Grundy Reporter

Illinois State Senate Committee on University Student Life met Sept. 17.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Present: Chair Rummana Alam, Sarah Hatlestad, Kush Gupta, Nattapon Jaroenchai, Ex officio: Stephen Bryan, Stephanie Dvorachek, Enoma Egiebor, Giocanda Guerra Perez, Dana Johnson, Kathy Martensen, Megan Tucker Zwilling

Absent: Caitlin Clarke, Charles Fogelman, Tim Flanagin, Danita Brown Young (ex officio), Kathy Martensen (ex officio), Kevin Meier, Erin Motley, Brendan Recka

I. CALL TO ORDER

A regular meeting of the Senate Committee on University Student Life (SL) was called to order at 11:00 am with Chair Alam presiding.

II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes of the August 27, 2021 meeting were not approved due to a lack of quorum.

III. PUBLIC COMMENT

No requests received.

IV. CHAIR’S REMARKS

Chair Alam shared that she met with University Counsel regarding the Proposed Expressive Activity Policy update. Chair Alam asked the committee to review the Topics of Discussion and let her know if there are other topics the committee would like to discuss.

V. VICE CHANCELLOR FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS UPDATES (Bryan)

Bryan shared the following:

• This is the largest first year class ever

• Vaccine mandate has gone out. 90% of undergraduate students are vaccinated and 93% of professional and graduate student are vaccinated. Exemptions are available for medical and religious reasons. The Office of the Dean of Students is processing the religious exemption requests and have received over 750 requests as of today. Medical requests are being processed by McKinley. To date, McKinley has received approximately 65 requests. Students who are granted the exemption will be required to test every other day. Students who are not granted the exemption will be required to test every day.

• The positivity rate is extremely low at .31%. No positive cases have been reported resulting from classroom exposure. Most of the cases are coming from outside of the campus community.

VI. DEAN OF STUDENT UPDATES

Bryan included his updates in V. above.

VII. ISG PRESIDENT UPDATES

Egiebor shared the following:

• Informational meeting was held last week

• ISG will be hosting a tail gate tonight in partnership with New Student Programs

VIII. VICE CHANCELLOR FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION UPDATES (Guerra Perez)

Guerra Perez shared the following

• Bias Assessment Reporting Team which was under the Office of the Dean of Students has moved to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as of August 23, 2021. Information can be found at the following link: https://diversity.illinois.edu/diversity-campus-culture/belonging-resources/.

o Listening sessions have been scheduled as follows:

Friday, September 24, 2 pm (Virtual) | Sept 24 Registration Form

Monday, September 27, 6 pm (In Person) | Sept 27 Registration Form

IX. PROVOST OFFICE UPDATES (Martensen)

Martensen shared the following:

• The U of I System held a Mental Health Symposium earlier this week. There were at least 450 attendees. The speaker waived his speaking fee and the System Office is matching the fee and distributing the money to all the campuses to use for mental health efforts for students

• Martensen will be providing an update on the Student Success Initiative at a future meeting

• The Provost Office will be creating a task force to look at Academic Policies in the Student Code. Faculty, staff and students will make up the task force

X. COUNCIL OF UNDERGRADUATE DEANS UPDATES (Tucker Zwilling)

No updates at this time.

XI. GRADUATE COLLEGE UPDATES (Johnson)

No updates at this time.

XII. INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AND SCHOLAR SERVICES (ISSS) UPDATES (Dvorachek)

Dvorachek shared the following:

• As of this week, there are approximately 4,300 new international students on campus. Some of the students failed to check in (which is a Federal requirement and must be done within 30 days of arriving in the United States) and ISSS is tracking down those students

• Programming and advising are being done. Most of the workshops will be online.

XIII. OLD BUSINESS

SL.22.01, Proposed Expressive Activity on Campus Policy

Chair Alam provided updates in IV. Chair’s Remarks, above.

Topic of Discussion

• Student mental health

• Improvements to orientation (graduate students who may be international students)

• Student hunger issues

XIV. NEW BUSINESS

SL.22.02, Revision to the Bylaws, Part D – Committee on University Student Life – Part b.3.

The committee will review this at the next meeting.

XV. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 11:45 am.

https://uofi.app.box.com/v/UniversityStudentLife/folder/51630646175