Committee on Academic
Freedom and Tenure
(Final - Information)
AF.05.01
2004-2005 Annual Report
The Senate
Bylaws provide for a standing Committee on Academic Freedom
and Tenure (AFT),
whose investigative duties include possible infringement of academic freedom,
and allegations of violations of the role of faculty in governance
as
specified
in the
University Statutes and unit bylaws.
As appropriate, the Committee shall conduct hearings, and shall submit
recommendations and reports to the Chancellor and the Senate. The following is
a summary of issues considered by the Committee during the 2004-2005 academic
year.
Promotion and Tenure Questionnaires.
Annually since 1981, AFT has received for examination the Promotions and Tenure
(P&T) Questionnaires from the Office of the Provost. Last year, the Provost’s
Office asked the Committee to consider if academic units needed to continue to
submit their P&T procedures each year. AFT recommended that a complete database
(including each campus academic unit) of P&T procedures be assembled and posted
on a website administered by the Provost’s Office. Once this is established,
units only need to update their procedures when changes have been made to these
procedures.
Sloan Grant.
At the request of a senator, the Committee investigated the possible
implications of components of this Grant for UIS faculty, in particular, the
provision that all faculty must teach at least one on-line course each year.
The Committee was satisfied with the response from UIS faculty that this Grant
includes the requirement that a few degree programs be placed online within
three years, but with no mandate for individual faculty.
Statutory Revisions.The Committee unanimously endorsed SP.01.04, statutory revisions which seek to
clarify the process for amending the
University Statutes. This item is
scheduled to be voted upon at the April 25, 2005, UIUC Senate meeting.
Use of University facilities to promote political activity.
The Committee responded to a letter from then Associate Chancellor Larry Mann on
the question of private use of campus facilities, internet facilities in
particular. The campus formulated a policy stating that the use of University
internet facilities to promote political activities is prohibited.
Complaints.As of this writing, the Committee has no open investigations but received a
couple of inquiries during this academic year. Faculty should be aware that the
AFT Committee is available for informal consulting at any time.
Senate Committee on
Academic Freedom and Tenure
Peter Loeb, Chair
Clifton Brown
Elizabeth Hearne
John Kindt
Robert Rich
Lynne Rudasill
H. Fred Troutt
