Committees
RUSA and the Campus Councils have four Core Committees: University Affairs, Academic Affairs, Legislative Affairs, and Public Relations. RUSA committee meetings are open to the public, meeting every other week, when the RUSA assembly does not. Please come out and join us!
The following are descriptions of the issues the committees will be tackling this year:
Core Committees
University Affairs, Rutgers Student Center Rm. 438, 7:30 PM
Chair: Ed Ng
University Affairs mainly deal with student services and issues affecting the University such as dining services, RUDOTS, and residence life. Some of the main concerns this committee will focus on are:
  • Updating students about the changes occurring in the university as a result of the Taskforce on Undergraduate Education (specifically learning communities).
  • Enhancing student services on campus including
    1. parking and transportation,
    2. the issue of selling of cigarettes on campus,
    3. establish more online based student services (i.e. cashiers office, meal plans),
    4. promoting and advertising the ombudsman’s office.
  • Provide suggestions on which facilities around campus need immediate improvement based on student concern. (i.e. Livingston Student Center).
  • Address problems concerning Campus Safety and identify ways to make the University Safer.
  • Investigating along with the Diversity Committee need based merit scholarships and minority retention and suggest ways in which to increase and recruit talented minority students and students in general despite background or socioeconomic status. Also, work along with the diversity committee to plan a Diversity Day similar to spring festivals (i.e. Rutgersfest).
  • Working with NJPIRG when applicable on issues regarding the environment and provide a follow up on the potential printing issue.
Academic Affairs, Rutgers Student Center, 4th Floor S-Lounge, 7:30 PM
Chair: Sara Kasman
Academic Affairs mainly deal with academic issues including textbooks, syllabi, grades, and more. They shall also explore best practices from other AAU institutions in an effort to enhance academic affairs in the University. Some of the main concerns this committee will focus on are:
  • Updating Degree Navigator and Schedule of Classes sites and adding a feature that allows students to search for specific days, times and class subjects.
  • Possibly extending the drop/add period.
  • Hold University-wide forums for students to offer input and update them on pertinent changes happening in their major.
  • Host a University Wide Research Seminar Fair (similar to a job fair) so students have opportunities to work for and research with Faculty and can be made aware of various job and research opportunities that many professors offer within the University.
  • Update university cheating and plagiarism policy.
  • Create 24-hour study spaces.
Legislative Affairs, Student Activities Center, Riverside Lounge, 7:30 PM
Chair: Chris Keating
Legislative affairs committee will mainly interact with federal, state, and local governments in a effort to advocate on behalf of all students. Some of the main concerns this committee will focus on are:
  • Getting students registered to vote.
  • Recruiting speakers (i.e. legislators, senators, presidential candidates) to come to campus and/or broadcast significant election debates (either local or national).
  • Exploring the benefits of hosting a Service Conference on Higher Education, this would include other state universities in an effort to make a statement.
  • Fall letter-writing campaigns, creating editorials and coordinating/facilitating a campus Legislative walk-through.
Public Relations, Rutgers Student Center, Main Lounge (2nd Floor), 7:30 PM
Public Relations mainly deal with increasing awareness of the student governments, and publicize elections. Some of the main concerns this committee will focus on are:
  • Promote RUSA by having themed events (i.e. dinner with RUSA representatives).
  • Establish outreach events and publicize our visual identity (i.e. flyers, banners).
  • Working with programming boards to co-sponsor large events.
  • Investigate the possibilities of broadcasting our RUSA meetings on television and/or online.
RUSA also creates committees when the need arises to serve particular needs of the student body. These Ad-Hoc committees exist only for a certain time period as required to complete their intended goal. At the moment, the following ad-hoc committees exist:
Diversity
Chair: Rohit Sodhia
This committee will meet temporality when deemed necessary to handle pertinent issues. It will handle matters directly related to maintaining diversity university-wide while also exploring possible or alleged discrimination as it affects the students, faculty, and staff of Rutgers and Rutgers' responsibility to the public. Some of the main concerns this committee will focus on are:
  • Working with the University Affairs Committee to assist with research and take charge of logistics when planning diversity events.
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