Grundy Reporter

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Senate Executive Committee met Dec. 2.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

Present: Chair Rob Kar, Vice-Chair John Dallesasse, Michael Bohlmann, Brian Brauer, Nicholas Burbules, Bettina Francis, Shawn Gilmore, Kim Graber, Eric Meyer, Nathan Poulosky, Christopher Span, Susan Zhou

Absent: Ane Icardo Isasa, Gay Miller, Matthew Wheeler

Guests: William Bernhard (Vice Provost for Academic Affairs), Barry Benson (Vice Chancellor for Advancement), Danita Brown Young (Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs), Alejandro Gómez (Assistant Director, Counseling Center), Kamau Grantham (Assistant Director of Clinical Services, Counseling Center), Chris Harris (Senior Director of Strategic Communications), Robin Kaler (Associate Chancellor for Public Affairs), Susan Martinis (Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation)

A regular meeting of the Senate Executive Committee (SEC) was called to order at 3:10 pm with Chair Kar presiding.

I. INTRODUCTIONS

Introductions were made.

II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes of the November 4, 2019 meeting were approved as distributed.

III. PUBLIC COMMENT

No requests received. 

IV. CHAIR’S REMARKS

Chair Kar gave no remarks. 

V. CHANCELLOR’S REMARKS

Vice Provost Bernhard gave remarks in the absence of Chancellor Jones. Bernhard expressed his appreciation to the Consensual Relationship Policy Task Force for all of the time and effort put into the final report. Scheduling conversations with key stakeholders to review and implement recommendations will begin soon. Several Senate committees will be invited to provide feedback.

The end of the semester can be a stressful time. Be observant of your peers. If you see someone struggling, please reach out and make them aware of the available resources. Bernhard invited Vice Chancellor Brown Young to speak about the available resources.

Brown Young noted that there are resources available from both McKinley Health Center and the Counseling Center. The Counseling Center does provide same day appointments. If same day appointments are full, the student can speak to a clinician over the phone. Online scheduling and appointments have been discussed, but are not currently offered. Kamau Grantham, Assistant Director of Clinical Services, Counseling Center, added that there are some areas that might be out of the Counseling Center’sscope and may require referring students. The Counseling Center should be the first place students should call. The clinicians can help decided what level of care is needed. Alejandro Gómez, Assistant Director, Counseling Center, also added that the Counseling Center offers 25-30 new student appointments every day. Appointments can fill up in as quickly as 10 minutes. Vice Chancellor Brown Young emphasized the importance of keeping appointments so these limited resources can be fully utilized.

VI. OLD BUSINESS

XSR.19.01, Report of the Eighth Senate Review Commission

Recommendation #1: Review the Participation of Emeriti in the Senate and its Committees

Graber, Chair of the Senate Committee on Elections and Credentials (EC) reported that EC discussed the topic of emeritus faculty participation and EC’s unanimous response was to allow emeritus faculty members to continue serving in the same capacity that they have been serving. The distributed memo* included data showing only a small number of emeritus faculty members are serving on the Senate and on committees.

After a short discussion, SEC requested EC submit a proposal that recommends the Senate confirm the current practice of including emeriti faculty in the faculty electorate; therefore remaining eligible to vote and serve in the Senate and remaining eligible to serve on committees of the Senate. An appendix will contain the supportive data.

Recommendation #8: Review the Bylaws, Part E (Governing and Advisory Bodies) and Part F (Senate Representatives to Other Bodies)

Gilmore, Chair of the Senate Committee on University Statutes and Senate Procedures (SP), reported that SP began discussing the topic of the bodies in Part E and Part F of the Bylaws, but a number of questions were raised that SP was unable to answer. The duties of each body in Part E and Part F of the Bylaws is not clearly written.

SEC members suggested SP contact Mike DeLorenzo as the Chancellor’s liaison to the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics to answer questions regarding the Athletic Board and question regarding the General Education Board be directed to Craig Zilles, as a former chair of the Board. SP will continue research and work on Recommendation #8.

SC.20.04, Review of theBylaws, Part D.1 – Senate Executive Committee

Gilmore noted the current version of SC.20.04 now includes language that SEC requested SP work on that mostly includes additional requirements for the SEC Chair and Vice-Chair. Gilmore noted that one member of SP does not agree that the SEC Chair should be required to have previously served on SEC, and feels it is too limiting on the pool of candidates. Graber added that finding people willing to serve as the SEC Chair and Vice-Chair can be difficult due to the required commitment, and limiting the requirements further could create a hardship on CC.

