Present: Members: Hadi Esfahani, Robin Kar, Richard Laugesen, Cary Nelson, Daniel Steward, Leslie Struble, Carol Symes, H. F. Williamson
The meeting began at about 12:30 p.m. with Kar presiding and welcoming the attendees.
(1) Welcome and Introductions. Kar welcomed the attendees and thanked them for their service. Since there were no guests today, introductions were not needed.
(2) Review of the Minutes for the September 11, 2025 Meeting of Policy Committee. Since there were no responses to his request for substantive comments on the minutes, Kar announced that they were adopted by unanimous consent.
(3) President’s Report. Kar indicated his President’s Report would be brief so that we could move more quickly into our action items. There are several topics he plans to cover in more depth. He is concerned that we are under attack in creative ways that had not been foreseen such as the new compact offering institutions access to Federal funding for STEM research if certain actions are taken on those campuses.
(4) Composition of Policy Committee for 2025-2026.
(a) Review of Roster for Policy Committee. Laugesen requested that members review their entries in the Roster and let him and/or Williamson know of any needed corrections.
(b) Selecting New Members of Policy Committee. There were several individuals suggested as possible new member of the Policy Committee. It was noted that we could follow our past procedure of inviting them to attend a meeting of the Committee as a first step toward becoming a new member.
(5) Actions Items for Chapter
(a) Meeting with Campus Administrators. Kar confirmed that the first meeting to be arranged will be with the new Chancellor and, if possible, the Provost. He will start the process immediately.
(b) Membership Drive. Kar discussed procedures we can follow to build membership including (i) looking for guidance from the national AAUP; (ii) having members develop informal networks within their units; and (iii) scheduling meetings with appropriate groups. These can be coordinated with the workshops and webinars we are considering for the spring semester.
(c) Preliminary Planning for Spring Meetings. Kar noted that we should be thinking even now of programs for the spring. Speakers could include those who understand how to respond to such topics as (i) the efforts to divide and conquer within the Academy and (ii) the dynamics of how higher education gets polarized and can get depolarized. Steward suggested that if individuals approached are reluctant to appear as individuals or panelist, they might agree to a round table format for the presentation. This would be a “low cost” option since rather than having to prepare a presentation, they will be discussing topics or questions that we can provide them in advance. Kar noted that another step that works well is to put out a short survey to our members asking about their concerns. This reminds our members that we are “here” and the results provide guidance for the topics to cover in the meetings.
(d) AAUP request not to use academic (i.e., edu) email addresses. There was a brief discussion of the reasons for this request such as whether there could be FOIA requests for such emails. Nelson reported that when this occurred for him, his attorney filed a protest with the Illinois State Attorney General who ruled that as an emeritus faculty member, his emails could not be revealed in response to a FOIA request. It was agreed that no action was needed by the Policy Committee on how Chapter members respond to the AAU request.
(e) Contacting other Big 10 AAUP Chapters. Kar noted that he plans to make these contacts soon.
(f) Trump Administration Actions. There was a broad ranging discussion of such actions as the FOIA requests for course syllabi at UNC, the investigation of the faculty senate at George Mason University, and other actions that divide faculty internally among disciplines. Our best strategy for now will probably to keep informed on what is occurring so that we can decide whether there are any actions we should take.
(6) Adjournment. Kar adjourned the meeting at about 1:25 p.m.
As noted below, the next meeting is scheduled to be at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 6, 2025.
Schedule for Remaining Fall Meetings
(a) Regular Policy Committee Meeting:
The remaining fall meeting is scheduled to be held electronically at 12:30 p.m. on:
Thursday, December 4 (1st Thursday); Reading Day is December 11
(b) Meetings with Administrators and Chapter Meetings: To be determined.
UIUC AAUP Policy Committee
Agenda for Thursday, October 9, 2025 Zoom Meeting
Web site: http://www.aaup-ui.org/
Meeting will begin at 12:30 p.m. Zoom information at the bottom of this agenda.
(1) Introductions.
(2) Review of the Minutes for September 11, 2025 Meeting of Policy Committee
(3) President’s Report.
(4) Composition of Policy Committee for 2025-2026.
(a) Review of Roster for Policy Committee.
(b) Selecting New Members of Policy Committee
(5) Actions Items for Chapter
(a) Response to Actions by Trump Administration
(b) Meeting with Campus Administrators
(c) Membership drive
(d) Scheduling other Meetings or Workshops
(6) Action Items Regarding External Affairs
(a) AAUP request not to use academic (i.e., .edu) email addresses
(b) Contacting other Big 10 AAUP chapters
(c) FOIA requests for course syllabi at UNC
(d) Federal investigation of faculty senate at George Mason University
(e) UIUC Procedures for Disclosures to the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights
(7) Reports
(a) Report from our Liaison to the NTFC Local #6546 Chapter
(b) Chapter Web Site
(c) Other
(8) Schedule for Remaining Fall Meetings
(a) Regular Policy Committee Meetings:
The remaining fall meetings are currently scheduled to be at 12:30 p.m. on the following Thursdays. We assume for now that they will be all held electronically.
Thursday, November 6 (1st Thursday)
Thursday, December 4 (1st Thursday); Reading Day is December 11
(b) Meetings with Administrators and Chapter Meetings: To be determined.
As noted above, the next meeting is currently scheduled to be at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 6, 2025.