick.

New construction projects moving forward  The board passed several resolutions pertaining to construction projects on and off Rutgers’ campuses.

• Livingston Student Center and Dining Commons  The population of the Livingston Campus has long outgrown the size and facilities at the Livingston Student Center – constructed more than 20 years ago – as well as Tillett Dining Hall, the only student dining room on the campus. The board approved concept documents for an addition to the student center and a new facility called the Livingston Dining Commons, located adjacent to the student center renovation. The board approved a funding limit of $15 million for the student center expansion and $24,275,000 for the dining commons. Both amounts are available from future university bond issues and will be repaid through student fees and dining revenues.
  
• Camden Student Center Dining Hall  In February, the board approved a concept document outlining plans to renovate the Camden Student Center Dining Hall with a project estimate of $5 million. In June, the board approved a revised project budget of $5.3 million. Rutgers Dining Services assumed responsibility for the operation of the dining hall, previously managed by the Camden Campus administration.
• Food Innovation Center in Bridgeton  The board approved a revised project budget for the Food Innovation Center in the amount of $7,650,000, an increase of $250,000 over the original estimate in 2002. The center is being constructed using a variety of funding sources, including the U.S. Economic Development Authority, the Casino Redevelopment Authority, the City of Bridgeton, the State of New Jersey, and the Cumberland Empowerment Zone. The New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers is providing $750,000. In addition, the board awarded the construction contract to construction firm Stanker and Galetto in Vineland, N.J., in the amount of $5,962,000.
• Gateway Project  The board, subject to the consent of the Board of Trustees, granted an easement, the contribution of Rutgers owned property at 39 Easton Avenue, to New Jersey Books. The bookstore will move to make way for the planned construction of the Gateway, a centerpiece project in the redevelopment of the city of New Brunswick. The Gateway building also will have space for a Rutgers University Bookstore, Rutgers University Press, and a university visitors’ center and reception area.

 

Bruce Fehn appointed acting treasurer  The board elected Bruce Fehn as acting treasurer of the University Corporation and the Board of Governors until June 30, 2007, or until the board elects a treasurer. Fehn’s appointment follows the resignation of Jeffrey Apfel, who, in addition to serving as chief financial officer and senior vice president for administration, acted as treasurer of the university corporation and treasurer to the Board of Governors.