Grundy Reporter

University of Illinois Senate Committee on University Statutes and Senate Procedures met March 2.

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: Rob Klein (potential graduate student member), 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 22, 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 welcomed Rob Klein, potential graduate student committee member, and asked SP members introduce themselves.

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

No new discussion.

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

SP reviewed revision 2 of the draft proposal.

Maher commented that the background (two graduate students and two undergraduates) and lines 16-18 (at least one undergraduate and at least one graduate or professional student) have conflicting language, so the background needs to be revised to reflect the wording in the proposal. Chair Gilmore will revise the background language.

Friedman noted his suggestion from the last meeting to revise the draft proposal to list the membership first followed by how the membership is elected. He will revise the draft proposal to incorporate this revision.

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 4 of the draft proposal.

Ruud made a motion to approve the proposal to be presented for first reading at the April 4 Senate meeting. The motion was seconded. SP approved the proposal via roll call vote.

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

No: None

Abstain: Friedman

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

No new discussion.

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

SP reviewed revision 5 of the draft proposal. SP noted that revisions are needed to provide more clarity regarding the responsibility of the Senate Executive Committee (SEC) and the rights of individual senators to submit an item for inclusion on the Senate agenda.

Maher suggested to retain the authority by SEC to recommend review of an item by a Senate committee, but to remove the authority to defer for one Senate meeting. Tolliver commented that the ability to determine that a proposed item should receive additional input prior to placement on the Senate agenda appears to be within the purview of SEC.

Friedman noted that SP needs to determine the concept to implement. He provided an example concept:

A senator has the right to offer an item for consideration from the Senate floor without having to go through too many hoops and without being indefinitely postponed. SEC should have the authority to send the item to one or more committees (internal or external to the Senate) to report in not more than a month and, in such a way, that it does not go past the end of the academic year.

Chair Gilmore noted that the wording must be clear to a senator so they know what they can expect when they submit an item to the SEC for inclusion on the Senate agenda.

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

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 2 of the draft proposal.

Chair Gilmore noted that SP previously discussed whether “arrest record” or “arrest record status” is the preferred wording. He commented that “arrest record” is the wording used in the change to the State of Illinois Human Rights Act. Zehr will follow-up on the preferred wording.

Friedman made a motion to approve the proposal to be presented for first reading at the April 4 Senate meeting. The motion was seconded. SP approved the proposal via roll call vote.

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

No: None

Abstain: None

VI. NEW BUSINESS

SP.22.05, Revision to the Bylaws, Part D.20.b – Committee on University Student Life SP received a revision to the Bylaws from the Senate Committee on University Student Life to correct the office to nominate the international student for the committee.

SP revised the wording regarding the student body head ex officio member to provide clarity.

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

SP.22.06, Revision to the Bylaws, Part D.5.b – Committee on Campus Operations SP received a revision to the Bylaws from the Senate Committee on Campus Operations to add the Vice Chancellor for Administration and Operations as an ex officio member.

Ruud made a motion to approve the proposal to be presented for approval at the April Senate meeting. The motion was seconded. SP approved the proposal via roll call vote.

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

No: None

Abstain: None

VII. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 am.

https://uofi.app.box.com/v/USSP/file/941100918492