EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
Present: Bender, Fuller, Humes, Jackson, Miller, Prochaska-Cue, Scheideler, Siekman, Swoboda, Zorn
Absent: Bryant, Latta, Whitt
Date: November 29, 2000
Location: 420 University Terrace, Academic Senate Office
1.0 Call to Order
Scheideler called the meeting to order at 3:05 pm.
2.0 Announcements
No announcements were made.
3.0 Approval of 11/15/00 Minutes
Bender moved and Miller seconded approval of the minutes. Motion approved.
4.0 Review Revised UNL Bylaws
The committee began reviewing the Revised UNL Bylaws. A summary of the review will be provided to the Senate upon its completion.
5.0 Unfinished Business
5.1 Communication Strategies with Legislature
Item postponed due to lack of time.
6.0 New Business
6.1 Release of Disciplinary Records on Students
Scheideler stated that students representing the Daily Nebraskan have asked the Academic Senate to review isses related to release of information related to violations of the Student Code of Conduct. She pointed out that federal law was amended in 1998 declaring that student disciplinary records were not necessarily considered part of the academic record and that the information provided in the disciplinary record may be released if the safety of other persons is involved. Scheideler stated that the University and State Attorney General Stenberg have agreed that the University has the right to keep this information confidential. Scheideler reported that the 1996 Task Force Report on Conduct Standards and Behavioral Expectations recommended that the results of alleged Student Code of Conduct violations be made public on a regular basis, within the legal restrictions imposed. Fuller pointed out that not reporting information regarding crimes on campus could give a false impression of how safe a campus is. Bender noted that a double standard would exist if Judicial Board records are released but Academic Rights & Responsibilities Committee information on faculty and staff is not. He stated some legal experts believe that at some point information in the behavioral portion of a students record should be disclosed in accordance with the Nebraska Public Records law. He suggested that the rational for the state exemption should no longer apply due to the change in the federal law. Bender noted that he believed that the Daily Nebraskan was not asking for specific names of individuals that have been involved in cases of violation of the student code of conduct. They are asking for a disclosure of the types of crimes committed and the disciplinary actions given for these crimes. Humes pointed out that disclosure of this information would allow students involved in violations to see if they were being fairly judged. He noted that most cases are resolved internally with the Director of Judicial Affairs and that only appeals go to the Judicial Board. He suggested that there should be disclosure on the type, number and outcomes of all judicial cases. The Executive Committee agreed that the appropriate language associated with this issue in the Regents Bylaws and the Student Code of conduct needs to be to be supported.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:55 pm. The next meeting will be held on December 6th at 3:00 in 201 Canfield Adminstation Building. Respectfully submitted, David Jackson, Secretary.
