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12/6/23 Policy Committee Minutes

    Present: Hadi Esfahani, Richard Laugesen, Robin Kar, David O’Brien, Robert Parker, Carol Symes, Carol Tilley, H. F. Williamson

    The meeting began at about 1:35 p.m. with Kar presiding.

    1. Introductions. Kar welcomed the attendees. It was noted that the Zoom link to the meeting should be included in the cover emails sent with the agenda and the minutes for the previous meeting so this procedure will be followed for future meetings.
    2. Review of the Minutes for October 6, 2023 Meeting of Policy Committee and the Report for the November 1, 2023 Meeting of Policy Committee. Kar reported that these can be approved by unanimous consent and asked if anyone has an objection to that approval. There were no objections, so the two documents were approved by unanimous consent. He noted that if anyone has non-substantive suggestions or corrections, they should send them to him and Bill Williamson independently.
    3. President’s Report.
      1. Kar expressed his pleasure at having the chance to work with the group this semester and looked forward to more during the next semester. He stressed the importance of our looking out for each other as we approach the end of the semester. He also thanked those who kept him informed when a scheduling error led to his missing the November meeting.
      2. Kar reported that he felt we had done a lot of constructive work together this semester including high level discussions with President Killeen and Chancellor Jones, outreach with new faculty that was well received, and a plan to migrate and update the Chapter’s website.
      3. As we plan for the spring, we will be focusing on organizing the two major Chapter events, the Promotion and Tenure Panel and the Annual Chapter Meeting. We will also be working on meetings the Policy Committee with campus leaders and journalists.
      4. Kar noted that the important items on today’s agenda will be the next three items, concerning the spring schedule for the Policy Committee; the search for a new Web Manager; and a decision on determining Chapter dues for 2024.
      5. He concluded by indicating that we will consider several items under item (6)(g): Other Issues. The two most important will be how we might react to the events occurring at Bradley University and the issues that have arisen because of the conflict in the Middle East. We may also discuss the email inviting us to a meeting on December 7 about establishing an AAUP Advocacy Chapter, and the actions that might be taken because of the district court decision on the Kilbourne case.
    4. Approval of the Schedule for Spring Policy Committee Meetings. Williamson thanked the Committee for their prompt responses to his requests for spring schedule preferences. As a result, it is proposed that the Policy Committee meet at 12:30 p.m. on the following dates. The meetings will be held electronically. He moved that this schedule be approved.
      • January 18: (third Thursday); instruction begins Jan. 16; King Holiday is Jan. 15)
      • February 8: (second Thursday)
      • March 7: (second Thursday)
        • Spring Vacation starts March 9 and ends March 17
      • April 4: (first Thursday)
      • May 2: (first Thursday, this is Reading Day)
      • The motion was approved by unanimous consent. Williamson also noted that if we again held the Annual Meeting on the Tuesday of spring semester final examination week, it would be May 7, 2024.
    5. Action Items
      1. Search for a New Web Manager. Kar thanked O’Brien for how well he organized the search. There were two excellent finalists, one of whom has been chosen to be the Manager. Kar suggested the following steps will occur: (i) the manager provide a series of options for the new web site that interested Policy Committee members could review by email; (ii) there is a migration of the content of the current website to the new one; and (iii) the initial period of maintenance and upkeep where Kar and Williamson will be most involved regarding the reports that will be posted regularly. Kar would also like the web manager to develop a document that identifies and outlines the management of the site to expedite the future maintenance of the site whether by a manager or one of the members of the Policy Committee. O’Brien also noted that we would ask the web manager to plan to work through the spring semester at which time it might be possible to manage the site ourselves. Parker wanted to be sure the web manager was aware that you can link to existing websites of other Chapters through the national AAUP website. Regarding the role of the site during his Presidency, Parker felt its most visible effect was that individuals visited the site and then came to the Chapter leaders for consultation. He also suggested that it would be time for an evaluation of the site in March at which time we would have a better idea of whether the management of the site could be handled by a member of the Policy Committee.
      2. Decision on Status of Annual Chapter Dues for 2024. Williamson reported that the current Chapter annual dues are $24 chosen in part to simplify implementation of payroll deduction which no longer exists. We have not charged dues for at least two years because Chapter expenses in the Zoom environment have been minimal. Given potential new expenses such as for maintaining the website, Williamson proposed returning to charging dues and increasing the annual rate to $40. Parker led a discussion of the possibility of having a tiered dues structure such as one with a lower rate for assistant professors. Laugesen asked about our current balance and what our expected expenses would be. O’Brien reported on the principal expense, the web manager, which would be between three and five hours (that is, $90 and $150) per month. Laugesen is concerned that charging Chapter dues will be one more factor making it difficult to recruit new members. Various alternatives were suggested such as (i) not charging dues and instead asking for donations or (ii) having a graded scale of dues starting perhaps with none for the first two years. Kar proposed creating a policy of free admission for the first year after which there would be suggested annual donations of $10 for Assistant Professors and $40 for others. There were no objections to this proposal.
      3. Promotion and Tenure Panel and Annual Chapter Meeting. Kar reminded us that both these items are on the agenda as reminders that we will be starting our preparations for them early in the spring semester.
      4. Meetings with Campus Administrators. Kar indicated he plans to invite Chancellor Jones to meet with us since he had a conflict and had to cancel our scheduled meeting last spring. Parker noted that we usually schedule the meeting the hour before a scheduled Policy Committee meeting so that the review of the meeting with the Chancellor is a topic for the Policy Committee. Williamson reminded us that we usually have a two-month lead time on the preparation for the meeting with the goal of providing the Chancellor with an agenda that includes (i) topics we feel would be important to discuss and (ii) the members of the policy Committee who are expecting to attend the meeting. Kar asked that he be informed if there were other administrators whom we felt we should also meet.
      5. Actions at Bradley University. Kar wanted to include this on the agenda in case there was any further information that individuals had about the situation or actions that this Chapter might take in response. Kar indicated that he and Carol Symes might contact the AAUP leaders at Bradley to see if our involvement might help. If so, he will inform us of what he has learned.
      6. Middle East Conflict. Kar suggested that he could write to the Chancellor saying that the AAUP Chapter leadership is glad that he is prioritizing safety on of our campus as well as the importance of maintaining academic freedom in this situation. Laugesen agreed, noting that this would also serve the purpose of letting them know that we are watching the situation.
      7. Formation of AAUP Advocacy Local 6471 of the AFT, AFL-CIO. Kar noted the importance of learning whether this is a mistake and, if not, what would the relation be between this organization and our Chapter. Laugesen felt that this was not an attempt to replace our chapter and was planning to attend the first part of the meeting to learn more.
      8. Decision on the Jason Kilborn Case. A decision has been made by the District Court in this case. Kar noted that Matthew Finkin is preparing an amicus curiae brief and discussed whether the Chapter leadership would want to play a role in this situation.
    6. Adjournment. There being no further reports the meeting adjourned at about 1:50 p.m. As noted above, the first meeting of the spring semester be at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 18, 2024.