UIUC AAUP Policy Committee
Minutes for April 11, 2018
217 Illini Union
Web site:  http://www.aaup-ui.org/

Present:  Bettina Francis, Harry Hilton, Lewis Hopkins, Richard Laugesen, David O’Brien, Robert Parker, John Prussing, Daniel Steward, Leslie Struble (Skype), Donald Uchtmann, H. F. Williamson

The meeting began at about 12:05 p.m. with Harry Hilton presiding.  

(1)  Introductions.

(2)  Review of the Minutes for March 14, 2018 Meeting of Policy Committee.  The minutes were approved with the corrections of three typographical errors.

(3)  President’s Report.  Hilton reviewed the key topics in his report, some of which are covered further elsewhere in the minutes.
(a)  He continues to follow up on the status of the revisions in the Statutes regarding hiring policies that have been approved by the three senates and the Senate Council. They were transmitted to the president on December 5, 2016.
(b)  O’Brien, Prussing, and he had an informative meeting with Chancellor Jones and Provost Congellaris and discussed a number of issues including (a) suspension procedures; (b) possibly adding a faculty “advisor” to the staff in the Chancellor’s office; and (c) the role of faculty governance in the negotiations with the GEO.
(c)  He noted that Parker continues to tack and monitor news items on legislative attaches on tenure, course content, free speech and science.  This will also be discussed regarding preparation for the annual meeting.
(d)  The status of a request by an individual for the chapter’s help which is under review by the chair of the Chapters Academic and Freedom Committee (Prussing).

(4)  Review of schedule of meetings for spring semester.  As discussed in more detail elsewhere in the minutes in some cases, the schedule for the rest of the semester will be:
(a)  Final Spring Meetings of Policy Committee:
April 25 in 217 Illini Union
(b)  Special Meeting for voting members of the Policy Committee with Chancellor Jones:  11. a.m., Monday, April 23, 2018, 217 Illini Union
(c)  Annual Meeting:  3:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 8, 2018; 314B Illini Union

(5)  Proposed Schedule of Fall Meetings:  The proposed schedule was reviewed. 
Wednesday, September 5 (1st Wednesday); instruction begins August 27 and Labor Day is Sept.34.
Wednesday, October 3 (1st Wednesday);
Wednesday, November 7 (1st Wednesday).
Wednesday, December 12 (2nd Wednesday);  Reading Day is December 13

(5)  Meeting with Campus Administrators.  Hilton will start planning for the fall now that the proposed schedule has been approved.  We will consider inviting the President and perhaps a member of the Board of Trusteesl.

(6)  Preparation for Meeting with Chancellor Jones
(a)  Time, Date, and Place:  11 a.m. Monday, April 23 in 217 Illini Union.
(b)  Review of Program:  A revised program was prepared based on the discussion.  It will be sent to the Committee for review prior to preparing the final copy to send to the Chancellor.

(7)  Preparation for Annual Meeting
(a)  Date:  The Annual Meeting will be at 3:00 p.m. on May 8 in 314 B Illini Union
(b)  Program:  “The War Against Universities, Academic Freedom, Free Speech, and Science.”  Parker will moderate the discussion by the panelists Professors Rochelle Gutierrez and Donald J. Wuebbles
(c)  Publicity:  Additional ways we could use were discussed including contacts suggested by Steward  with members of the Non-Tenure Faculty Coalition and members of GEO.

(8)  Reports. 
(a)  Steward reported that he was elected to the NTFC Stewards’ Council for 2018-2019 and will report when he knows if he will continue as the liaison to our group.  He also may have information on possible software that can be used by groups such as ours for conducting elections online..
(b)  Parker suggested that an issue we could address next is how and whether specialized faculty are included in department governance.  He noted that a key starting point for the discussion could be Section VII. B of Employment Guidelines for Specialized Faculty Holding Non-Tenure System Positions, Office of the Provost Communication No. 25.  The first sentence of the Section notes: “To the extent appropriate, departments should seek to incorporate specialized faculty into the academic life of the unit.”

There were no additional reports so the meeting adjourned at about 1:04 p.m.

As noted above, the next Policy Committee meetings are at 11 a.m. on April 23 with Chancellor Jones in 217 Illini Union and the final regular meeting for the semester at noon on April 25 in 217 Illini Union.  The Annual Meeting is at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8 in 314B Illini Union