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American Association of University Professors
Illinois Conference Policy Council
Minutes for Friday, April 16, 2004 Council Meeting
Alumni Club, Chicago IL
Present: Pangratios Papacosta (Columbia College), President, Joan
Berman (Barat College, DePaul University, Emeritus), Vice President,
Joseph Felder (Bradley University), Secretary, Leo Welch (Southwestern
Illinois College), immediate past President and Lobbyist, Lynne
Meyer, Executive Director, Jan Cook (ISU), Walter J. (Jerry) Kendall
(The John Marshall Law School), Lesley Kordecki (Barat College,
DePaul University), Lisa Townsley (Benedictine University), John
Wilson (ISU Graduate Student), Editor of IL Academe
Absent: Michael Collins (Loyola University Medical Center), Robert
Hippensteele (Illinois Wesleyan University), Michael McIntyre (De
Paul University), Frederic W. Widlak (National-Louis University)
The meeting was called to order at 8:25 p.m.
1) The Minutes for the Nov. 1, 2003 Meeting were approved.
2) Report of the President, Pan Papacosta
a) The most significant problem was financial accountability
b) We hired an accountant, Jordan Werblow. (Jordan reported to us
at our November 1, 2003 meeting.) Instead of costing $100 to $3000,
as anticipated, his bill was $6000, discount included.
c) Our Treasurer, Anne L. Draznin (U of I Springfield), resigned
mid-term. Since there were no volunteers, Pan stepped in as Acting
Treasurer. The Treasurer’s Report appears later in the minutes.
d) Pan wrote chapter development grant applications and succeeded
in getting two grants from the Council of State Conferences
e) Applied to National for maintenance of current dues level and
received tentative approval
f) Thanks to John Wilson, editor, there were three editions of of
IL Academe. John sent them to all state conferences and to college
presidents throughout the state.
g) We renewed our contract with the company that maintains our website.
h) Pan and John Leahy (DePaul University), Past President, were
guest speakers at chapters that requested speakers.
i) Pan made the arrangements for the Annual meeting and thanks Ken
Anderson for getting our speaker, Dr. Sylvia Manning, Chancellor
of the U of I-Chicago.
New Business
a) “Administrator of the Year” award. Pan proposed that
we give Sylvia Manning Chancellor of the U of I-Chicago) an “Administrator
of the Year” award. This led to a heated discussion. In view
of ongoing labor disputes and an organizing drive on her campus
Jerry Kendall and Leo Welch thought that the award was improper
and premature at this time.
Jerry Kendall made a motion to appoint a committee to develop criteria
and process for such an award and to report back to the Council
at our next meeting. John Wilson proposed that it not be limited
to administrators, but be open to all non-faculty, including, for
example, legislators and journalists, as well as administrators.
b) Report of the Nominating Committee. Members present and reporting:
Lisa Townsley (Benedictine University) and Walter (Jerry) Kendall
(The John Marshall Law School). Other members were Peter N. Kirstein
(History & Political Science, St. Xavier) Ken Kantor (sp?) (National
Lewis), Ken Anderson (U of I). Walter Kendall chaired.
Nominees are:
President: Pan Papacosta
V.P.: Leo Welch
Treasurer: Lisa Townsley
Council members at large: Peter N. Kirstein (History & Political
Science, St. Xavier), Lee Maltby (Social Work, St. Augustine)
We also discussed creating a new Council seat for contingent faculty
and appointing Joe Berry to that position.
Pan asked if anyone present would be willing to serve on the next
nominating committee, and Lisa Townsley and Walter (Jerry) Kendall
both agreed to do so.
After submitting the report of the Nominating Committee Lisa and
Jerry left the meeting early. .
c) External Activities: Pan Papacosta, Ken Anderson, and Leo Welch
attended the Annual National Meeting as voting delegates from Illinois.
John Wilson and Joe Felder also attended (Joe as a member of the
National Council). The Illinois Conference sent Lynne Meyer and
Leo Welch to an AAUP Summer Institute in New Mexico. Leo Welch was
the keynote speaker at the Kansas State Conference.
d) How to revitalize the Conference and chapters. We will continue
to try to identify chapter officers. We will improve the webpage,
newsletters, and IL Academe. Pan wants to prepare a brochure: “What
Your Conference Can Do For You,” and distribute it to chapters.
It would about $1000-$1500. Joan Berman (Barat College, DePaul University,
Emeritus) so moved and the motion passed unanimously.
Leo Welch suggested that we consider providing workshops.on Academic
Freedom at the meetings of other organizations, such as the Statewide
Teaching and Leaning Conference in Springfield.
e) Proposed changes for next year’s Annual Meeting. Pan Papacosta
proposed that he Council meet Saturday morning, instead of Friday
night. Lunch would be provided to Council members. The General Meeting
would be from 1 to 3:300, followed by the business meeting.
f) Treasurer’s Report. Pan Papacosta, acting treasurer, gave
the report.
A motion was made empower the President and the new Treasurer to
formally apply for 504-C tax status or whatever other tax status
seemed most appropriate to them, and to sign, on behalf of the Illinois
State Council, all state and federal legal documents necessary to
establish and maintain our status as a tax exempt organization.
The motion passed unanimously.
We now have a valid IRS Tax ID number.
In view of the cost overrun with our former accountant, Pan has
hired a new accountant.
Joan Berman moved acceptance of the Treasurer’s Report
g) IL-Academe. John Wilson (ISU Graduate student), editor, reiterated
the need for news from chapters. John is considering adding state
legislators to the distribution list.
h) Barat and Mergers, generally. Lesley Kordecki (Barat College,
DePaul University), proposed addressing the Barat experience and
the concept of mergers in IL-Academe and elsewhere. She stated that
AAUP should be involved in developing policies and standards.
i) Legislative Report, Leo Welch. Leo attended the ACS CBC Conference
in Denver, where he learned about an attempt by state legislators
to identify and publicize the political affiliations of the humanities
faculty. While the attempt is on hold, public universities have
agreed to look into the political affiliations of their faculty.
This may be the start of a national movement.
Leo reported on IL HB 4073 that would have empowered public university
trustees to determine criteria for tenure and make tenure decisions.
The sponsor’s intent was to reduce perceived racial bias.
The sponsor tabled the bill after many groups, including AAUP expressed
strong opposition.
Leo reported that there is a Legislative Coalition for increasing
funding for higher education. Jan Cook (ISU) moved that we join
the coalition, pending approval by National. The motion passed unanimously.
j) Delegates to the Annual National Meeting. We agreed that the
Conference can sponsor 4 delegates. Names mentioned included Pan
Papacosta, Leo Welch, and John Wilson. Joe Felder goes at little
or no expense to the Illinois Conference because he is a member
of the National Council. Delegates will be chosen at tomorrow’s
Open Business Meeting.
k) Summer Institutes. We agreed that the Conference can sponsor
one or two people to attend summer institutes.
l) New Business: None
Meeting Adjourned at 10:20 p.m.
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