SP.00.05
November 1, 1999

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
URBANA-CHAMPAIGN SENATE

University Statutes and Senate Procedures
(Second Reading;Action)

SP.00.05 Proposed Revisions to the Statutes, Article II, Section 4 - Faculty Advisory Committee

BACKGROUND

Under current policy, probationary faculty members may be nominated for election to the Faculty Advisory Committee (FAC). Although a wide range of issues confront the committee each year, review of tenure decisions customarily occupies much of the committee's agenda. FAC has proposed that participation of non-tenured faculty in many committee deliberations, especially in delicate cases concerning tenure issues, is not in keeping with campus policy.

Both the Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure (AFT) and the Committee on General University Policy (GUP) support this recommendation. In particular it was stated that "the AFT Committee was in general agreement that the workload and primary subject matter (i.e., promotion and tenure issues) of the FAC make it inadvisable for non-tenured faculty to serve on the FAC" and "On balance, therefore, GUP concurs with FAC in its recommendation."

RECOMMENDATIONS

The Senate Committee on University Statutes and Senate Procedures recommends approval of the following revisions to the Statutes, Article II, Section 4. Text to be deleted is in [square brackets] and text to be added is underscored.

PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE STATUTES, ARTICLE II, SECTION 4

Faculty advice and recommendations on University governance are traditionally provided to the administration through standing and ad hoc committees and representation in the senate. In addition, at each campus the faculty shall elect a Faculty Advisory Committee of nine members from the tenured faculty, three of whom shall be elected each year for three-year terms commencing on the first day of the academic year after their election.

Any tenured member of the Faculty Advisory Committee electorate shall be eligible for membership on the committee except those who hold an administrative appointment. Any eligible person…

UNIVERSITY STATUTES AND SENATE PROCEDURES
Robert Fossum, Chair
Humza Durrani
H. George Friedman
Harry H. Hilton
John W. Kindt
Amit Mathur
Julian Palmore
Robert C. Damrau, ex officio
Thomas M. Eakman, Observer
C. K. Gunsalus, ex officio (designee)
Vera V. Mainz (PAC Liaison)