University of Illinois System Senate Committee on University Statutes and Senate Procedures met Sept. 29.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
Present: Chair Shawn Gilmore, H. George Friedman, Michael Grossman, William Maher, Owen Skelding, Jeffrey Stein, Joyce Tolliver, Kelli Trei, Brent West
Ex officio: Jessica Mette, Sharon Reynolds, Jenny Roether
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 September 15, 2020 meeting were approved as distributed by roll call vote.
Yes: Friedman, Gilmore, Grossman, Maher, Skelding, Stein, Tolliver, Trei
No: None
III. PUBLIC COMMENT
No requests received.
IV. CHAIR’S REMARKS
Chair Gilmore noted that SP.20.15, SP.20.18, and SP.20.31 have been sent to other Senate committees for review and feedback.
V. OLD BUSINESS
SP.18.15, Senate Handbook
No new discussion.
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
Grossman gave an overview of the proposed revisions and past discussion by SP. The proposed revisions would create parallel language for departments organized with a chair or with a head and would also create modifications to those roles.
Grossman, Tolliver, and Trei will update the proposal for discussion 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
Chair Gilmore reported that he met with Linda Moorhouse, Chair of the Senate Committee on Educational Policy, to discuss the proposal.
Chair Gilmore commented that he will edit the draft proposal using the notes that were provided by Friedman, Maher, and Roether at the last meeting. SP will review the updated draft proposal at the next meeting.
SP.20.06, Revision to the Bylaws, Part D.1 – Senate Executive Committee (eligibility/duties of Chair and Vice-Chair)
The proposal was approved by the Senate with amendments on September 21. The amendment removed the phrase “who must be faculty or academic professional senators and have served at least one year on the Senate Executive Committee.”
Following the Senate meeting, it was noted that the intent of the Senate may not have been to remove the requirement that the Chair and Vice-Chair be senators.
SP agreed to send the proposal back to the Senate and restoring the phrase “elected by and from among the membership of the Senate” to clarify that the Chair and Vice-Chair must be senators.
Stein noted that there was no discussion at the Senate meeting regarding the requirement to have served at least one year on the Senate Executive Committee. He suggested that the requirement be included in the new proposal.
A draft proposal will be prepared for review at the next meeting.
SP.20.07, Revision to the Bylaws, Part E (Governing and Advisory Bodies) and Part F (Senate Representatives to Other Bodies)
No new discussion.
SP.20.15, Revision to the Bylaws, Part D.4 – Committee on the Budget
Chair Gilmore reported that he will attend the Senate Committee on the Budget meeting later this week to discuss the proposed revisions to the Bylaws.
SP.20.17, Revision to the Bylaws, Part A – Meetings (Presiding at Senate Meetings) Chair Gilmore questioned if further revisions are needed to the draft proposal.
Friedman noted that it has worked well to have the Chair of the Senate Executive Committee preside over the Senate meetings held virtually via Zoom.
Friedman commented that the current draft specifies that the Chancellor shall be invited to call Senate meetings to order; however, if a person calls the meeting to order then they are the presiding officer. He noted that the wording needs to be revised.
The draft proposal will be updated and shared with the Senate Executive Committee for review and feedback.
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
Chair Gilmore asked SP members to review the draft proposal for discussion at the next meeting.
SP.20.22, Revision to the Bylaws, Part D.14 – Committee on Information Technology
The proposal was approved by the Senate on September 21, so it will be removed from the agenda.
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
Chair Gilmore asked SP members to review the draft proposal for discussion at the next meeting.
SP.20.25, Revision to Senate Governing Documents Regarding Emergencies Friedman noted that he will revise the draft to reflect the recent changes to the Illinois Open Meetings Act.
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
No new discussion.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
No new business.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 am.
https://uofi.app.box.com/v/USSP/file/729773004824
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