Grundy Reporter

Illinois State Senate Committee on University Statutes and Senate Procedures Met May 4.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

Present: Chair Shawn Gilmore, H. George Friedman, Michael Grossman, William Maher, Owen  Skelding, Joyce Tolliver, Kelli Trei, Brent West 

Ex officio: Jessica Mette, Jenny Roether 

Absent: Terri Ciofalo 

Ex officio: Sharon Reynolds 

Guest: Sarah Zehr (Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs) 

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 April 20, 2021 meeting were approved as distributed by roll call vote. 

Yes: Friedman, Gilmore, Grossman, Skelding, Tolliver, Trei 

No: None 

Abstain: Maher 

III. PUBLIC COMMENT 

No requests received. 

IV. CHAIR’S REMARKS 

Chair Gilmore reported that he met with William Bernhard, Vice Provost for Academic  Affairs, and Wanda Ward, Executive Associate Chancellor for Administration and  University Relations, to discuss SP.19.15 (Proposed Revisions to the Statutes, Article IV,  Section 1 – The Department, Section 2 – Department Organized with a Chair, Section 3 – Department Organized with a Head, and Section 4 – Change of Departmental  Organization) and SP.20.23 (Proposed Revisions to the Statutes, Article I, Section 5 – Chancellors and Vice Presidents, Article II, Section 3a(1) – Faculty Role in Governance,  and Article III, Section 1 – The Campus). He noted that Bernhard has textual notes on  SP.19.15 and will forward those to Chair Gilmore. Bernhard also noted that SP.19.15  doesn’t clearly explain the reason for the proposed changes beyond making the head  and the chair parallel. Chair Gilmore questioned if SP would want to revise the  background wording to better clarify.

Chair Gilmore noted that SP may want to consider revising lines 15 and 19-20 in  SP.20.23. He commented that the wording used is the same wording used for deans, but  SP may need to specify boundaries and make clear that the Senate is not doing the  formal evaluation of the chancellor but it providing input to the president. Chair Gilmore  suggested that the phrase “with input” could be added for clarity. He noted that SP will  want to discuss this further next year.  

V. OLD BUSINESS 

SP.18.15, Senate Handbook 

Chair Gilmore commented that the Senate Executive Committee (SEC) had previously  asked SP to create a handbook for use by senators. Tolliver noted that SP focuses on  Senate procedures and the handbook should not just be about procedures but also how  to effectively participate in the Senate. Friedman suggested that SP could give the item  back to SEC so an ad hoc committee can be formed to create a Senate handbook. Chair  Gilmore will send an email to Rob Kar, Chair of the SEC, suggesting that this item would  be better addressed by an ad hoc committee formed by SEC. 

SP.19.15, Proposed Revisions to the Statutes, Article IV, Section 1 – The Department,  Section 2 – Department Organized with a Chair, Section 3 – Department Organized  with a Head, and Section 4 – Change of Departmental Organization 

See Chair’s Remarks for additional information. 

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 the Chair of the Senate Committee on Educational Policy  has not yet met with the Office of the Provost to discuss SP.20.05. SP will discuss the  draft proposal further next year. 

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

Chair Gilmore gave an overview and questioned how SP would like to proceed on this  issue. Friedman noted that the distinction between Part E and Part F is vague, so SP may  want to consider combining them. 

Chair Gilmore and Roether will prepare a draft document this summer for SP discussion  next year.

SP.20.23, Proposed Revisions to the Statutes, Article I, Section 5 – Chancellors and  Vice Presidents, Article II, Section 3a(1) – Faculty Role in Governance, and Article III,  Section 1 – The Campus 

See Chair’s Remarks for additional information. 

SP.20.25, Revision to Senate Governing Documents Regarding Emergencies No new discussion. 

SP.21.05, Revision to the Bylaws, Part D.7 – Conference on Conduct Governance Chair Gilmore reported that Adrienne Dixson, Chair of the Conference on Conduct  Governance (CG), sent feedback regarding the proposed title change. CG reaffirmed the  desire to change to Senate Committee on the Student Code. SP noted that CG’s charge  is more broad then just the Student Code so the proposed name would not reflect the  committee’s role. 

Tolliver suggested that the draft proposal be shared with the Senate Executive  Committee for discussion. 

Roether noted that the committee has a legislative function and the name should reflect  those duties. 

Chair Gilmore will share SP’s continued concerns with CG. 

SP.21.09, Revision to the Bylaws, Part F.5 (Evaluation of the Chancellor) 

No new discussion. 

SP.21.10, Revision to the Bylaws, Part D.1.c – Senate Executive Committee,  Membership 

Chair Gilmore reported that this issue was discussed as a Committee of the Whole  discussion at the April 26 Senate meeting. The general consensus was that the Senate  does not want to see a change to the overall structure of the Senate Executive  Committee membership, but may want to add additional committee chairs to the  membership (e.g., Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Committee on  Academic Freedom and Tenure) and one additional student member. Chair Gilmore  noted there was a comment about the possibility of removing the chair of the  Committee on Information Technology (IT), which was followed by comments in support  of the IT Chair remaining as a member. SP will discuss this issue further next year.

SP.21.11, Revision to the Bylaws, Part A.1 – Meetings (Speaker of the Senate) Chair Gilmore reported that this issue was discussed as a Committee of the Whole  discussion at the April 26 Senate meeting. While the Senate expressed support for SP to  pursue the concept of a Speaker of the Senate, there was not support for the creation of  another top-level Senate official. Chair Gilmore noted that Jeff Stein, former SP  member, shared his thoughts after the Senate meeting. SP will discuss those thoughts  next year. 

Roether commented that the Senate organizational meeting that was held yesterday  was a good example of why the Chair or Vice-Chair of the Senate Executive Committee  may not be the best options to preside over Senate meetings. When those individuals  are running for re-election then it makes also presiding over the meeting messy. 

SP.21.12, Call for Volunteers to Serve as 2021-2022 Parliamentarians 

Roether forwarded the five names of volunteers to serve as parliamentarians to  Friedman. He noted that he has been in contact with four of the volunteers. Friedman  will confirm the volunteers for the 2021-2022 parliamentarians and send the names to  Roether. 

SP.21.13, 2020-2021 Annual Report of the Senate Committee on University Statutes  and Senate Procedures 

SP reviewed and revised the draft report. 

Grossman made a motion to approve the report to be presented for information to the  Senate. The motion was seconded. SP approved the proposal via roll call vote. 

Yes: Friedman, Gilmore, Grossman, Maher, Skelding, Tolliver, Trei, West 

No: None 

Abstain: None 

VI. NEW BUSINESS 

No new business. 

VII. ADJOURNMENT 

The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 am. 

https://uofi.app.box.com/v/USSP/file/853351962862