Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1994 [PAGE 599]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1996]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

587

Employees Organization. Chancellor Aiken told the trustees that this organization had filed petitions with the State for recognition as a union on the Urbana campus. Dr. Aiken indicated that communications with the graduate students on campus were continuing through the Graduate Student Advisory Committee, the group that advises the administration. Mrs. Calder then asked for information concerning the State statute applicable to union organization efforts and its relationship to this group. Mr. Higgins explained that the section of the applicable statute that is related to public employees specifically excludes students. He noted that this was a unique feature of the Illinois statute. Mrs. Calder suggested that the board consider this then advise the administration on the course of action to be taken. Mr. Lamont commented that it was his understanding that the board wishes the chancellor and university counsel to attempt to avoid the formation of a graduate student union. The other board members present indicated that this was their wish. Discussion continued regarding the provisions of the Illinois Education Labor Relations Act. The board members generally advised the administration that the graduate students at Urbana should be informed of any process that might ensue and of the meaning of any outcomes from such a process.

Disclosure of Executive Session Actions Under Open Meetings Act

(1) Under an amendment to the Open Meetings Act passed by the General Assembly, effective July 1, 1989, public bodies subject to the Act which conduct business under exemptions specified in the Act must, at least every six months, determine whether the need for confidentiality still exists with respect to each item considered under such exemption. Unreleased items from February through September 1995 are attached and are marked to indicate which items considered in executive session are recommended for continuing confidential status, e.g., pending litigation in May and July. Neither of these has yet been resolved. (Attached materials are filed with the secretary of the board for record.) The university counsel and the secretary of the board, having consulted with appropriate University officers, recommend that the indicated items retain confidential status at this time and that the president of the University be authorized to release those items when appropriate. It is further recommended that all other matters considered in executive session for the period be made available to the public. I concur.

By consensus, the trustees approved of this recommendation as submitted, formal action to be taken subsequently when the board convenes in open meeting.

Report from University Counsel

Mr. Higgins presented the following item:

Authorization for Settlement

(2) The university counsel recommends that the board approve settlement of Pappageorge, Chris G. v. Covenant Medical Center, et al. in the amount of $1,100,000, with