08/22/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/22/2024 14:37
Dear campus community,
UIC has a proud tradition of fostering a vibrant academic environment where diverse perspectives are welcomed. In a rapidly changing local, national and global landscape, it is imperative that we review and refine our policies and procedures to ensure they not only meet current legal and ethical standards but also effectively support our community's intellectual growth and resilience.
Several months ago, Chancellor Marie Lynn Miranda charged a task force to review and update UIC's long-standing open expression policy. At the request of University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen, she charged a second task force with creating recommendations for a new policy on university public statements.
This past week, university leadership, including Deans Council and Executive Cabinet, reviewed and offered feedback on the draft policies. Beginning next week, consultation will continue with key university governing bodies, including the Senate Executive Committee (SEC), Academic Professionals Advisory Committee (APAC), Staff Advisory Committee (SAC) and student governance organizations. The draft policies (the proposed updates to the open expression policy and proposed new policy for public statements) will also be available for faculty, staff and student feedback online through Friday, Sept. 6, allowing for consideration of all input before finalizing the policies. We welcome your input.
The current open expression policy has been in place since May 2018. An update was needed to ensure that it effectively supports a culture of open inquiry and respects the rights and responsibilities of all community members.
The updated policy:
A new public statement policy upholds constitutionally protected free speech, clarifies the distinction between an institutional statement and a statement made by an institutional entity, and outlines the appropriate use of university resources for public statements.
The new policy:
This policy does not address statements made by individual members of UIC on their own behalf. UIC fully supports academic freedom and individuals' constitutional right to express their personal opinions on political or social issues. This policy ensures that all public statements align with the university's mission, uphold its values and reflect its commitment to respectful and inclusive dialogue.
Our values are what make UIC a vibrant and inclusive community. We are at our best when we foster an environment where all voices are heard, respected and celebrated. We can and must continue to learn from and with each other as we advance UIC's mission to provide the broadest access to the highest levels of educational, research and clinical excellence.
Sincerely,
John Coronado
Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services
Co-chair, Open Expression Task Force
Michael Ginsburg
Special Advisor to the Chancellor for Student Affairs
Co-chair, Open Expression Task Force
Chandra Harris-McCray
Vice Chancellor for Strategic Marketing and Communications
Co-chair, Public Statements Task Force
Nicky Boothe
Dean, School of Law
Co-chair, Public Statements Task Force
For more information, please contact:
Strategic Marketing and Communications
[email protected]