Academic Senate

Resolution on the “Global Campus” proposal – Background statement.

Background: In May 2006 the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs produced a document titled “The University of Illinois Global Campus Initiative: Final Report.”  This document presents a proposal for the establishment of a new part of the University of Illinois that would be organized as a for-profit “Limited Liability Company” (LLC), and would provide online educational programs that would at once “Provide greater access to higher education for nontraditional learners” and “Generate new revenues for the benefit of University academic activities.” (Quoted from the attached “Executive Summary.”)  This “Initiative” is described in the “Final Report” as having “emerged out of the recent strategic planning activities that were initiated by President White,” through a process that took place last year, culminating in this “Report,” and in the presentation of the report to the Board of Trustees this month (September, 2006).  President White strongly favors the establishment of this “Global Campus.”  Its establishment would require action by the Board.  The Board has not yet taken action on the proposal; but it may do so at its next meeting, in November.

The idea of this “Initiative” was discussed by President White and Vice President Chet Gardner with the University Senates Conference (USC) on a number of occasions last year.  It presumably was also discussed with the chancellors of the three existing campuses of the University.  The “Final Report” was shared with the Senates Conference in June, and was discussed at several of its subsequent monthly meetings, leading to the letter sent by USC Chair Terry Bodenhorn on behalf of the Conference to White and Gardner, expressing the initial reaction of the Conference to the “Report.”  The “Report” was also subsequently made available to and discussed by the Senate Executive Committee (SEC).  Both the USC and the SEC recognize that what is being proposed is a new venture of major dimensions, as the “Executive Summary” of the “Report” makes clear.  The SEC letter indicates some of the issues that warrant consideration with respect to it.

The Statutes of the University state that the Trustees are to be given the “advice” of the Senates as well as the Chancellors and USC in connection with the proposal of the establishment of a new “campus” or other “unit organized at the University level.”  The Senates have not been in a position to consider the matter until now.  They therefore will need some time to develop their advice.  The following Resolution calls attention to what the Statutes say, and calls upon the President and the Board accordingly to defer action to establish the proposed “Global Campus” until we and the other Senates have had time to consider the matter and provide the Board with our advice with respect to it.  It further suggests that the rest of this semester would be the minimum reasonable amount of time needed to do this.  A number of Senate committees have begun working toward that end.  The full text of the “Report” may be found here.