Code Committee 2021-2022 Annual Report

Library Governance Committee Final Report 

Fiscal Year: 2021-2022 

Committee Name: LFSA Committee on the Code and Bylaws  

Committee Chair: Scott Cossel 

Members (with terms): 

• Jon Giullian [2020-2022] 

• Jamene Brooks-Kieffer [2021-2023] 

• Scott Cossel [2021-2023] 

• Angela Rathmel, LFSA-Executive Liaison [2021-2022] 

Standing Charges 

• Reviews the University of Kansas Libraries Code of Governance, as well as any proposed  amendments to ensure that all sections and parts conform to the stated purposes of the  LFSA, LSA, and LFA. 

• Upon request of any member or committee conveyed through the LFA or LSA Executive  Committees, renders interpretive decisions as to the meaning of a particular section or  part of the Code. 

• Forwards recommendations and decisions to the respective LFA or LSA Executive  Committees. 

Standing Charges Progress/Accomplishment Summary 

• Not applicable; though all three standing charges are addressed below in relation to the  special charges assigned to the Committee this year. 

Special Charges 

• Special charge for Committee on the Code regarding equity 

o Review Code for equity-related changes, with particular focus on inequities  between faculty and staff processes and procedures (e.g., Committee for Dean's  5-year Review). 

o Analysis is due to LFSA Exec by March 1st. 

The example of the Code’s sections on Dean’s Review for faculty vs. staff is the context for  this special charge. The faculty processes differ from staff processes. (i.e., election vs  appointment, opt in vs opt out). Why these two sections are so different, and the potential  inequities those differences present, led to the desire to review the entire Code for similar  differences in treatment between faculty and staff in other processes or procedures relevant  to both. 

• Special charge for Committee on the Code regarding LFA elected committee  membership recusal 

o Review Code sections for LCPT and SLPTR membership and suggest where  appropriate membership restrictions could be changed to recusal 

o Analysis is due to LFA-Exec by April 1st, proposed Code change due to LFA by  April 15th.

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Project Closure Report 

In response to the limited available faculty to serve on LFA elected committees (SLPTR and  LCPT) due both the membership restrictions and high faculty turnover, LFA-Exec reviewed  restrictions on membership based on supervisor/supervisee, mentor/mentee, and  familial/domestic relationship, and the potential to revise these restrictions to requirements  of recusal instead. Suggested revisions were provided by LFA-Exec Secretary and Chair. 

Special Charges Progress/Accomplishment Summary 

• Regarding the special charge on language equity within the Code, the Committee  reviewed and identified inconsistencies amongst the LFA and LSA sections in the current  language of the Code. Those inconsistencies centered on language for the Dean’s  Review Committee and service on external committees and bodies. A report, including  conclusions and recommendations, was sent to LFSA-Exec for review along with a copy  of the current Code with comments and recommendations noted in the margins. Regarding the special charge on LFA elected committee membership recusal, the  Committee reviewed the sections of the Code related the LCPT and SLPTR Committees  and cross-reviewed with the University’s Faculty Senate Rules & Regulations (FSRR), the  University’s Post-Tenure Review policy, and suggestions provided by members of LFSA Exec. A report, including conclusions and recommendations for where in the Code recusal language might be inserted was sent to LFSA-Exec for review. Upon request from  LFSA-Exec, the Committee drafted revisions based on our findings and  

recommendations. The suggested revisions to the Code were presented to the LFA  General Assembly at a meeting in May 2022. 

Other Activities or Accomplishments 

• Not applicable 

Potential Charges for Future Committees/Recommendations 

• Draft language for potential revisions to the Code based on Committee’s  recommendation document regarding equity (March 2022) and send to LFSA-Exec for  approval. Potential charge is contingent on whether LFSA-Exec pursues Code revisions  based on the Committee’s findings. 

Please review the Committee’s portion of the Library Governance website and the Code:  http://lfsa.ku.edu/code-versions. Does it need updating/correcting? 

• The Committee recommends adjusting text in line 642 of the Code to state “Forwards  recommendations and decisions to the respective LFSA, LFA, or LSA Executive  Committees.” 

• No recommendations regarding the Committee’s portion of the LFSA governance  website at this time. 

Prepared by: Scott Cossel

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