University Senate reconvened for their second meeting on Oct. 22 where staff, faculty, and advisors discussed conflict resolution within the workplace, the lack of staff in multiple departments, and potential partnerships with other universities in the state.

A large portion of the discussion also revolved around Rowan’s partnership with McKinsey & Company, the consulting firm the university is working with in order to expand their online program Rowan Global. The relationship was also discussed in their last meeting.

Multiple senators emphasized their disappointment in the lack of transparency in McKinsey’s report. University Senate President Bill Freind reiterated that the lack of clarity stems from the fact that higher administration is unsure of what the new programs will look like as the university expands.

President Freind says Rowan hopes to welcome 6,600 new students over the next five years.

With the growth of their online programs, senators from multiple departments across the university emphasized the need to hire more staff including adjunct and full-time faculty. 

President Freind says that the hiring process will follow a new model when it comes to professional staff in various departments, from professors to administrative roles, to handle the large influx of students.

The discussions of hiring and staff shortages made senators vocal about the long-awaited need for more staff, with many of the senators speaking up working for that department themselves.

According to one senator, career advancement has been understaffed for “over 15 years” and their calls to hire more people have been ignored on multiple occasions.

President Freind agreed and said he forwarded a list of concerns about the Office of Career Advancement to Provost Anthony Lowman which will be reviewed in the coming weeks. 

He also noted that there is a lack of advisors which is something that must also be addressed.

The conversation then shifted to Rowan working to hire a new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). Freind himself is on the committee looking to find an applicable CMO for the university.

The final major discussion point of the meeting was related to an article recently published in The Whit about the lack of alert to Rowan students and staff after the arrest of a student in 230 Victoria for possessing a handgun on a college campus. 

President Freind said that the alert not needing to be sent out because the arrest was deemed not an immediate threat was interesting and that particular policy should be something that the senate should reevaluate.

He also noted that a blind student and their service dog were recently hit by a car on Route 322, highlighting the need to prioritize student safety and repeated calls to close the major roadway through the heart of campus.

President Freind also provided updates on the construction of the Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine, saying that the project has progressed quickly. As for the Chamberlain Student Center expansion, he mentioned that they have experienced significant delays and showed skepticism that they would finish the project in a timely manner.

The discussion concluded with President Freind discussing the Edelman Fossil Park & Museum, saying that it will have a beneficial impact on the local economy. 

He also noted the excitement surrounding its opening, citing the Smithsonian Magazine article that named the Edelman Fossil Park one of The Most Anticipated Museum Openings of 2023. The article was published before the opening date of the museum got pushed back.

The next University Senate meeting will be held on Nov. 22.

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