Grundy Reporter

University of Illinois System Senate Committee on University Statutes and Senate Procedures met Sept. 1.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

I. CALL TO ORDER

A regular meeting of the Senate Committee on University Statutes and Senate Procedures (SP) was called to order at 9:00 am with Chair Gilmore presiding.

II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes of the July 8, 2020 meeting were approved as distributed.

III. PUBLIC COMMENT

No requests received.

IV. CHAIR’S REMARKS

Chair Gilmore welcomed new and returning members and had each introduce themselves.

Chair Gilmore noted that video meetings must be recorded and rollcall votes must be taken to comply with the current Illinois Open Meetings Act (OMA) guidelines.

Chair Gilmore reported that he provided input for SC.20.38 (Authorizing the Senate

Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure Hearing Committees to Complete Work on Cases Submitted During the 2019-2020 Academic Year) which was drafted by the Senate Executive Committee and approved at the July 13 Senate meeting.

Chair Gilmore reported the SP proposals that were approved at the July 13 Senate meeting:

• SP.20.16, Revision to the Bylaws, Part D.3 – Committee on Admissions

• SP.20.28, Revision to the Bylaws, Part D.11 – Committee on Faculty and Academic Staff Benefits

• SP.20.30, Revision to the Bylaws, Part A – Meetings

Chair Gilmore reported that SP.19.01, Proposed Revisions to the Statutes (USC ST-77), was approved by the Senate on October 14, 2019. It is expected to be presented to the Board of Trustees for approval at its September meeting.

V. OLD BUSINESS

SP.18.15, Senate Handbook

Chair Gilmore noted that this issue originated to collate Senate guidance documents to provide to senators. SP will discuss this issue further at a future meeting.

SP.19.15, Proposed Revisions to the Statutes, Article IV, Section 2 – Department Organized with a Chair, Section 3 – Department Organized with a Head, and Section 4 – Change of Departmental Organization

Chair Gilmore commented that this issue will better align the Statutes language between department heads and department chairs and will also add language to clarify those roles. SP will discuss this issue further at a future meeting.

SP.20.05, Revision to the Bylaws, Part D.8 – Senate Committee on Educational Policy and Standing Rule 13 – Formation, Termination, Separation, Transfer, Merger, Change in Status, and Renaming of Units

SP reviewed the draft proposal to revise the Bylaws and Standing Rule 13 that was received from the Senate Committee on Educational Policy (EP). The proposed revisions would revise the duties/membership of EP in the Bylaws and would also remove Standing Rule 13.

Roether shared that Rob Kar, Chair of the Senate Executive Committee, and she met with the Office of University Audits over the summer and this draft proposal was discussed. The auditors were not satisfied with the current draft proposal and shared concern that the proposed revisions broadened EP’s role which was the opposite of the suggestion in the audit report.

Friedman, Maher, and Roether will review the draft proposal to determine any revisions that are needed. SP will discuss the draft proposal further at the next meeting.

SP.20.06, Revision to the Bylaws, Part D.1 – Senate Executive Committee (eligibility/duties of Chair and Vice-Chair)

Chair Gilmore reported that the proposal was sent to the Senate for approval at the July 13 Senate meeting. After discussion, the Senate referred the proposal back to SP for further review. The Senate amended the proposal to make the restrictions on the Chair and Vice Chair the same. Chair Gilmore and Roether will update the draft proposal for further discussion at the next meeting.

Chair Gilmore noted there should be a future Committee of the Whole discussion by the Senate on which Senate committee chairs should have automatic membership on the Senate Executive Committee (SEC). SP agreed that the Senate should have input in any potential revisions to the SEC membership.

SP.20.07, Revision to the Bylaws, Part E (Governing and Advisory Bodies) and Part F (Senate Representatives to Other Bodies)

Chair Gilmore reported that this issue originated in response to a recommendation in the Report of the Eighth Senate Review Commission (XSR.19.01) to review the Bylaws, Part E and Part F to determine who is responsible for overseeing the duties/charges for each body and the relationship of each body to the Senate. Chair Gilmore will draft language for discussion at the next meeting.

SP.20.15, Revision to the Bylaws, Part D.4 – Committee on the Budget

SP reviewed the draft proposal to revise the Bylaws that was received from the Senate Committee on the Budget (BG). Roether noted the disconnect between BG and the Campus Budget Oversight Committee (CBOC). It was noted that BG may be more effective if there were more interaction with CBOC and other Chancellor and Provost budget committees. Chair Gilmore will share SP suggestions with Michael LeRoy, Chair of BG. SP will discuss the draft proposal further at the next meeting.

SP.20.17, Revision to the Bylaws, Part A – Meetings (Presiding at Senate Meetings)

SP reviewed the draft proposal which would revise the Bylaws to specify that the Senate Executive Committee (SEC) Chair would preside over the Senate meeting while the Chancellor would call Senate meetings to order, provide remarks, and respond to questions from senators.

Grossman noted that the Constitution, Article VI, Section 7 states: The Presiding Officer may not vote on any matter before the Senate except in the event of a tie vote to decide the question even though the Presiding Officer would not otherwise be entitled to vote. Friedman commented that the presiding officer should appear neutral, so should not participate in the debate and should not vote.

SP noted that the SEC Chair currently speaks on behalf of the Senate so it is logical to have the Chair preside over Senate meetings. It was suggested that if the SEC Chair will preside at Senate meetings, then the Senate may want to consider changing the title to Chair of the Senate.

SP.20.18, Revision to the Bylaws, Part D.7 – Conference on Conduct Governance

No new discussion.

SP.20.20, Revision to the Bylaws, Part D.17 – Committee on Student Discipline

No new discussion.

SP.20.22, Revision to the Bylaws, Part D.14 – Committee on Information Technology

No new discussion.

SP.20.23, Proposed Revisions to the Statutes, Article I, Section 5 – Chancellors and Vice Presidents, and Article III, Section 1 – The Campus

No new discussion.

SP.20.24, Revision to the Bylaws, Part D.15 – Committee on the Library

No new discussion.

SP.20.25, Revision to Senate Governing Documents Regarding Emergencies

No new discussion.

SP.20.31, Revision to the Bylaws, Part D.10 – Committee on Equal Opportunity and Inclusion

No new discussion.

SP.20.32, Proposed Revisions to the Statutes, Article X, Section 1 (Tenure of Academic Staff) (a) 6 and 7 – to permit the use of five-year appointments for non-tenure track faculty

Chair Gilmore noted that this issue would allow multi-year contracts to increase from three to five years. SP suggested that this issue should also be reviewed by the Senate Committee on General University Policy.

VI. NEW BUSINESS

No new business.

VII. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 10:35 am.

https://uofi.app.box.com/v/USSP/file/719968033329