Summary Report for UIUC AAUP Policy Committee on April 6, 2009

211 Illini Union

Present: Geneva Belford, Linn Belford, Connie Caveny, Bettina Francis, Harry Hilton, Walter McMahon, John Prussing, Art Robinson, Leslie Struble, Donald Uchtmann, and H. F. Williamson.

The meeting began at about 12:15 p.m. with Donald Uchtmann presiding.

President's Report

(1) Review of the Minutes and Summary Report for March 9, 2009. The minutes and the summary report for this meeting were approved.

(2) Roster for Chapter Membership and Informal Membership Campaign. Williamson circulated a copy of the most recent roster of Chapter members. He also provided handouts (“Our Voice” brochure along with form for joining AAUP and Uchtmann’s letter at Tenure Workshop) which could be used when asking colleagues to join the AAUP.

(3) Schedule of Meetings for Summer and Fall.
(a) Spring/Summer: We agreed to have a meeting on June 8, 2009 at a location to be determined.
(b) Fall: We approved meetings on the first Monday of the month in 211 Illini Union on the following dates: September 14; (Classes start August 24; Labor Day is September 7); October 12; November 9; December 14 (the Monday of Exam Week; Reading Day is Dec. 10, the previous Thursday)

(4) Review of Meeting with Vice President Rao. We briefly discussed our meeting with the Vice President.

(5) Other. Uchtmann thanked Prussing for running the March 9 meeting. He noted that we had been particularly active in March with the regular Policy Committee meeting, the March 13 meeting with Vice President Rao, and the tenure workshop on March 5.

Action Items

(6) Report from Nominating Committee. The officers nominated for 2009-2010 are John Prussing, President; Bettina Francis, Vice President, Connie Caveny, Secretary, and H. F. Williamson, Treasurer. A draft of the announcement of the annual meeting and the nominees was part of the packet.

(7) Preparations for Chapter’s Annual Meeting on May 12 in IUB General Lounge
(a) Agenda. A draft of the Agenda was in the packet and approved.
(b) Refreshments. Hilton indicated that the choice of refreshments has been made.

(8) National Office and National Meeting. The procedures for certifying and supporting delegates from the Chapter were discussed. If a decision is required before the next meeting, it can be made by the Officers.

(9) Status of the Global Campus Initiative. Prussing reported that the Board of Trustees is paying attention to the concerns at the campus level. A committee from the three campuses is preparing a report considering three alternatives: (a) continuing the current model; (b) ending the program; or (c) developing a new mode (the most likely option to be chosen).

Reports

(10) Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee Reports. Robinson plans to meet with Vice Provost Wilson. One topic of concern is how the administration can determine when a department is having significant problems with regard to promotion and tenure procedures.

(11) Senate Actions. Prussing reported on the Subcommittee report on policies regarding potential faculty conflicts of interest.