Illinois State Senate Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure met Oct. 13.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
Present: Chair David Forsyth, Maria Chu, Yiran Gao, William Maher, Charles Roseman, Stephanie Sanders-Smith, Jiahao Zhang
Absent: Rashad Abdel-Khalik, Kevin McSweeney, Ann Reisner, Landria Seals Green
A regular meeting of the Senate Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure (AF) was called to order at 9:00 am with Chair Forsyth presiding.
I. A PPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the September 15, 2022 meeting were approved as amended by roll call vote.
Yes: Chu, Forsyth, Gao, Roseman, Sanders-Smith, Zhang
No: None
Abstain: None
II. PUBLIC C OMMENT
No requests received.
III. C HAIR ’ S REMARKS
Chair Forsyth reported that the report for the Article X hearing that was held by the committee last year was delivered to President Killeen. The Office of the Provost has contacted Chair Forsyth regarding concerns AF had with the hearing the process. Chair Forsyth will meet with Bill Bernhard, Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost, to discuss the concerns. He will report back following that meeting.
IV. O LD BUSINESS
AF.20.01, Review of the Bylaws, Part D.2 – Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure
No new discussion.
AF.20.03, Review of the Statutes, Article IX, Section 6 – Severe Sanctions Other Than Dismissal for Cause for Members of the Faculty
No new discussion.
AF.22.04, Units and Positions on Political Issues
AF reviewed and discussed revisions to the draft document.
Roseman made a motion to approve the document and forward it to the Senate Executive Committee and the Senate Committee on General University Policy pending final email review. The motion was seconded. AF approved the document via roll call vote.
Yes: Chu, Forsyth, Gao, Maher, Roseman, Sanders-Smith, Zhang
No: None
Abstain: None
AF.22.05, Review of the Statutes (USC ST-83)
Chair Forsyth reported that he received feedback from a committee member with concerns that the current Statutes allows academic freedom too broadly. Chair Forsyth noted that AF’s position is that any revision to academic freedom should be widely discussed and the current proposed revisions have been proposed without any discussion.
AF reviewed and discussed the draft response to the Senate Committee on University Statutes and Senate Procedures (SP).
Roseman made a motion to approve the document and forward it to SP. The motion was seconded. AF approved the document via roll call vote.
Yes: Chu, Forsyth, Gao, Roseman, Sanders-Smith, Zhang
No: None
Abstain: None
V. N EW BUSINESS
AF.23.01, Statement of Procedures for Article X Hearing
Chair Forsyth commented that Article X hearings are not held often so no precedent has been determined. The Statutes allow AF to make rules for the hearing, so the committee can create a record of the process/rules that were followed for the Article X hearing that was conducted last year. The importance for all participants in a hearing to understand the process was noted.
Chair Forsyth gave an overview of the draft document. He asked AF members to review the draft document and send any suggested revisions to him.
Chair Forsyth will update the draft document for further review and discussion at the next meeting.
VI. A DJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 10:10 am
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