University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Senate

Monday, October 19, 2026
3:10 – 5:15 pm
Illini Room A (First Floor, Illini Union) and Zoom
AGENDA

1. CALL TO ORDER

   Allison Frees-Williams, Presiding Officer of the Senate

2. APPROVAL OF REMOTE PARTICIPATION

3. APPROVAL OF FLOOR PRIVILEGES

4. CONSENT AGENDA

1. Minutes of the Senate Meeting on September 28, 2026


2. Educational Policy Consent Items

5. REMARKS BY THE SENATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CHAIR

Timothy Bretl, Chair of the Senate Executive Committee

6. BUSINESS

1. EP.24.068, Implementation of Upper-Division Coursework Requirement [Information]

   - Nolan Miller, Chair of the Senate Committee on Educational Policy (EP)

2. CC.27.14, Election of a Faculty Senator to Fill One Vacancy on the 2026-2027 University Senates Conference (USC)

   - Eric Kurt, Chair of the Senate Committee on Committees (CC)

3. CC.27.15, Election of Members on Standing Committees of the Senate and Senate Representatives to Governance, Advisory, and Other Bodies at the October 19, 2026 Senate Meeting

   - Eric Kurt, Chair of the Senate Committee on Committees (CC)

4. SC.27.06, Elect a Graduate Student Senator to the 2026-2027 Senate Committee on Committees

   - Timothy Bretl, Chair of the Senate Executive Committee (SEC)

5. SC.27.11, Elect a Faculty Senator to the 2026-2027 Senate Committee on Committees

   - Timothy Bretl, Chair of the Senate Executive Committee (SEC)

6. RS.27.01, Resolution in Defense of the Privacy of Students, Faculty, and the Campus Community
   

   - Patrick Holt, Student Senator (ACES) and Resolution Representative

7. SP.26.01, Proposed Revision to the Statutes, Article IX, Section 7a – Sabbatical Leaves and Unpaid Leaves of Absence for Members of the Faculty (ST-90)
   [First Reading; Discussion]

   - Kelli Trei, Chair of the Senate Committee on University Statutes and Senate Procedures (SP)

   • FB Feedback
   • GP Feedback
   • “Extending Sabbatical Leaves to Specialized Faculty”: Draft Shared with SP 04/02/2026 by Bill Bernhard, Jessica Mette, Xiaobei Chen
   • UIC original background document

7. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE DISCUSSION: HONORARY DEGREE AWARD PROCESS (20 MINUTES)

- Timothy Bretl, Chair of the Senate Executive Committee

• SR.26.01, Cover Memo - Review of the Honorary Degree Award Process
• SR.26.01, Executive Summary - Review of the Honorary Degree Award Process
• SR.26.01, Proposed Models of Honorary Degree Governance - Review of the Honorary Degree Award Process
• SC.26.25, SEC Response to the Ninth Senate Review Commission’s (SR9) Review of the Honorary Degree Award Process (SR.26.01)
• HD.26.02, Internal Review of the Honorary Degree Award Process

8. PUBLIC COMMENT

No more than 3 minutes per speaker with a maximum of 10 speakers. Standing Rule 16

9. REMARKS BY THE CHANCELLOR’S DESIGNEE

John Coleman, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

10. QUESTIONS FROM SENATORS

No more than 2 minutes per senator. Standing Rule 17

11. REPORTS FOR INFORMATION

1. EP.27.043, Report of Administrative Approvals Through October 19, 2026


2. SC.26.28, 2025-2026 Annual Report of the Senate Executive Committee



12. NEW BUSINESS

According to the Illinois Open Meetings Act (OMA), items not included on the agenda may be discussed but may not be acted upon at the meeting at which they are introduced.
Bylaws Part A.4

13. ADJOURNMENT

Standing Rule 1