Committee charge

Oct. 19, 2009

President Jehuda Reinharz hereby forms a Brandeis Administrative Resource Review Committee (the “Committee”) and presents a charge to it as follows:

The Committee is to investigate and analyze various aspects of staffing and administration at Brandeis University. That work should include, but need not be limited to:

  • A review of overall trends relative to staffing levels and other administrative matters at the university.
  • A review of administrative practices, with an eye toward making recommendations concerning efficiencies, economies and synergies, best practices and needs for adequate staffing.
  • Financial data, both internal and comparative, aimed at providing insight as to the overall resource use of administrative areas in comparison with other university functions.

The Committee is empowered to appoint subcommittees drawing from its own membership as well as others from the university. Such subcommittees may form working groups designed to make deeper inquiries into specific areas as the Committee sees fit.

The membership of the Committee is as follows: Jeffrey Apfel, executive vice president for Administration and Finance (chair); Scot Bemis, vice president for Human Resources & Employee Relations; Frances Drolette, acting vice president for Finance; Sarah Mead, associate professor of the Practice of Music; Dennis Nealon, executive director, Media and Public Affairs; Frank Urso, assistant vice president, Students and Enrollment; Myles Weisenberg, vice president of Development; Michaele Whelan, vice provost for Academic Affairs.

The Committee will meet regularly in the discharge of its responsibilities. Minutes are not required to be kept. The Committee is expected to produce findings and recommendations by consensus, though a vote by majority rule may be employed as the Committee deems appropriate. Unanimity on any given issue, finding or recommendation is not required, and members may file minority or dissenting reports.

The Committee is expected to present findings of two types. First, it will produce analyses. These should be presented to the President, no later than Jan. 31, 2010. Second, the Committee may wish to make specific recommendations in the areas of economies, efficiencies, synergies and staffing needs. Such recommendations should also be presented to the president.