SP.06.14
April 24, 2006

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
URBANA-CHAMPAIGN SENATE

Committee on University Statutes and Senate Procedures
SP.06.14 Annual Report for 2005-2006
(Final; Information)

In addition to this report, the Committee on University Statutes and Senate Procedures (USSP) considered eighteen items this year including five held over from previous years. As of the date of writing this report (prior to the April 24, 2006 meeting of the Senate), the status of these items is as follows:

A. Items passed by the Senate.

SP.05.05 Revision to the Bylaws, Part E.1(c)3 – Athletic Board, Membership

USSP proposed revisions to the Bylaws to reflect the merger of the Illinois Student Government and the Student Senate Caucus, based on consultation with the Illinois Student Senate. The Senate approved the proposal on October 24, 2005.

SP.05.07 Revision to the Statutes, Article IX, Section 11

The UIUC Council of Academic Professionals asked the Senate Executive Committee to clarify the employment policies applicable to academic professionals (APs) who work at the University Administration level. USSP proposed revisions to the Statutes so employment policies for those APs shall be those of the campus at which their principal office is located. The Senate approved the proposal on September 19, 2005.

SP.06.02 2005-2006 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 18, 2005.

SP.06.04 Change to Senate Standing Rule 13 to Require Faculty Votes for Changes to Academic Units

Based on its interpretation of the legislative history behind Article VIII of the Statutes, USSP proposed an amendment to the Standing Rules to clarify that the phrase “advice of the faculty” requires a faculty vote at each level that is reported to the Senate for its consideration in connection with any proposal for formation or change in organization of academic units. The Senate approved the change to the Standing Rules on February 20, 2006.

SP.06.06 Revision to the Statutes, Article II, Section 2.a(2)

The University Senates Conference (USC) proposed revisions to the Statutes that would change the beginning date for terms of USC members. The revision changes the beginning date for USC members from a static date of September 1 to the beginning of the academic year. The Senate approved the proposal on March 27, 2006.

B. Items presented to the Senate for information.

SP.06.01 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 18, 2005.

C. Items scheduled for Senate action at the April 24, 2006 meeting.

SP.04.03 Revisions to the Statutes, Articles IX and X, to provide optional multi-year contracts, and related dismissal procedures, for certain academic staff

Last year, USSP proposed revisions to the Statutes that provide for renewable, multi-year contracts for certain academic staff. The intent was to provide the same rights of notice of non-reappointment that had been available under the former provisions. The Senate approved the proposed revisions, and they were forwarded to the University Senates Conference and the other campuses for their review and approval. In that process, USSP learned that the UIUC provisions do not comport with the current notice rights of academic staff with the rank of professor, associate professor or assistant professor with “research” modifying the title. USSP also learned that the UIS had clarified the role of the Senate in the development of campus procedures for carrying out multi-year contracts with adding the phrase “with the advice and consent of the local campus Senate.” USSP therefore resubmitted the proposal with minimal revisions to address these issues by providing appropriate notice to research professors and incorporating the “advice and consent” provision. The revisions were presented for information at the March 27, 2006 meeting and are scheduled for final Senate action at the April 24, 2006 meeting.

SP.06.05 Revision to the Statutes, Article VIII

At the same time that USSP developed the revisions to the Standing Rules set forth in SP.06.04, USSP began drafting a parallel amendment to Article VIII of the Statutes. The purpose was twofold: (i) to clarify the requirement for a faculty vote in respect of the formation or change in organization of certain academic units and (ii) to make explicit the concept of “tenure home” that is implicitly set forth in the Statutes. The revision was presented for information at the March 27, 2006 meeting and is scheduled for final Senate action at the April 24, 2006 meeting.

SP.06.08 Revision to the Bylaws, Part D.9 – Committee on Educational Policy

The Chair of the Senate Executive Committee requested a release from other academic duties for one-half time for the Chair of the Educational Policy Committee. This revision is scheduled for Senate action at the April 24, 2006 meeting.

SP.06.11 Proposed Revisions to the Statutes, Article II, Section 2.a(4) and (5), change the title of USC Secretary to USC Vice Chair

The University Senates Conference (USC) proposed revising the Statutes to change the title of USC Secretary to USC Vice Chair to reflect more accurately the duties of the position. This revision was presented for information at the March 28, 2006 meeting and is scheduled for final Senate action at the April 24, 2006 meeting.

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

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 discussed this recommendation with the Senate Executive Committee and the consensus at this time did not support revising the Standing Rules.

SP.06.03 Revision to the Bylaws, Part D.13(b) – Information Technology, Membership

The Senate Committee on Information Technology (IT) had requested that the University Associate Vice President for Administrative Information Technology Services be removed as an ex officio member. USSP discussed the request and noted that it was important to faculty governance to retain Senate consultation in respect of information technology matters at the University level. Given the appointment of a new Associate Vice President who might be more attentive to the consultative role, USSP encouraged IT to reconsider its request. IT considered the points raised by USSP and decided not to pursue a revision in its membership.

SP.06.12 Appointment of 2006-07 Senate Parliamentarians

This has been accomplished. The parliamentarians are Ken Andersen and George Friedman.

E. Items to be carried over to 2006-2007.

SP.99.06 Editorial Revisions to the Bylaws

In April of 1998, USSP presented to the Senate editorial changes and updates of the Statutes. In an effort to make all Senate documents uniform and to ensure that Senate documents use gender-neutral language, USSP has begun a review of the Bylaws and expected to finalize these changes early next year.

SP.06.07 Rules for Senate Elections

A Senator has proposed that voting for faculty elections should not be restricted to two days because electronic voting permits a longer time period. USSP continues to discuss this proposal.

SP.06.09 Revision to the Bylaws, Part D.6(b) – Committee on Committees, Membership

The Council of Academic Professionals requested that academic professionals be given a seat on the Committee on Committees. USSP continues to discuss this request.

SP.06.10 Revision to the Bylaws, Part D.16(b) – Committee on Student Discipline, Membership

A request was made to increase the number of students on the Committee on Student Discipline from four to six. USSP continues to consider this request.

SP.06.13 Revision to the Bylaws, Part B – Executive Committee and Committees

The Senate Committee on Committees requested that USSP consider expanding the term of office of the Chair of the Senate Executive Committee from 1 year to 2 years. USSP continues to consider this request.