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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: 21 August 2009
CONTACT: John E. Prussing, 333-8231, <prussing@illinois.edu>
SUBJECT: UIUC Faculty Group Letter to Governor on Reconstituting the UI Board of Trustees
An Open Letter to Governor Quinn:
Dear Governor Quinn:
In responding to the current crisis at the University of Illinois, the Policy Committee of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) respectfully requests that you take the following two actions:
1. Appoint trustees who commit to understanding and acting in accord with the University of Illinois Statutes and the principles in the “AAUP Statement on Government of Colleges and Universities [1].”
The University of Illinois Statutes [2] describe the functions of the Board of Trustees as follows.
ARTICLE I. UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION
Section 1. Functions of the Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees formulates university policies but leaves the execution of those policies to its administrative agents, acting under its general supervision. It is the responsibility of the board to secure the needed revenues for the University and to determine the ways in which university funds shall be applied.
The responsibilities of trustees, administrators, and faculty that are detailed in the University Statutes are based in large part on the American Association of University Professors “Statement on Government of Colleges and Universities.” This AAUP Statement was jointly formulated with the American Council on Education and the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges.
The Admissions Review Commission identified the College of Medicine admissions process as exemplary because it “relies on a faculty-based committee that distributes decision making authority across many people and thereby makes it exceedingly difficult for any particular applicant to gain admission based on any improper considerations.” The College of Medicine process is consistent with University Statutes and the AAUP statement of principles. In contrast, admissions processes in other colleges failed in part because policies were established and procedures carried out without the active participation of faculty.
2. In vetting trustee candidates or in considering changes in the structure of the Board, consult a broad range of constituencies (including in all cases both current and former): trustees, senior administrators, faculty, staff, and students.
The AAUP Statement on Government of Colleges and Universities makes clear the essential interdependence of these constituencies in the long term quality of institutions of higher education. The UIUC AAUP Chapter has initiated efforts, in collaboration with others, to learn how and why the university failed to follow established principles and procedures in its statutes and to recommend changes in practices and, if necessary, changes in legislation to prevent such failures in the future.
Sincerely,
John E. Prussing
President, UIUC AAUP Chapter
1 http://www.aaup.org/AAUP/pubsres/policydocs/contents/governancestatement.htm
2 http://www.uillinois.edu/trustees/statutes.cfm
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