Interim University President Henry Bienen gave departing remarks at the second Faculty Assembly of the year Monday, discussing Northwestern’s November deal with the federal government and the University’s budget. Faculty also considered potential changes to the faculty handbook at the meeting in Scott Hall.
The University president presides over Faculty Assembly meetings as outlined in Article V of the Faculty Assembly’s bylaws.
While the presidential transition is set to take place July 1, Bienen said he will vacate his office June 26. He took office in September after former University President Michael Schill resigned unexpectedly, leading the University’s negotiations with the federal government before its November funding deal.
Since then, Bienen said the University has not dealt with the federal government “very much” but noted that NU submitted a self-evaluation required by the agreement. He said the federal government did not respond to it.
The University has received almost all the money that the federal government had frozen, except a couple million dollars that NU did not get back for work completed during work stop orders from the Department of Defense, Bienen said.
“We didn’t stop work because our trustees funded work we thought was important: just as an example, a clinical trial for children with cancer,” Bienen said. “We were not going to stop work on that. That was horrendous.”
Bienen went on to say that NU’s budgets are in “good shape” and stabilized for the time being. He also noted the endowment has done well in the markets, better than those of similar universities.
He ended by arguing people need to recognize that the world of research has changed, even after the Trump administration ends.
“I don’t think we’re going to see, in any easy time forward, big increases in science and research funding,” Bienen said. “I’m worried about (the National Science Foundation), where all kinds of political conditions are being put on NSF. Maybe that will go away in a new administration. I hope it does, but the budgets are going to be tough (with) the federal government.”
Outgoing University Provost Kathleen Hagerty, who in October announced she would be stepping down at the end of the year, said in a farewell speech that her admiration for faculty and their excellence in teaching and research only grew during her time as provost.
She was followed by a brief speech from incoming Provost Erik Luijten, who officially assumes the position on July 1.
“Kathleen Hagerty has shown me so many different sides of the University, and I have received so much counsel also from (Bienen),” Luijten said. “So I feel very prepared.”
Following the speeches, faculty discussed proposed changes to the faculty handbook. Faculty Senate President and political science Prof. Ian Hurd informed faculty about a resolution passed by NU’s Faculty Senate to amend the handbook.
The amendment would give faculty the right to appeal if the University removes them from teaching or research positions. Hurd said the Senate is discussing the proposed amendment with the Office of the Provost.
Finally, President of NU’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors and political science Prof. Jacqueline Stevens introduced a proposed resolution, calling for additional changes to the faculty handbook.
The Faculty Assembly did not reach a quorum so was unable to vote on the resolution.
Stevens noted the faculty handbook states that it takes precedence to any school and departments policies.
“It’s where the rubber meets the road, so to speak, and what we need to address to best protect ourselves against retaliation for our teaching, research and public statements,” Stevens said.
The resolution proposes multiple changes that include adding research and library faculty to the handbook, allowing for appealable suspensions before they are implemented, forming the Faculty Appeals Panel from a lottery pool and limiting disclosures and changes that Stevens said support Illinois’ Personnel Records Review Act.
Some faculty asked questions about the resolution while McCormick Prof. Seth Lichter spoke extensively against it, identifying ways the resolution goes against the norm. Feinberg Prof. Peter Sporn spoke in support of the resolution.
“I realize we’re not going to vote on (the resolution), but it seems to me that (Lichter’s) objections shouldn’t go unchallenged, because I think they focus on minor points which are probably not accurate and don’t address the most important aspects of the proposed provisions related to protecting faculty rights in a fundamental way,” Sporn said.
Email: [email protected]
X: @ninethkk
Related Stories:
— NU Faculty Assembly hears from President Bienen, votes on two resolutions in second-ever quorum
— McCormick Associate Dean, Prof. Erik Luijten announced as Northwestern’s next provost
— NU AAUP Dispatches: Freeze ice cream, not academic freedom
