Grundy Reporter

University of Illinois Senate Committee on University Statutes and Senate Procedures met March 22.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Present: Chair Shawn Gilmore, H. George Friedman, Michael Grossman, William Maher, Collin Ruud, Joyce Tolliver, Kelli Trei

Ex officio: Jessica Mette, Sharon Reynolds, Jenny Roether

Absent: Walter Deering

Guest: Sarah Zehr (Assistant Vice President for Academic Initiatives and Policies)

I. CALL TO ORDER

A regular meeting of the Senate Committee on University Statutes and Senate Procedures (SP) was called to order at 10:00 am with Chair Gilmore presiding.

II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes of the March 1, 2022 meeting were approved as distributed by roll call vote.

Yes: Friedman, Gilmore, Grossman, Maher, Ruud, Tolliver, Trei

No: None

Abstain: None

III. PUBLIC COMMENT

No requests received.

IV. CHAIR’S REMARKS

Chair Gilmore reported that two items were approved by the Senate on March 7: • 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

• 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

V. OLD BUSINESS

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

Chair Gilmore reported that the proposal was amended and approved by the Senate on March 7. The amendment was to remove lines 124-126:

At least one-half of the members of the departmental advisory committee shall be elected from those faculty who have at least a 50-percent salaried appointment in the university.

SP discussed possible revised language to address the concerns voiced by the Carle Illinois College of Medicine where many appointments are paid by Carle and not the University.

Grossman suggested revised language that would make an exception for the Carle Illinois College of Medicine. Friedman suggested a way to revise the sentence without specifically making an exception for the Carle Illinois College of Medicine.

At least one-half of the members of the departmental advisory committee shall be elected from those faculty who have at least a 50-percent salaried appointment in the university or other affiliated institution.

Maher expressed his hesitation about sending to the Senate any further revisions to the proposal until it has been considered by the UIC and UIS Senates. Tolliver agreed that SP should not present additional revisions at this time.

Grossman noted concern that the requirement for faculty with at least a 50-percent salaried appointment would be required in a department organized with a chair but not a department organized with a head because of the lack of parallel in provisions on composition of the advisory committee as reflected in what had been approved by the Senate.

Roether commented that the primary focus of University Senates Conference is SP.22.01, so this Statutes revision (SP.19.15) will not move forward until SP.22.01 (ST 83) is forwarded.

SP will retain this item on the agenda for continued 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

The proposal was approved by the Senate on March 7, so it will be removed from the agenda.

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

SP.21.05, Revision to the Bylaws, Part D.7 – Conference on Conduct Governance No new discussion.

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

Chair Gilmore commented that the draft proposal revises the membership of the Senate Executive Committee to add the Chair of the Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure and the Chair of the Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He questioned if the number of student members should increase also. SP suggested one additional student member be added to the membership which would increase the total student members from three to four. Roether suggested that the Chair of Illinois Student Government could be an automatic member of SEC to provide a connection between the Senate and the Student Senate.

Friedman suggested revising the section to list the membership first followed by how the membership is elected.

The draft proposal will be updated for further discussion at the next meeting.

SP.21.11, Proposed Revisions to the Constitution, Article VI, Section 7 and the Bylaws, Parts A.1-9, B.1-5, and D.1.c.1 (Presiding Officer)

SP reviewed and discussed revision 3 of the draft proposal.

Friedman commented that the use of Presiding Officer may cause confusion due to the use of “presiding officer” throughout governing documents. Grossman agreed and suggested Chair of the Senate as another option to consider. He further suggested that the Chair of the Senate Executive Committee (SEC) could be revised to Chair of the Executive Committee.

Roether suggested changing the Chair of the SEC to Chair of the Senate to better align with peer institutions. Tolliver noted that many faculty and staff already view the Chair of the SEC as the Chair of the Senate. She commented that a previous suggestion for the individual who presides over the Senate meeting was Speaker of the Senate. Roether noted that previous concerns with that title was that the individual could be viewed as the person who speaks on behalf of the Senate, although the role would only be to preside during the Senate meeting.

Chair Gilmore shared that the UIC Senate uses the title Presiding Officer of the Senate. Roether suggested Presiding Officer of Senate Meetings to further clarify the role is to only preside over the meeting and not the business of the Senate.

SP will discuss the draft proposal further at the next meeting.

SP.22.01, Proposed Revisions to the Statutes (USC ST-83)

SP continued its review and discussion of the draft proposal.

Chair Gilmore reported that SP received feedback from David Forsyth, Chair of the Senate Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure (AF), and Rob Kar, Chair of the Senate Executive Committee (SEC), regarding the proposed revisions to the Statutes, Article X academic freedom protections. Forsyth and Kar acknowledge concerns with the proposed revision which would limit academic freedom to only “tenure system and non-tenure system faculty” whereas it is currently extended to “all members of the academic staff.” The feedback from Forsyth and Kar may not exhaust AF’s review of potential academic freedom concerns in ST-83. Chair Gilmore further reported that the Council of Academic Professionals (CAP) has formed a subcommittee which will provide input to SP at a later date.

Grossman suggested the phrase “faculty and staff with an academic appointment” instead of “academic staff.”

Friedman noted that if the original intent of ST-83 was not to make substantial changes to the Statutes, then its proposed wording is not acceptable because it removes academic professionals from being included as academic staff which is a substantial change.

Roether commented that an academic employee may have more than one role so it would be helpful to use human resources definitions to provide clarity. She noted that a glossary in the Statutes would also be helpful.

Maher expressed concern with the document that SEC Chair Kar had presented as a possible way forward for amending relevant text on which employee groups were entitled to academic freedom. He was particularly concerned that although Kar’s transmission had included a statement signed by the AF Chair, that statement was largely written by Kar and had not been reviewed by the AF committee itself. Maher felt it improper for the SEC Chair to put the chair of a Senate committee in the position of having to opine on a substantive matter directly related to that committee’s mandate. Regardless of the possible merits of Kar’s suggested resolution, doing so could be seen as forcing the hand of both the AF committee and its chair.

Chair Gilmore commented that no official feedback has been received from AF or CAP, so SP will not send the proposal forward to the Senate until feedback has been received from both groups.

SP will discuss the draft proposal further at the next meeting.

SP.22.02, Revision to the Bylaws, Part A.3 and Standing Rule 14 – Setting the Agenda for Senate Meetings

No new discussion.

SP.22.03, Proposed Revisions to the Constitution, Article VI, Section 9 (Senate review) and the Bylaws, Part D.1.a – Senate Executive Committee Duties

No new discussion.

SP.22.04, Proposed Revisions to the Statutes, Nondiscrimination Statement SP reviewed and discussed revision 11 of the draft proposal. SP questioned if the correct wording should be “arrest record” or “status of arrest record.” Chair Gilmore will inquire on the correct wording to be used.

The draft proposal will be updated for further review at the next meeting.

VI. NEW BUSINESS

SP.22.05, Revision to the Bylaws, Part D.20.b – Committee on University Student Life No new discussion.

SP.22.06, Revision to the Bylaws, Part D.5.b – Committee on Campus Operations No new discussion.

VII. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 11:35 am.

https://uofi.app.box.com/v/USSP/file/937707345762