Grundy Reporter

University of Illinois System Senate Executive Committee met April 18.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Present: Chair Rob Kar, Vice-Chair John Dallesasse, Nicholas Burbules, Richard Gegg, Shawn Gilmore, Kim Graber, Gay Miller, Linda Moorhouse, JJ Pionke, Chaya Sandler, Helga Varden

Ex officio: Robert Jones (Chancellor)

Absent: Nicole Arnold, Mike Bohlmann, Prasanta Kalita, Dana Yun

Guests: William Bernhard (Executive Vice Provost for Academic Affairs), Stacey Lowery Bretz (Fellow, American Council on Education), Azucena Gama (Reporter, Daily Illini), Sean Garrick (Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion), Chris Harris (Senior Director of Strategic Communications, Public Affairs), Robin Kaler (Associate Chancellor for Public Affairs), Angela Lyons (Chair, Senate Committee on Faculty & Academic Staff Benefits), Susan Martinis (Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation), Kristin McMurray (Assistant Vice Chancellor Administration and Operations), Sharon Reynolds (Associate Provost for Faculty Employee Relations), Christopher Span (Chief of Staff & Associate Chancellor for Administration and PreK 12 Initiatives), Elizabeth Tsukahara (Associate Director for Communications, OVDCEI)

I. CALL TO ORDER

A regular meeting of the Senate Executive Committee (SEC) was called to order at 3:10 pm with Chair Kar presiding.

II. PUBLIC COMMENT

No requests received.

III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes of the March 28, 2022 meeting were approved as distributed by roll call vote.

Yes: Kar, Dallesasse, Burbules, Gegg, Gilmore, Miller, Moorhouse, Sandler, Varden

No: None

Abstain: None

IV. CHAIR’S REMARKS

Chair Kar noted that this is the last SEC meeting where Senate agendas will be set. However, there will be two or three additional meetings after the spring semester ends.

Kar thanked everyone for their service. Kar reported that he met with individuals from the Office of University Audits to discuss closing the remaining items from the 2018 governance audit. Most recommendations have been completed. There are a couple that are partially implemented in the auditors’ opinion, and one that they understand will not be approved by the Senate until the fall. This recommendation was regarding the review and implementation of items from the periodic review of the Senate. A couple of the items had components that applied the Office of the Provost, and the auditors will follow-up with that office.

Gilmore asked if any additional documents will be issued to the Senate. Kar replied that a final report will be issued to the Audit, Budget, Finance, and Facilities committee of the Board of the Trustees.

V. CHANCELLOR’S REMARKS

Chancellor Jones encouraged everyone to navigate these last weeks of the semester in a way to take care of yourself, your family, and others. Also, to keep a lookout for students that might be struggling and point them in the direction of the many resources available.

Jones looks forward to once again holding commencement and commencement weekend events face-to-face. Jones hopes everyone can finish the semester with a strong body, mind, and spirit.

SEC member asked no questions of the Chancellor.

VI. OLD BUSINESS

SC.21.05, Review of Senate Committees in Response to the 2018 Governance Audit Kar noted that one item the auditors felt was not fully implemented was making sure all of the Bylaws language is consistent with statutory authorization. This process included asking each committee to review their own Bylaws. Then a subcommittee of the SEC was charged with further reviewing the Bylaws language. There is a little work left from SEC subcommittee recommendations.

Gilmore noted that over the last two years, the Senate has approved revisions to almost all the Senate committees’ Bylaws. Gilmore also noted that the Senate and the auditors will probably never completely agree on every recommendation that is made. However, an extensive amount of work did go into revising the Bylaws.

SC.22.09, Proposal to Establish the Senate Committee on Research Policy Gilmore reported that the SEC subcommittee recommended the SEC Chair and Vice Chair meet with individuals from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation (OVCRI). Kar suggested that there be succession planning or a memo sent to the new SEC that will begin serving in the fall so this item continues to be worked on. Kar also suggested that he, as the SEC Chair, and Dallesasse as the Vice-Chair meet with the subcommittee and possibly invite the OVCRI to the last SEC meeting in July if needed.

