The Board of Trustees is the employer as defined in the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act of all employees of Illinois State University. The Board delegates to the President the authority to negotiate with recognized employee organizations and to execute collective bargaining agreements on behalf of the Board.
All notifications and correspondence required by the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act shall be directed to the President's Office of Illinois State University.
Employee organizations as defined by the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act shall have access to campus facilities subject to such reasonable limitations necessary for orderly operation as established by the University. Employee organizations may use the campus mail service for the distribution of literature pursuant to University policy and procedures subject to the first priority of U.S. mail and official University mail. Employee organizations may contact employees on campus at times when employees are not working but shall respect the request of any employee who does not desire to participate in or be exposed to such contact.
In the event of a strike or work stoppage on the part of any employee of Illinois State University, the officers of the Board of Trustees are authorized to commence legal proceedings as may be appropriate. Prior to such action, the Board shall determine and declare that the strike or work stoppage is unlawful or is a clear and present danger to the health or safety of the public.
In accordance with the applicable provisions of the United States Internal Revenue Code, and "An Act in relation to payments to custodial accounts for the benefit of employees of public institutions of higher education," PA 83-261, and "An Act in Relation to State Finance," approved June 10, 1919, as amended, the Board of Trustees shall provide a tax-deferred compensation plan for the employees of the University. This plan shall be administered by the President of Illinois State University who shall have the authority to take such actions not inconsistent herewith, whereby the employees of the Board of Trustees of Illinois State University may enter into agreements with the employer to elect to receive, in lieu of salary or wages, benefits which are tax-deferred under the federal Internal Revenue Code.
It shall be the policy of the Board of Trustees of Illinois State University that equal opportunity shall be offered in the appointment of all employees in compliance with applicable State and Federal equal employment opportunities laws, University policies and with the intent to encourage diversity. The University shall use recruitment practices aimed toward identifying, securing and maintaining equitable representation and toward seeking full utilization of minorities and women in all organizational units and job classifications. The University shall also establish affirmative action policies and procedures which shall provide for the fair, impartial and equal treatment of applicants for employment and promotion and which shall assure that the University recruits from the largest potential pool of qualified applicants.
Employees are selected for employment and promotion without regard to relationship by blood or marriage in accordance with appropriate qualifications for the performance of specified duties. However, no individual shall initiate or participate in personnel decisions involving initial employment, retention, promotion, salary, leave of absence or other direct benefit to an individual employee who is a member of the same immediate family. Immediate family include an employee's spouse, parents, brothers, sisters and children.
For the purpose of this policy, financial exigency shall be defined as follows:
A financial exigency is a condition affecting the whole university. It will be considered to exist when (1) the State operating appropriation for Illinois State University adjusted for any mandated salary increments and for the impact of inflation on non-personal service costs and excluding retirement, is expected to be less than that of the previous year or when the funds made available to operate the University are reduced in the course of a fiscal year below the level of the appropriation authorized by the Governor and General Assembly, and (2) when either type of reduction if evaluated in relation to the major program and service commitments of the University can be expected to require a reduction in the number of authorized faculty positions and the emergency layoff of tenure-track or tenured faculty.
Identification of a Financial Exigency--Advisory Financial Exigency Committee
When the President believes that a financial exigency is imminent, the President shall inform the University community and provide an explanation to the elected campus organizations or other appropriate bodies. The President shall also designate, if this has not been done previously, and begin consultation with an advisory financial exigency committee representing administrators and faculty holding academic rank, administrative/professional personnel who do not possess academic rank, civil service personnel and students. If feasible, the existing committee structure of the University shall be utilized to serve this purpose. After receiving the advice of the committee and whomever else the President deems it necessary and desirable to consult, if the President remains convinced that financial exigency is imminent, the President shall present the matter to the Board.
Board Declaration
The Board shall take up the issue of financial exigency when requested to do so by the President. It shall review all written documentation and information presented by the University and any other concerned groups or individuals. The issue shall be reviewed in open session at the earliest Board meeting possible (if necessary, one called specially for this purpose). The meeting shall be open to presentations by concerned parties from the University community. The issue shall be put to vote through a formal motion to declare a state of financial exigency at the University.
Implementation
After the Board has declared a state of financial exigency, the President shall take action to allocate necessary funding reductions among the various departments and cost centers. The President shall have the authority and responsibility to make the necessary decisions on allocating budget reductions within the University.
The statutes, rules and regulations of the State Universities Retirement System will provide the basis for all employee retirements, unless modified for University employees by the Board. Exceptions may be granted by the President after initial discussion with the Board in executive session.
The Board of Trustees in order to facilitate the useful application of knowledge, research and other creative activity, encourages and supports efforts of employees and students to develop products, inventions, and other forms of intellectual property. It is also recognized that the Board, through the University, has certain rights and interests under federal and state law with regard to intellectual property developed by employees and students. Such intellectual property includes inventions, products, computer software, literary and artistic works. The Board directs that the President develop policies and procedures to appropriately assess these rights and provide supportive services. The university policies and procedures shall be effective upon approval by the President
The President or a designated representative may grant tuition and fee waivers to or for the benefit of university faculty, administrative/professional, civil service employees and retirees.
adopted: 05/09/1997
