GP.04.03
April 26, 2004
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
URBANA-CHAMPAIGN SENATE
Committee on General University Policy
GP.04.03 Annual Report for 2003-2004
(final- Information)
The Senate General University
Policy Committee (GUP) is responsible for studying, reporting and making
recommendations to the Senate concerning general University policy in broad
terms. The following report summarizes the activities of GUP during the
2003-2004 academic year. GUP met eight times (September 10, October 22,
November 19, January 21, February 18, March 10, April 7, and April 21).
A. Items that were completed by
the committee:
GP.01.06 Evaluation of
Ability to Work Policy
GUP worked with the Committee on
Academic Freedom and Tenure last spring and reached agreement on approval of
the policy. Since this was not done in time for it to be sent to the Senate
for approval last spring, the Senate Executive Committee approved the policy
on behalf of the Senate in July with the identical language approved by the
other two campus Senates. While the policy then appeared to be ready for
adoption, University Legal Counsel was asked to review it, and expressed
certain concerns about the scope of the policy.
Restrictions of that scope were suggested, and were sent back to the campuses with a request that they be reviewed for their acceptability. SEC referred the matter back to GUP, which considered the revisions to be acceptable and to require no further Senate action, and recommended that they be presented as such to the Senate as an informational item, in the hope and expectation that all three Senates will concur in the revised language, and that the matter will at long last be settled.
GP.04.01 Resolution on the
Selection of Higher Administrative Officers
GUP developed a resolution calling
for the involvement of consultative committees similar to those that have been
used in recent presidential and chancellorial searches in any such searches
that may be conducted at this time or in the future.
This resolution was
developed prior to the announcement of President Stukel�s decision to retire
from the University Presidency, and of Chancellor Cantor�s decision to resign
her office, but became applicable soon thereafter. It was adopted by the
University Senates Conference immediately upon the former announcement, and
was endorsed by the Senate Executive Committee, which joined with GUP in
submitting it to the Senate for adoption. It was adopted by the Senate at its
February meeting.
B. Items that are under continuing
consideration:
GP.03.02 Non-Tenure-Track
Faculty Policy
GUP had some discussion of this
issue previously, and discussed it further early in the year, but decided to
wait to take it up again until seeing what the Senate University Statutes and
Senate Procedures Committee (USSP) would propose along these lines. GUP
anticipates coordinating with USSP in developing a proposal to bring to the
Senate during the coming academic year.
GP.03.06 Review of
University Administrative Structure
GUP had a number of discussions
relating to concerns about changes in administrative structures in the
University and on the campus that might be made in consequence of mandated
administrative budget reductions or for other reasons that could have little
to do with what would be in the best interests of the campus. It intends to
remain attentive to any such moves that might be made.
GP.04.02 Proposed
Guidelines for Review of Units
GUP has taken up the question of
whether there ought to be a campus policy with respect to the review of
academic departments and other campus units that function in the manner of
departments. This question had been raised some years ago, but had been set
aside while the issue of faculty review policy was addressed. A proposal to
adopt a policy along the lines of the report of a committee appointed by
Provost Herman and chaired by Leigh Estabrook in 1999 has been developed, and
is expected to be presented to the Senate later this spring or next fall.
C. Items that are being monitored
by the committee:
GP.01.01 UI-Integrate (UI 2)
GP.02.01 UIUCnet Funding
Plan
General University Policy
Richard Schacht,
Chair
R. Linn Belford
Clifton Brown
George Gross
Carol Livingstone
Alex Longan
Mark Nattier
Joanne Vining
David Swanson,
Ex officio