VII.NEW BUSINESS

SC.20.07, Final Report from the Consensual Relationship Policy Task Force

No discussion.

RS.20.02, Resolution on Sexual Harassment Reporting

Dallesasse made a motion to refer RS.20.02 to the Senate Committee on General University Policy (GP) and invite the resolution author, John Bambenek, to discuss the resolution with GP. The motion was seconded and approved. Chair Kar will notify Bambenek that his resolution has been referred to GP.

Setting of the December 9, 2019Senate Meeting Agenda

The December 9, 2019 Senate agenda was set as amended.

VIII. VICE CHANCELLOR PRESENTATIONS

Susan Martinis, Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation

Vice Chancellor Martinis introduced herself including a brief overview of her backgroundand delivered her presentation*. The addition of “Innovation” to the title of the Officeof the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation (OVCRI) came with a 25% increased portfolio. The OVCRI supports the programs that ensure safe, ethical, and productive conduct of research across all corners of the University.

Illinois is one of America’s leading research universities. Illinois has exceptional success rates for NEH (National Endowment for the Humanities) and Guggenheim fellowships; is regularly among the top 25 in USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) and DOD (United States Department of Defense) awards; is regularly among the top ten in DOE

United States Department of Energy) awards; and is routinely leading the nation in NSF (National Science Foundation) awards.

Priorities for the coming year include:

•Nurture innovation

•Strengthen oversight programs

•Advance discovery

•Engage external partners

•Sustain national prominence

•Cultivate strong relationships

Research expenditures have been steady at about $650 million over the last five years. Martinis hopes to reach $700 million.

Research Park and EnterpriseWorks are part of the OVCRI portfolio. Research Park has transitioned from the System level to the University level and the OVCRI was charged with doubling the Research Park. EnterpriseWorks is a startup incubator which helps local and state economies.

OVCRI has oversight of training and disclosures, electronic systems, and NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act). Illinois is behind other universities regarding NAGPRA, but is working hard to return the numerous artifacts.

OVCRI faces challenges including competing for research funding, academic espionage and inappropriate foreign influence, public sentiments about science and scholarship, and emerging rules and administrative burden.

Institutes and Centers reporting to the OVCRI include:

•Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology

•Cancer Center at Illinois

•Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology

•Center for Social and Behavioral Science

•Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities

•Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment

•Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute

•National Center for Supercomputing Applications

•Prairie Research Institute

Martinis indicated she would like to work with the Senate to better disseminate information to the University. Interest was expressed to make the Senate more aware of the research efforts.

Barry Benson, Vice Chancellor for Advancement

Vice Chancellor Benson introduced himself including a brief overview of his background and delivered his presentation*. There are about 300 advancement professionals embedded in the colleges across the University. Staff are being added in Chicago at the Illini Center, and also in the San Francisco and Arizona offices.

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement (OVCIA) has hadtremendous success including the Geis and Grainger gifts, but many others as well. In FY2018, a high of $436 million was reached. The current goal is $2.25 billion by July 2022. The With Illinois Campaign is about 66% completed with 80% of the goal reached.

Priorities for the coming year include:

•Fully integrate the University of Illinois Alumni Association

•Create an infrastructure of best practices for sustainable advancement

•Identify and develop a strategy to elevate and measure alumni engagement

•Develop and implement the Illinois Commitment advancement strategy

•$300 million in gifts and commitments

Benson discussed trying to change the old model and the way we look at advancement. The OVCIA is looking at different and alternative funding sources, and also going through a reorganization including hiring more people centrally. There are alumni that have done wonderful things and we simply have not engaged them. There needs to be engagement in a broader sense, and finding those missed opportunities.

IX. ANNOUNCEMENTS/VERBAL REPORTS FOR INFORMATION

Urbana Senate Observer for the January 16 Board of Trustees Meeting in Chicago

SEC members will be contacted requesting a volunteer to serve as the Urbana Senate Observer at the January Board meeting.

X. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 5:08 pm.

https://uofi.app.box.com/v/SenateExecutiveCommittee/file/615669705893