Grundy Reporter

Illinois State Senate Committee on University Student Life met Oct. 15.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Present: Chair Rummana Alam, Tim Flanagin, Charles Fogelman, Sarah Hatlestad, Nattapon Jaroenchai

Ex officio: Danita Brown Young, Stephanie Dvorachek, Enoma Egiebor, Giocanda Guerra Perez, Dana Johnson, Megan Tucker Zwilling

Absent: Caitlin Clarke, Kush Gupta, Kevin Meier, Erin Motley, Brendan Recka Stephen Bryan (ex officio), Kathy Martensen (ex officio)

Scarlette Briones,

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 April 9, 2021, August 27, 2021, and September 17, 2021, meetings were not approved due to a lack of quorum.

III. PUBLIC COMMENT

No requests received.

IV. CHAIR’S REMARKS

Chair Alam would like to approve the Bylaw changes if there is quorum. Chair Alam asked the committee to think of topics the committee would like to discuss. In addition, she asked committee members to think of guests they would like to invite to come and speak to the committee.

V. VICE CHANCELLOR FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS UPDATES

Brown Young shared the following:

• There has been a lot of discussion centered around the Proposed Expressive Activity on Campus Policy. Students are wondering why this is being done at this time. Brown Young shared that this is not a new policy. It’s more of a centralization of existing policies with some revisions and additions and that more education needs to be done with students, faculty and staff.

• Brown Young shared that Kristin McMurray (Assistant Vice Chancellor for Administration and Operations), Collin Richmond and Lisa Power (University Legal Counsel) have been meeting with various groups to talk more about the policy, getting more feedback, suggestions and opinions.

• Students have been expressing a desire for a fall break. DIA has seen an increase in mental health need and support. This is the time (mid October – end of semester) due to the change of season, class workload, exams. Other schools and institutions have added a fall break to ease the stress for the students. It may be helpful to have two (2) days in October. The committee may want to do some benchmarking on this and discuss it with the faculty senate.

VI. DEAN OF STUDENT UPDATES

Brown Young shared the following:

• The medical exemptions for getting the COVID-19 vaccine is moving along. There are not many students who are out of compliance. Those who are out of compliance are being contacted by the Office of Conflict Resolution.

VII. ISG PRESIDENT UPDATES

Egiebor shared the following:

• A lot of students are upset about the Proposed Expressive Activity on Campus Policy. ISG is wary about the Proposed Expressive Activity on Campus Policy. ISG will be putting an annotated version of the policy on their social media as well as sending an annotated version of the policy to the author.

• A resolution was introduced to ISG on Open Education Resources which will help out with textbook affordability. Students are having to pick between buying food or purchasing textbooks.

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

Guerra Perez shared the following

• Campus Belonging had a couple of listening sessions and faculty and staff members have provided feedback. Not much feedback has been provided by students. Guerra Perez asked committee members to share this information with students as feedback is still being collected.

IX. PROVOST OFFICE UPDATES (Martensen)

No updated provided as Martensen was unable to attend.

X. COUNCIL OF UNDERGRADUATE DEANS UPDATES

No updates at this time.

XI. GRADUATE COLLEGE UPDATES

Johnson shared that the last week of October is Graduate Student Appreciation Week. A week of activities have been planned. Information should be going out soon.

XII. INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AND SCHOLAR SERVICES (ISSS) UPDATES

Dvorachek shared the following:

• The Administration recently announced that fully vaccinated international travelers will be allowed to enter the United States. This policy goes into effect on November 8. Specific details have not been shared yet. Dvorachek anticipates many questions coming soon regarding the new policy. This is good news for our international students and staff as families may be able to visit.

XIII. OLD 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.

XIV. NEW BUSINESS

Chair Alam shared that Martensen will be providing an update on the Student Success Initiative at the December meeting. Chair Alam asked the committee if they would like to spend the rest of the December meeting thinking about and brainstorming a Fall Break policy that we can then think about in early 2022 to put before the Senate. Chair Alam would like to bring the presenter from 2019 to come and talk to the committee to provide feedback for the policy. Chair Alam asked the committee if there are other stakeholders on campus that the committee may want to reach out to for support in preparing the policy (potentially send to the Senate Committee on Educational Policy; invite Dr. Carla McCowan from the Counseling Center; Campus Wide Mental Health Coordinating Team).

Topic of Discussion

• Student mental health

• Student hunger issues

XV. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 11:45 am.

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