R-MC 069

Inventory to the Records of the Faculty Alliance for Rutgers (FAR), 1985-1998

By Catherine Kayola and Caryn Radick

August 2004

Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University


Descriptive Summary

Creator: Faculty Alliance for Rutgers (FAR)
Title: Inventory to the Records of The Faculty Alliance for Rutgers (FAR)
Dates: 1985-1998, bulk 1996-1998
Quantity: .4 cubic feet (1 manuscript box)
Abstract: The Faculty Alliance for Rutgers (FAR) was an organization founded by members of Rutgers faculty in 1996. The Alliance was particularly concerned with faculty governance and the involvement of the faculty in policy decisions. The group formed as the result of their dissatisfaction with University President Francis L. Lawrence (1990-2003). Particular areas of contention were the athletic program at Rutgers, faculty employment issues, and other Lawrence-sponsored initiatives. The records in this collection consist of correspondence, position papers, newsletters, research, and articles of interest. John R. Gillis deposited the FAR records with University Archives on May 26, 2004.
Collection No.: R-MC 069
Language: English
Repository: Rutgers University. Special Collections and University Archives

Administrative History of the Faculty Alliance for Rutgers

The Faculty Alliance for Rutgers (FAR) was an organization founded by members of Rutgers faculty in 1996. The Alliance was particularly concerned with faculty governance and the involvement of the faculty in policy decisions. The group formed as the result of their dissatisfaction with University President Francis L. Lawrence (1990-2003). Particular areas of contention were the athletic program at Rutgers, faculty employment issues, and other Lawrence-sponsored initiatives. Founders included faculty members John Gillis (History), who became FAR's convener. Terry Butler (Mathematics), Susan Fainstein (Urban Planning), George Levine (English), Peter Lindenfeld (Physics and Astronomy), Jack Nelson (Graduate School of Education), Jerry Scheinbeim (Engineering), Peter Simmons (Newark Law), Shanti Tangri (Economics).

At its peak, FAR had between sixty and seventy members who funded and distributed the group's newsletter, "The FAR Report," which was edited by Peter Lindenfeld. FAR maintained a Web site and established research committees on such issues as athletics and faculty governance. FAR's efforts culminated in an "Open Letter to the Middle States Accreditation Committee" when that committee visited campus in the spring of 1998. The organization was no longer active after 1998.

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Scope and Content Note

The records of the Rutgers University organization Faculty Alliance for Rutgers (FAR) are dated between 1985 and 1998, with the bulk of material representing the years 1996 to 1998. These records reflect the members' dissatisfaction with the presidency of Francis L. Lawrence. There is a fair amount of correspondence to and from FAR members, including its convener the history professor John R. Gillis. The correspondence includes letters, e-mails, and letters to the editor of the Rutgers Daily Targum. There are also newspaper articles collected by the members that reflect their interest in various Rutgers issues, particularly athletics and Lawrence.

Of particular concern to the members was the Rutgers University Quality and Communication Improvement (QCI) program. This 1994 initiative focused on Rutgers as a service provider and as such asked for assessments to improve its organizational quality and communication.

The collection also includes articles written by FAR members and other members of the Rutgers community along with those that FAR members collected as part of their research into various topics. There are also membership lists, solicitation letters, meeting minutes (from FAR and the New Brunswick Faculty Council), and copies of the five FAR newsletters published between February 1997 and February 1998. Examples of their "Open Letter to the Middle States Accreditation Committee" (1998) and the "Report of the Evaluation Team to the Faculty, Administration, Trustees, and Students of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey," the accreditation review by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (1998) are also found in this collection. Also included are background material and notes on the New Brunswick Conference and Academic Freedom, Tenure and University Governance (April 3, 1998), sponsored by the Rutgers New Brunswick Chapter the Association of American University Professors (AAUP) and the New Jersey State Conference of AAUP.

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Arrangement Note

The folders in this collection are arranged alphabetically. Information within the folders is arranged chronologically.

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Name and Subject Tracings

Personal Names

Dowling, William C.
Gillis, John R.
Lawrence, Francis L.
Lindenfeld, Peter
Mulcahy, Robert E.
Ruben, Brent D.

Corporate Names

American Association of University Professors
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Commission on Higher Education
Rutgers University. Department of Athletics
Rutgers University. Faculty Alliance for Rutgers
Rutgers University. Presidential Search Committee
Rutgers University. Quality and Communication Improvement Program (QCI)

Subject Headings

Rutgers University—Athletics
Rutgers University—Faculty—Committees
Rutgers University—Presidents

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Inventory to the Records of the Faculty Alliance for Rutgers (FAR), 1985-1998, (R-MC 069), Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries

Acquisition Note

The Records of the Faculty Alliance for Rutgers (FAR) were donated to Special Collections and University Archives by John R. Gillis on May 26, 2004

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Container List

Records of the Faculty Alliance for Rutgers (FAR) 1985-1998
Box Folder
1 1 FAR Convener (Professor John R. Gillis): Correspondence and Papers, October 1985, December 1995-March 1998
2 FAR Membership Lists and Meeting Minutes, April 1997-April 1998
3 FAR Newsletters (2 sets), February 1997-February 1998
4 Lawrence, Francis L., research on, June 1997-April 1998
5 Middle States Accreditation Committee: 1998 Visit, February 1998-April 1998
6 New Brunswick Conference on Academic Freedom, Tenure and University Governance April 3, 1998, Fall 1997-April 1998
7 New Brunswick Faculty Council, July 1995-February 1998
8 Presidential Search Committee 1990, research on, September 1997-October 1997
9 Quality and Communication Improvement Program (QCI), research on, September 1993-April 1998
10 Rutgers University Athletics, research on, October 1996-April 1998