American Association of University Professors
Illinois Conference General Business Meeting
Minutes for Saturday, April 26, 2003 Meeting
Stevenson Hall, Illinois State University, Normal IL
The meeting was called to order at 3 p.m.
Council Members present: Pangratios Papacosta, President (Columbia
College), Joan Berman, Vice President (Barat College, DePaul University
(Emeritus)), Leo Welch, Immediate Past President (Southwestern College),
Joseph Felder, Secretary (Bradley University), Melba Buxbaum (Blackburn
College), Robert Hippensteele (Illinois Wesleyan University), Walter
J. (Jerry) Kendall (The John Marshall Law School), Michael McIntyre
(De Paul University), Jan Cook (ISU). Lesley Kordecki (Barat College,
DePaul University). Michael Collins (Loyola University Medical Center)
Others Present: Lynne Meyer, Executive Director, John Wilson (graduate
student at ISU).
Council Members Absent: Connie Caveny, Treasurer
Much the same material was covered as in the Friday, April 25 meeting,
so please see those notes. These notes will focus on what was unique
to the Saturday meeting.
Reports:
President’s Report. All agreed that the Annual Meeting, just
ended, had been absolutely outstanding, though poorly attended.
Pan Papacosta reported that Jan Cook had taken out a half page
advertisement in the student newspaper, inviting people to attend
the Annual Meeting.
Pan reported that the Council now had a website, developed by Mr.
Ludwig.
Pan said that the visitation program was off to a good start, with
the state organization reimbursing some of the expenses. More people
are calling now. The state organization and the national organization
have gotten involved in some local problems. One chapter in the
state, at a private institution, wants to become a union chapter.
The website invites chapters to apply for a $300 grant ($500 for
new chapters). Criteria and procedures are posted on the web.
We should be doing more to reach out to journalists, especially
those who specialize in education.
We should consider creating a new annual award for an administrator
who protects academic freedom, tenure, and shared governance. The
winner should address the annual meeting at which the award is presented.
Treasurer’s Report
There was no Treasurer’s Report. Pan reiterated the problems.
He said that we are in the black.
Jan Cook proposed that we engage an accountant to audit the books,
and do so every time there is a change of treasurer. The motion
passed unanimously.
Pan said that the President will be more involved in treasurer matters
in the coming year. We still need a budget for the coming year and
we will have to write a report for National.
Nominating Committee. The following recommendations of the Nominating
Committee were approved unanimously:
For Secretary (2003 - 05): Joe Felder (Bradley University)
For Treasurer (2003 - 05): Anne Draznin (University of Illinois-Springfield)
For Council (2003 - 06):
Fred Widlak (National Louis University)
Lisa Townsley (Benedictine University)
John Wilson (Illinois State University)
A resolution thanking outgoing Council members Jim Johnson (Loyola)
and Melba Buxbaum (Blackburn College) passed unanimously.
Report of Leo Welch, Editor of Academe and AAUP Lobbyist in Springfield.
Leo Welch reported on his Testimony before the IBHI on February
4, 2003, entitled “Response to: Report of Performance Indicator
Advisory Committee to the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
ILBHE already has state “performance indicators.” And
there is already a “national report card.”
Of immediate concern is a pilot study on Outcomes Assessment, prepared
by the Pew Charitable Trust. The goal of Pew is to develop a standard
measure for the nation for purposes of making state-to-state comparisons
and for possible use by accrediting agencies.
Pew pays for the pilot but ILBHE and the institutions provide staff
time.
[Get full text of Leo’s testimony via e-mail.]
The second page of Leo’s testimony quotes from the “Mandated
Assessment of Educational Outcomes,” Report of the AAUP Committee
on College and University Teaching, Research, and Publications,
June 1991. Point 2 in the AAUP Report says that “The assessment
should focus on... institutionally determined goals and objectives.”
The pilot is “one size fits all.”
Point 1 in the AAUP Report says that “The faculty should
have primary responsibility for establishing the criteria for assessment
and methods for implementation. “ The pilot has people from
outside the state and the ILBHE staff decides the criteria and methods.
Within institutions it is implemented by staff, not faculty.
Institutions decide whether or not to participate in the pilot,
but the institutional decision is made by university presidents,
not by faculty.
After discussion we agreed that:
1. There should be different standards for institutions with different
missions.
2. The purpose of the standards should be to assure quality and
attainment of the institution’s own goals.
3. The standards should be developed by each institution, in particular
by the faculty of each institution.
These three points conform to AAUP guidelines, which are virtually
the same as those of the North Central Association (the main accrediting
agency for our region).
We agreed on the following action items:
1. Distribute [or post] Leo Welch’s testimony, especially
the points on the second page of his handout. [We did not agree
on a final distribution list.]
2. Bob Hippensteele said that we should look at all of the relevant
documents and deliberate before deciding what action to take. It
was agreed to appoint an ad hoc committee to look at all of the
relevant documents, deliberate, and propose a position paper and
course of action to the Council via e-mail. It was agreed that the
committee would be made up of Leo Welch, Ken Anderson, and Pan Papacosta.
3. Post the relevant ILBHE minutes on our website.
4. Invite “the appropriate people” to look at our website
and solicit their comments.
Leo Welch is no longer on the Faculty Advisory Committee to the
ILBHE, but Ken Anderson is on it and is chair, and Anne Draznin
is also on it. We should get Ken’s summary of the Faculty
Advisory Committee’s stand on the issue and possibly post
it as well.
Executive Director’s Report. Lynne Meyers spoke about communication
with chapters and members. We have about 1000 members in the state.
We have now have e-mail addresses for about 90 percent. We are trying
to find the other 10 percent.
The newsletter is monthly. It will now be bimonthly. [“Bimonthly”
is an ambiguous term. I think we mean once every other month.]
The list of chapter officers is not up to date. Lynne is working
with the National office on keeping records up to date.
The state website is up and running. Leo Welch suggested that chapters
could be encouraged to use the state website as their website.
Committee on IL Academe. Joan Berman Lesley Kordecki reported that
they have been looking into the purpose of IL Academe, and alternative
formats and modes of delivery.
Ken Anderson will write an editorial in each issue.
National wants two mailings a year.
John Wilson suggested that we issue a very basic promotional item
that directs people to the web. [I do not know if announced links
to a webpage can substitute for the required mailings.]
It was agreed that the Executive Committee will decide on the new
appearance of IL Academe. Pan will talk to some of the people at
the Columbia Journalism School.
Delegates to the National Meetings. Ken Anderson and Pan Papacosta
were approved as voting delegates, entitled to full reimbursement.
Leo Welch and John Wilson were approved to receive $500 each in
partial reimbursement.
Concerns and Resolutions. It was agreed that AAUP at the state and
national levels should develop closer relationships with accrediting
agencies so that accreditation criteria better reflect fundamental
AAUP principles.
Congratulations to Governor Blagojevich for preserving MAP intact.
This program assists those students most in need of financial assistance.
We expressed concern over the fact that more and more administrators
come from the corporate world and lack academic experience.
We expressed concern over the fact that many members of the faculty
do not know or care about shared governance, due process, and academic
freedom.
Close. There was a call for new business. Hearing none the meeting
was adjourned at 4:15 p.m. |
