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2002-03 USSP Annual Report

SP.03.10

April 28, 2003

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

URBANA-CHAMPAIGN SENATE

Committee on University Statutes and Senate Procedures

SP.03.10 Annual Report for 2002-2003

(Final; Information)

Eighteen items were considered by the Committee on University Statutes and Senate Procedures (USSP) this year, of which seven were held over from previous years, and one is this report. As of the date of writing this report (prior to the April 28, 2003 meeting of the Senate), the status of these items is as follows:

A. Items passed by the Senate.

SP.02.08 Proposed Revisions to the Statutes, Article II, Section 5 – Professional Advisory Committee

The Professional Advisory Committee (PAC) requested changing its name to Council of Academic Professionals (CAP) to more clearly describe the group represented (academic professionals) and the current function of the group. In reviewing this matter, USSP found that the groups that perform the function of the PAC on the UIS and UIC campuses call themselves the Academic Professional Advisory Committee. USSP recommended language to allow each campus to name the committee which performs the statutory function of the PAC to control the name. The Senate approved the proposal on September 30, 2002.

SP.03.01 2002-2003 Urbana-Champaign Senate Membership

This report to the organizational meeting listed the elected members of the new Senate. It was adopted by the new Senate on April 22, 2002.

SP.03.03 Revisions to the Bylaws, Part E, Section 2 – Faculty Advisory Committee

At its July 18, 2002 meeting, the Board of Trustees passed a revision to the Statutes allowing each campus to determine eligibility for membership on its Faculty Advisory Committee (FAC). The UIUC FAC proposed membership be limited to tenured professors. USSP recommended Part E (Governing and Advisory Bodies) of the Bylaws as an appropriate place for campus policy on this matter. The Senate approved the proposal on November 4, 2002.

SP.03.06 Revisions to the Bylaws, Part D.1(b) – Senate Executive Committee, Membership

The Report of the Fifth Senate Review Commission recommended a change in the composition and election procedure of the Senate Executive Committee (SEC). USSP identified three possible options:

1. Include the chairs of all Senate committees as members of SEC.

2. Include the chairs of four key Senate committees (Educational Policy, General University Policy, Committee on Committees, and USSP), with the Senate selecting three other committee chairs to be members of SEC.

3. The status quo, with the seven faculty members of the SEC elected by and from among the faculty chairs of the Senate committees.

The results of the poll resulted in favor of option #2 with 46% of the vote. USSP recommended option #2 with the addition of the chair of the Information Technology Committee (IT) proposed for permanent membership on SEC due to the critical nature of the topics under the purview of IT. The Senate approved the proposal on February 17, 2003.

SP.03.07 Housekeeping Revisions to the Bylaws Revising Senate Council to Senate Executive Committee

SP.02.04 (Revisions to the Bylaws Part D.1 – Senate Council) was approved by the Senate on December 3, 2001, and changed the title of “Senate Council” to “Senate Executive Committee” to more closely reflect the function of the committee. USSP proposed housekeeping revisions to the Bylaws to reflect that name change. The Senate approved the proposal on November 4, 2002.

SP.03.08 Housekeeping Revisions to the Standing Rules Revising Senate Council to Senate Executive Committee

SP.02.04 (Revisions to the Bylaws Part D.1 – Senate Council) was approved by the Senate on December 3, 2001, and changed the title of “Senate Council” to “Senate Executive Committee” to more closely reflect the function of the committee. USSP proposed housekeeping revisions to the Standing Rules to reflect that name change. The Senate approved the proposal on November 4, 2002.

B. Items presented to the Senate for information.

SP.03.02 Faculty and Student Electorate and Senator Distribution

This report provided a statistical analysis of the membership of the new Senate. It was reported to the organizational meeting on April 22, 2002.