SC.22.10, Letters of Service

Burbules reported that the subcommittee met earlier today. These letters of service are worthless if the department heads, deans, or the promotion and tenure committee that receives them do not value and respect the service contributions. The subcommittee would ask that the Chancellor and the Provost communicate with the colleges and departments that these letters be respected and valued.

Burbules also informed SEC that the subcommittee would recommend a different vocabulary around service and leadership. These are leadership positions that work to develop policy, interact with upper-level administrators, and influence high level decisions. Calling it service is not a true account of what people are doing.

Other questions that the subcommittee discussed are who the letters should come from, and which positions merit this in-depth review. Chairing certain committees are major positions. Compensation for these positions was also discussed. There are different expectations surrounding service for tenure track faculty and specialized faculty. These letters of service might need to be done on a case-by-case basis. The subcommittee plans to meet at least once more.

Gilmore reminded SEC that the Senate Committee on University Statutes and Senate Procedures (SP) created SC.20.12 to specifically address the compensation of certain chairs. SP recommends adding the SP chair to those that receive compensation. It seems compensation has varied over the years, at least for the SEC Chair, depending on the person holding the position.

Graber suggested featuring these individuals more publicly such as on the Illinois homepage like others that are recognized for things like receiving awards. Kaler said she and her office would be more than happy to share items on the Illinois homepage if the information is provided to her office.

SC.23.01, Election of Faculty Members to the 2022-2023 Committee on Committees SC.23.02, Election of Student Members to the 2022-2023 Committee on Committees Moorhouse reported that the subcommittee met and is reaching out to senators for consent to serve and statements of interest. Moorhouse hopes to have all the nominations submitted to the Office of the Senate by this Friday.

EQ.21.01, Resolution on the Revised Diversity Statement

Pionke reported that the Senate Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (EQ) met last Friday and did more word smithing on the Resolution. Pionke indicated that he would send the most recent draft to the Office of the Provost, the Office of the Chancellor, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (OVCDEI), and to the Office of University Counsel for additional feedback. Pionke hopes to receive feedback from those offices over the summer so that a final Resolution can be considered by the Senate in the fall.

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

Gilmore reported that the Senate Committee on University Statutes and Senate Procedures (SP) sent questions about the language surrounding academic freedom and the proposed changes to the definition of faculty to the Council of Academic Professionals (CAP) and the Senate Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure (AF). SP is waiting for feedback from these two bodies.

VII. NEW BUSINESS

Meeting Modality: April 25 Senate Meeting and May 2 Senate Elections & Organizational Meeting

Kar requested that SEC vote to continue meeting remotely or return to in-person meetings. Kar noted that there does not seem to be a demand to return to in-person meetings with such a large group as the Senate.

The motion to hold the April 25 and May 2 Senate meetings remotely was approved by roll call vote.

Yes: Kar, Dallesasse, Burbules, Gegg, Gilmore, Graber, Miller, Moorhouse, Pionke, Sandler, Varden

No: None

Abstain: None

SC.22.12, 2022-2023 Senate and Senate Executive Committee (SEC) Meeting Schedule After a short discussion, the September SEC/Senate meetings were moved from September 19/26 to September 12/19. Kar made a motion to approve SC.22.12 as amended. The motion was seconded and SC.22.12 was approved as amended by roll call vote.

Yes: Kar, Dallesasse, Burbules, Gegg, Gilmore, Graber, Miller, Moorhouse, Sandler, Varden

No: None

Abstain: None

Setting of the Senate Meeting Agenda: April 25, 2022

The April 25, 2022 Senate meeting agenda was approved as amended by roll call vote.

Yes: Kar, Dallesasse, Burbules, Gilmore, Graber, Miller, Moorhouse, Pionke, Sandler, Varden

No: None

Abstain: None

Setting of the 2022-23 Senate Elections & Organizational Meeting Agenda: May 2, 2022

The May 2, 2022 Senate Elections & Organizational Meeting agenda was approved as distributed by roll call vote.

Yes: Kar, Dallesasse, Burbules, Gilmore, Graber, Miller, Moorhouse, Pionke, Sandler, Varden

No: None

Abstain: None

VIII. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 pm.

https://uofi.app.box.com/v/SenateExecutiveCommittee/file/969592097148