Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1962 [PAGE 119]

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116

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[September 21

Mr, Johnston, for the Committee on General Policy, submitted a report of his Committee on this matter and moved its adoption. The report was adopted and filed with the Secretary for record. Mr. Johnston also submitted the following summary of the report for inclusion in today's minutes and as the reply of the Board of Trustees to the open letter. Summary of Report of General Policy Committee to Board of Trustees of

the University of Illinois Concerning Open Letter to the Board from Certain Members of the University Faculty Pertaining to Action Taken in Leo P. Koch Matter Prior to the July 26, I960, meeting of ihe Board of Trustees, an open letter from certain members of the University's faculty to the Board was mailed to each Board member and President Henry, and was released to the press by some of its signers. Although those who did this failed to comply with the procedure established and prescribed by the University Statutes governing the transmission of communications from University staff members to the Board, the latter, at President Henry's request, decided to give due consideration to the tetter and referred it to the General Policy Committee for its study, report, and recommendations. Since then the Committee has carefully studied the letter and has reviewed the procedures followed, the report of the University Senate Committee on Academic Freedom, the resolution adopted on June 6 by the Urbana-Champaign University Senate, and the Findings and Conclusions reached by the Board at the conclusion of the hearing given Professor Leo F. Koch. The conclusions of the Committee, which it recommends be adopted by the Board, are fully set forth and documented in the Committee's report of which the following constitutes a brief summary: 1. In its deliberations and actions in the Koch case, as well as in alt other matters, the Board of Trustees has been, and will continue to be guided by what, in. its considered judgment, will promote the progress and welfare of the University in all its relationships and is in the best interests of its faculty, its students, and the public which it serves. 2. In its Findings and Conclusions in the Koch case the Board repeated^ and clearly stated that its action in approving President Henry's recommendation that Professor Koch's contract with the University be terminated was based upon Professor Koch's breach of his academic and professional responsibility inherent in his University employment and recognized and declared in the Universitv Statutes and in the Joint Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure adopted by the_ Association of American Colleges and the America? Association of University Professors. The Board's unanimous finding thai Professor Koch's actions constituted a breach of that responsibility was in accord with the unanimous finding of the Executive Committee of the faculty of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and that of the Committee on Academic Freedom of the Urbana-Champalgn University Senate. 3. President Henry had no authority to and did not terminate Professor Koch's University contract. He suspended and preferred charges against Professor Koch and recommended the termination of the latter's contract to the Board as he is authorized and obligated by the provisions of the University Statutes to do when, in his judgment, such action is necessary and justified. His action was taken upon the recommendation of the Executive Committee of tin faculty, including the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. 4. The public release, prior to the hearing before the Board, of the charges and President Henry's intention to recommend to the Board that Professor Koch's contract be terminated was proper in this instance because of the pu^ licity which Professor Koch's letter to the Editor of The Daily Him hd received and the resulting advisability that the disapproval by the Universit* administration of Professor Koch's actions be made known to the public. It did not operate to deprive Professor Koch of a fair hearing before and conscientious consideration of his case by the Board. 5. The members of the Board of Trustees were fully conscious of the vital