BRIEF #3 Association of Academic Professionals University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Affiliate, Illinois Education Association (IEA/NEA) 337-5174, aap@shout.net, www.prairienet.org/aap/ 17 March 1999

Springfield Bills Could Affect APs

Voice Your Opinions Now!

Three bills of interest to academic professionals are working their way through the Illinois State Legislature. While the University of Illinois and the Illinois Education Association (IEA) are watching the bills closely, the two organizations don't agree on them. It is important for you to know where the IEA and the university stand on these bills.

Tuition Waivers for Children of Employees

An amendment to House Bill 1058 would revoke tuition waivers for children of university employees. Currently, children of public university employees can receive 50% tuition waivers if they attend a public university in Illinois. Under a bill sponsored by Rep. Bob Bugielski (D-Chicago), that tuition waiver would no longer exist for any of the nine public university systems in Illinois.

During the first week of March, the bill was approved by a House committee and is now waiting for a vote by the full House. If the House approves it, the bill will need to be re-introduced and approved by a Senate committee, then by the full Senate, and finally by the governor. According to both the IEA and U of I government relations departments, the bill's future remains uncertain.

Tuition waivers are a hot issue in Springfield, with the legislature moving to take away legislative scholarships, the so-called "secret scholarships" that every state legislator can give away. Many legislators want to keep their waivers, but others want to eliminate them and the problems they create.

In 'tit for tat' politics, APs are caught in the middle. It is speculated that Rep. Bugielski wants to keep the legislative waivers; but if he's going to lose his waivers, somebody else will lose theirs, too. That "somebody else" just happens to include academic professional employees at the University of Illinois.

The IEA opposes HB 1058 on the grounds that it takes away a benefit for employees of public universities. The University of Illinois, on the other hand, remains neutral.

If HB 1058 is going to survive, it must be approved by the legislature by Friday, March 26. The best bet for APs is to kill the bill early. While the IEA's government relations staff are working on this, your call is very important. If you want to save this benefit, call your representative and the bill's sponsor and let them know how you feel.

Higher Education "Free Speech"

In recent years, university governing boards have been erecting barriers between themselves and the public. At the U of I, for instance, the Board of Trustees imposed new rules to control what they hear. You cannot simply show up at the meeting and say your piece; instead, you must apply in writing two weeks before the meeting, telling the secretary what you hope to say. The trustees then decide whether they want to hear you. Lucky applicants are granted five minutes, but are strictly required to address only the issues mentioned in the speaking request.

If HB 2580 becomes law, such barriers would be removed.

Surprised that such barriers even existed, the House Higher Education Committee unanimously approved the bill, and on March 12, the whole House approved it, as well.

The IEA supports HB 2580, but the University of Illinois opposes it.

To ensure that the trustees behave like a truly public body, call state Sen. Stan Weaver and let him know how you want him to vote.

Fair Pay for Part-Time Faculty

The Labor Committee approved HB 605, which would require public colleges and universities to pay part-time and non-tenure track faculty equitably, compared to full-time faculty. So, for example, if the lowest-paid full-time professor earned $60,000 plus benefits, a half-time teacher could earn no less than $30,000, plus he or she would receive benefits. While the bill doesn't directly affect APs, it does show how the university feels about fairness: the university opposes the bill, saying it likes to have flexibility when setting wages.

The IEA supports HB 605.

Now, who's looking out for university employees?