University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Senate

XSR.00.02
April 24, 2000

Fifth Senate Review Commission
(Final;Action)

XSR.00.02 Resolution of the Fifth Senate Review Commission

WHEREAS, the Fifth Senate Review Commission was charged with making recommendations on ways to increase participation in the Senate and on ways to increase the credibility of the Senate;

WHEREAS, the Fifth Senate Review Commission surveyed all Senators for their views and suggestions and discussed the issues of participation and credibility with a wide variety of individuals ranging from fellow faculty members and students to the Chancellor;

WHEREAS, the Fifth Senate Review Commission is convinced that the only ways to increase participation in the Senate and to increase the credibility of the Senate is through broader direct participation by faculty and students in university governance activities, by more direct involvement of faculty and students in the Senate processes themselves, and by generally creating a more open and democratic approach to governance.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the UIUC Senate adopt and implement the following recommendations of the Fifth Senate Review Commission:

1. Education policy as interpreted by the Faculty, the Students, and the Senate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is defined as ~~all~~ relevant matters pertaining to or related to the mission of the University, namely "Teaching, Research, and Public Service" and encompasses all university related activities of the faculty and students of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This recommendation is made with the full understanding and acknowledgement that the Senate's role in university shared governance in educational policy is limited by the Illinois Constitution and appropriate Illinois statutes, and administrative rules and regulations.

2. The Senate will elect a special (i.e. ad hoc) committee that will write bylaws and rules for the Faculty of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to implement these recommendations when adopted.

3. The Senate will elect a special (i.e. ad hoc) committee that will write bylaws and rules for the Students of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to implement these recommendations when adopted.

4. Article II, Sec. 1. d. of the Senate Constitution, allowing retired academic staff with the title of emeritus to be eligible in the electorate of the faculty, be removed.

5. Academic deans (i.e. deans of colleges, the dean of the Graduate College, and the university librarian) shall be full members of the Senate, with the same rights, responsibilities, and privileges as other Senate members.

6. The name of the Senate Council shall be changed to Senate Executive Committee.

7. That the number of Standing Committees of the Senate be limited to twelve (12).

8. The Senate Executive Committee shall consist of (a) a chair and vice chair elected by the Faculty, (b) the chairs of the twelve (12) Standing Committees of the Senate, (c) eight (8) members elected at large by and from the Faculty, (d) four (4) members elected by and from the Students, and (e) a dean elected by the academic Council of Deans, for a total of twenty seven (27) members.

9. Faculty shall elect twelve (12) members of the Committee on Committees on an at large basis. The term of office of faculty members shall be three (3) years, with four (4) members elected each year. Immediate reelection of faculty members is not possible. Student senators shall elect three (3) students each year from among the student Senators to be members of the Committee on Committees. Reelection of student members is possible.

10. Each year the newly elected Senate shall meet at a convenient time and place shortly prior to the end of the spring semester in order to organize itself and to begin its business. In addition, the current and incoming chair of the Senate Executive Committee shall arrange for and orientation for both new and continuing members of the Senate.

11. A reward structure should be developed that encourages participation in the Senate and its committees and which provides positive incentives for Senate involvement and leadership.

12. The Senate should meet in a different locale, which is more conducive to deliberation and discussion.

AND, BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the attached Final Report of the Fifth Senate Review Commission be incorporated into this resolution as providing the rationale, intent, and guidance of the Fifth Senate Review Commission in making these recommendations and in their further implementation.