Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1994 [PAGE 290]

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278

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[May 11

Faculty in the Division of Consumer Sciences would be merged into the Department of Agricultural Economics, and the name of the department would be changed to the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics. Faculty in the Office of Agricultural Communications and Education, faculty in 4-H and youth programs in the Cooperative Extension Service, and faculty in rural sociology currently in the Department of Agricultural Economics, would be merged into the Division of Human Development and Family Studies, and the name of the division would be changed to the Department of Human and Community Development. The School of Human Resources and Family Studies, including the Divisions of Foods and Nutrition and Consumer Sciences, would be dissolved. Faculty in the Department of Plant Pathology would be merged into the Department of Agronomy, and the name of the department would be changed to the Department of Crop Sciences. Faculty in the Office of Agricultural Entomology, faculty in soils in the Department of Agronomy, and faculty in the Department of Forestry would be merged into the Department of Horticulture, and the name of the department would be changed to the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences. The changes proposed are designed to reallocate efforts within the staff and budget already available. Transition teams for each of the proposed departments are evaluating curricula, courses, student numbers, space, and other departmental responsibilities in an effort to recommend changes in these areas after the departments have been restructured. No new curricula, courses, or changes in University resources are part of this proposal; such changes would be proposed by the newly restructured units. Costs associated with moving faculty and forming new units would be borne internally. The vice president for academic affairs concurs in this recommendation. The University Senates Conference has indicated that no further senate jurisdiction is involved. I recommend approval, pending further action by the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

On motion of Dr. Gindorf, this recommendation was approved.

Revisions to University Policy, Family and Medical Leave

(9) Effective April 6, 1995, the University of Illinois is required to be in compliance with Final Rules and Regulations implementing the Federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. The University policy was approved by the Board of Trustees in September 1993, based on the Proposed Rules. The Family and Medical Leave Policy contains provisions that apply to individuals who have been employed by the University for at least twelve months and who have performed at least half-time service during the previous 12-month period. The Act requires that up to 12 weeks of paid and/or unpaid Family and Medical Leave shall be granted to an employee during a denned 12-month period for the birth or adoption of a child; for the care of a child, spouse, or parent who has a serious health condition; or when the employee is unable to perform the function of his or her position due to a serious health condition. During periods of Family and Medical Leave, the University is required to continue to provide health and dental insurance for the employee. Upon return from leave, employees are entitled to be restored to the same or an equivalent position with equivalent benefits, pay, and other conditions of employment. Three revisions to the University policy are required. The first revision deletes "parent-in-law" from the definition of "parent." Although the University originally extended Family and Medical Leave to care for a parent-in-law, the final regulations