C. Items scheduled for Senate action at the April 28, 2003 meeting.

SP.03.04 Procedures to Implement Changes to the Statutes Related to Severe Sanctions Other Than Dismissal for Cause

While USSP provided recommendations for these procedures, the General University Policy Committee (GUP) was charged with taking the lead on this proposal. Therefore, this item is being presented to Senate as a GUP proposal (GP.03.03).

D. Items removed from the Committee agenda without being presented to the Senate.

SP.97.06 Amendment to the Statutes, Article IX Proposing a New Section 11 Re: Definition of Cause, a New Section 12 Re: Progressive Response, a New Section 13 Re: Sanctions, and a New Section 14 Re: Dismissal for Cause

USSP determined this issue had evolved into SP.03.09 (Revisions to the Statutes Re: Severe Sanctions for Academic Staff), so it was dropped from the agenda.

SP.03.05 Resolution to Change the Procedures for Running Senate Meetings re: Motions and Amendments

New technology was added at Foellinger Auditorium making it possible for amendments to be put on a screen for easier review, more clarity on the exact wording and less confusion during the Senate meetings. There was a brief presentation at the September 30 Senate meeting to show Senators how the new procedures work.

SP.03.11 Appointment of 2003-04 Senate Parliamentarians

This has been accomplished. The parliamentarians are Kenneth Andersen, H. George Friedman, and Gay Miller.

E. Items to be carried over to 2003-2004.

SP.99.06 Editorial Revisions to the Bylaws

In April of 1998, USSP presented editorial changes and updates of the Statutes to the Senate. In an effort to make all Senate documents uniform, USSP will review the Bylaws.

SP.00.06 Multi-Year Contracts for Full-Time Non-Tenure Track Academic Staff

On April 24, 2000, USSP presented a proposal to the Senate that would revise the Statutes to permit multi-year contracts for non-tenured faculty as a means for providing greater stability both for the affected academic staff and for their employing departments. The Senate passed a motion to postpone action indefinitely.

SP.01.04 Revision to the Statutes, Article XIII, Section 8.a – General Provisions, Amendments

This item was proposed by a Senator. Amendments to the Statutes usually arise in one of the Senates. After a proposed amendment has passed a Senate it is sent to the University Senates Conference (USC) which sends the proposal to the other campus Senates. After a proposed amendment has passed all Senates it is made uniform as to text by USC and then passed on to the President for transmission to the Board of Trustees. It is proposed that when the Senates do not concur as to its text, then USC shall endeavor to promote agreement of the Senates and that a proposed amendment cannot be forwarded to the President until agreement by the Senates has been reached. USSP continues to study the question and need for an amendment.

SP.02.03 Substitute Motion Bylaws Language from SP.96.03

At its March 19, 2001, meeting, the Senate referred the approved substitute motion from SP.96.03 (Formation of a New Senate Committee on Research Policy, Bylaws, Part D.18) to USSP with instructions to prepare language to insert provisions of this motion into the Senate Bylaws. USSP continues to discuss this Bylaws revision.

SP.02.06 Revision to the Standing Rules, Section 11 – Election of a Senate Council Member from the Committee on the University Senates Conference

The Report of the ad hoc Committee on the Implementation of the Report of the Fifth Senate Review Commission recommended that the nine University Senates Conference representatives from UIUC elect their own representative to the Senate Executive Committee. USSP continues to discuss this recommendation.

SP.03.09 Revisions to the Statutes Re: Severe Sanctions for Academic Staff

USSP has drafted a revision to the Statutes, Article IX, Section 6 extending the sanctions less than dismissal to all academic staff. Currently, the Statutes apply to tenure-track faculty only.



University Statutes and Senate Procedures
Joseph Finnerty, Chair
Karen Chapman-Novakofski
Nick Dolce
H. George Friedman
Vera V. Mainz
Zainab Mirza
David Sisson
Charles Tabb
Robert C. Damrau, ex officio
Thomas Eakman, Observer
Kathleen Pecknold, ex officio