Grundy Reporter

University of Illinois System Senate Committee on General University Policy met April 11.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Present: Chair Nicholas Burbules, Anustup Basu, Joanne Kaczmarek, Melissa Madsen, Bruce Rosenstock, Joyce Tolliver, Michael Ward

Ex officio: William Bernhard, Sharon Reynolds, Deborah Stone

Absent: Jacob Chimack, Shelby Pichla-Thompson

I. CALL TO ORDER

A regular meeting of the Senate Committee on General University Policy (GP) was called to order at 11:00 am with Chair Burbules presiding.

II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes of the March 21, 2022 meeting were approved as distributed by roll call vote.

Yes: Basu, Burbules, Kaczmarek, Tolliver, Ward

No: None

Abstain: None

III. PUBLIC COMMENT

No requests received.

IV. CHAIR’S REMARKS

Chair Burbules reminded GP members that the last meeting of the semester is scheduled for May 2.

V. OLD BUSINESS

GP.22.04, Guidelines on Departmental Statements

Chair Burbules reported that the document was presented to the Senate on April 4. The Senate referred the document to the Senate Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure (AF) for review and feedback. Chair Burbules noted that AF is currently involved in an Article X hearing so may not have a response until the fall semester.

Rosenstock shared that he contacted David Forsyth, Chair of AF, to discuss the document and possibly concerns from AF.

Tolliver shared the hope that AF will focus on the GP document as it is and suggest any recommended revisions instead of drafting an entirely new document.

Bernhard commented that the Council of Deans met last week and the document was discussed. He noted that the document was well received; however, the Deans had questions regarding more explicit guidelines for Executive Officers (EOs) to manage the process. Bernhard also noted that there were questions on pending legislation and if it will make a difference for unit.

Bernhard commented that the discussion by Chancellor Jones and Provost Cangellaris at the Council of Deans meeting was the intention to allow the Senate process to proceed which will allow AF to provide feedback. He noted that the issue will pause until the Senate has delivered its input.

Chair Burbules asked Bernhard to forward him the issues identified by the Council of Deans so it can be determined if the document can be improved while waiting to received feedback from AF.

GP.07.04, Multi-Year Contracts Policy and Implementation

GP continued its discussion regarding the proposal to revise the Statutes, Article X, Section 1a. Chair Burbules commented that the proposal would revise the Statutes to remove the requirement that there be a ceiling on the number of multi-year contracts.

GP had previously discussed that a better focus would be the overall ratio on the number of tenure track faculty to non-tenure track faculty. Each campus may have a different targeted ratio that reflects its academic mission. Chair Burbules commented that each campus would develop a process to determine the appropriate ratio as well as a consultative process to review the ratio periodically.

Chair Burbules noted the need to have a proposed alternative to the current ceiling before forwarding the recommendation to revise the Statutes.

Stone commented that a comparison of FTEs is the most appropriate.

Chair Burbules commented that a series of local/unit decisions can have a cumulative impact on the campus that was not intended.

Tolliver commented that the rationale to monitor the ratio should be made explicit. Units will need to understand any consequences of a higher number of non-tenure track faculty with or without multi-year contracts and why the University should be concerned with the proportion of tenure track faculty to non-tenure track faculty.

Rosenstock noted that the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has a committee that provides input to the Dean on hiring and possible impacts. He expressed uncertainty how GP can recommend a process that would work in all units. Chair Burbules responded that the recommendation would be a process of review.

Stone commented that it may be better to look at macro levels and start to build some trending. She noted that GP should look at the trend over time and do benchmarking in similar institutions to determine if the trend line is appropriate and trending in an acceptable way.

Tolliver commented that GP may not be able to determine a set of criteria to use when hiring, but GP needs to explain why the ratio matters. GP has to frame the question and explain the consequences.

Bernhard noted agreement with the idea of a process that includes data with benchmarking. He suggested an annual presentation to GP on a set of indicators that presents a broader picture of the trends of the faculty as a whole.

Reynolds noted that the University is also constrained by bargaining agreements. She also noted that the teaching demand increases for some units require the hiring of additional specialized faculty.

Stone suggested that, due to the length of time for approval of a Statutes revision, GP may want to start tracking the data. Bernhard agreed and offered to share the data with GP next fall.

Chair Burbules will revise the draft document for further discussion at the next meeting.

GP.22.02, Campus Administrative Manual Reporting Certain Forms of Misconduct to Research Sponsors Policy

Chair Burbules commented that GP provided feedback on the policy and has completed its business with this issue, so it will be removed from the agenda.

GP.21.01, Intellectual Property in Relation to Course Materials

Bernhard commented that the document is being revised based on concerns raised by GP and also concerns raised by the Deans. The updated document will be shared with GP for additional review.

GP.15.01, Statement on Administrative Hiring Practices

Bernhard commented that the feedback received from GP will be included in the revision to Provost Communication #3: Appointments of Faculty, Specialized Faculty, and Academic Professionals that will occur in the fall semester.

GP.21.16, Revision to Provost Communication #27: Shared Governance for Academic Units – Unit Bylaws

Bernhard commented that clarification on where a unit should post its bylaws has been added to Provost Communication #27:

Unit bylaws are readily available to everyone in the unit (e.g., distributed to new faculty), made accessible to the campus community and public (e.g., prominently posted on the website), and are followed conscientiously.

Bernhard also commented that the issue as to who is responsible to ensure that unit bylaws are consistent with higher level governing documents is currently under discussion.

GP.15.08, Tenure Review

No new discussion.

GP.20.03, Proposed Revisions to the Statutes, Articles IX and X – Administrative Leave No new discussion.

GP.21.11, Guidelines for Faculty Engagement

No new discussion.

VI. NEW BUSINESS

GP.22.06, Revision to Provost Communication #26: Promotion to Teaching, Research, or Clinical Associate or Full Professor Titles

Bernhard commented that the review and revisions of Provost Communication #26 will begin during the fall semester, along with the review and revision of Provost Communication #25: Employment Guidelines for Specialized Faculty Holding Non Tenure System Positions. GP will be included as a stakeholder in the review of the suggested revisions.

Chair suggested renaming the item to include Provost Communication #25. GP agreed with this suggestion.

GP.22.07, Review of UIUC’s Procedures for Adjudicating Allegations of Misconduct in Research and Publication

GP was asked by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation to review the draft of UIUC’s Procedures for Adjudicating Allegations of Misconduct in Research and Publication. Chair Burbules noted the summary of ten significant updates. GP will review the documents for discussion at the next meeting.

GP.22.08, 2021-2022 Annual Report of the Senate Committee on General University Policy

Copies of the draft annual report were distributed to the committee. Chair Burbules asked GP to send feedback to him. GP will discuss the draft annual report further at the next meeting.

VII. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 12:15 pm.

https://uofi.app.box.com/v/GeneralUniversityPolicy/file/952869722474