Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1980 [PAGE 532]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1980]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

521

( T h e student advisory vote was: Aye, M r . Grady, M r . Sobotka; no, n o n e ; absent, Miss Wyncott.) Employment of Special Counsel (3) Article X of the University of Illinois Statutes identifies due causes for dismissal of tenured employees and specifies the procedures for seeking dismissal of an academic staff member before the expiration of an appointment. T h e procedures contemplate the filing of charges and a hearing on the same before the Senate Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure of the appropriate campus, with a final hearing by the Board of Trustees. As a result of a preliminary investigation conducted under the auspices of the chancellor at the Chicago Circle campus, it appears that cause for the dismissal of a tenured faculty member at that campus may exist. Supplementary investigations are proceeding under the direction of the university counsel. Pursuant to previous delegations by the Board of Trustees, the university counsel has been given interim authorization to consult with special counsel in connection with the additional investigation and further proceedings in the matter. T h e university counsel has now recommended that such authorization for employment of special counsel be ratified, approved, and confirmed in all respects. I concur. O n motion of M r . Howard, this recommendation was approved by the following vote: Aye, Dr. Donoghue, M r . Forsyth, M r . H a h n , M r . Howard, M r . Neal, Mrs. Shepherd, M r . Stone, M r . Velasquez; no, n o n e ; absent, M r . Lenz, Governor Thompson. ( T h e student advisory vote was: Aye, M r . Grady, M r . Sobodca; no, n o n e ; absent, Miss Wyncott.) General Authorization to Employ Special Counsel Mr. Neal raised a suggestion he had introduced sometime before, that the board provide a general authorization to the university counsel to employ special counsel, in accord with the terms of the University's self-insurance plan, for general and professional liability. Under the plan, the University has the duty to dsfend any suit against damages although there is no reference to the employment of special counsel. By consensus, the trustees agreed that the university counsel should bring forward a recommendation for such authorization, to include provision for periodic reports on the employment of special counsel. Executive Session Adjourned for Meeting of Buildings and Grounds Committee Mr. Forsyth announced that the executive session would be adjourned for a meeting of the Buildings and Grounds Committee. The Board of Trustees regular meeting reconvened at 10:10 a.m. Mr. Lenz returned to the meeting at this time. RECOGNITION: DR. DONOGHUE, SENATOR NEWHOUSE President Forsyth welcomed Dr. Donoghue who returned to service on die board after a three-month absence due to illness. He also recognized and greeted Senator Richard H . Newhouse, chairman, Senate Higher Education Committee, w h o attended a part of the proceedings. T h e senator