Faculty Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Donor Influence Policy
Established October 2018
September 2018 Faculty Senate motion:
It is consistent with ethical norms governing donor influence as well as the sense of numerous faculty that donors should not participate in employment matters of the University, nor should they play a role in determining the curriculum or in the direction of funding to particular students, faculty, or individual research projects.
I therefore move that an ad hoc committee of the senate shall be formed to formulate a policy consistent with these norms and this sense, in collaboration with the administration.
Committee charge:
The charge of the ad Hoc Committee on Policy Concerning Donor Influence Over Academic Matters is to examine current Faculty Manual provisions, current University Policies, and best practices of other research universities and institutions, and to consult with SLU administration in order to develop recommendations to the Faculty Senate Executive Committee and the Faculty Senate concerning any modifications to existing policy or the development of new University policies which will clarify or define the role or influence of donors in (1) Faculty hiring; (2) staff hiring; (3) academic programs; (4) curriculum; and (5) research.”
Committee membership:
Tony Breitbach (Doisy), Beth Freeburg (Education; December -), Scott Isbell (Medicine), Yvette Liebesman (Law), Huliyar Mallikarjuna (Parks), Mike Mancini (Public Health and Social Justice), Norma Metheny (Nursing), Takako Nomi (Education; October - December), Gregory Pass (Libraries), April Trees (A&S), Daniel Warren (A&S), Bonnie Wilson (Business; October - March 6)
Committee activity and related communications
03.06. Meeting, 2:15 - 3:45. Fitzgerald Hall 229. Agenda
02.20. Meeting, 2:15 - 3:45. Fitzgerald Hall 224. (4:00 meeting with CFO David Heimburger in DuBourg 202.) Agenda
02.13. Meeting, 2:15 - 3:30. Fitzgerald Hall 224. Agenda
02.06. Meeting, 2:15 - 3:45. Fitzgerald Hall 224. Agenda
02.01: Meeting with Provost Gillis, 2:00 - 3:30. Fitzgerald Hall 224. Agenda; slides; questions (currently internal); minutes (currently internal)
UPDATE (01.28) from Provost Gillis: CFO David Heimburger, General Counsel Bill Kauffman, and VP Sheila Manion will join
01.23: Meeting, 2:15 - 3:45. Fitzgerald Hall 224. Agenda; minutes
01.16: email invitation to VP of Development Shelia Manion (see also 11.05 and 11.27) and CFO David Heimburger
01.11: CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER AND UNIVERSITY CLOSING. Meeting with Provost Gillis, 1 - 2:30, MDD 2101C. Agenda; slides
Meeting planning google doc (internal).
01.11: New Walton Family Foundation-funded center in the School of Education announced via the St. Louis Business Journal.
12.13: Meeting with VP Ken Olliff and Provost Mike Lewis, 10:30 - 11:45, DBG-450. Agenda; minutes
12.11: Resolution passed in the Faculty Senate recommending that that the president consult the full Faculty Senate and affected faculty assembly bodies before making any decision to establish a new center or institute until policy and guidelines are developed. Response from President Pestello (02.01).
12.07: email invitation to VP and General Counsel William Kauffman and Senior Associate General Counsel Danielle Uy; 12.14 follow-up
11.05: email invitations to VP of Development Sheila Manion and VP for Research Ken Olliff; 11.07 follow-up; 11.27 follow-up
11.01: FS President and Chair of the AJCU Faculty Senate Presidents’ Council Doug Rush contacts Jesuit University Faculty Senate Presidents requesting policies and other information related to donor influence.
10.19: email - scheduling, web page, shared folder
Committee working documents (internal to committee members until finalized)
Best practices; principles and ethics; faculty manual; Gift acceptance policy
COI policies research (from Tony)
Summary of research: shows consensus among multiple stakeholder groups recommending a process that is more transparent and inclusive of faculty input
ICOI policies at US Research Universities [New - 02.13]
Questions for VP Olliff and Provost Lewis
Documents and links
SLU Faculty Manual
SLU Policy on the Distinction between Gifts and Sponsored Programs
SLU Guidelines for the Selection and Review of Endowed Chairs and Named Professorships
SLU COI policies. Institutional; research
Need to find Board COI policy
Higher Learning Commission Criteria for Accreditation (CRRT.B.10.010) [see Criterion 2. Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct]
Association of Governing Boards (AGB) - Statement on External Influences
CASE
Maintains a library of gift acceptance policies by institution type (login needed through institutional membership)
Links courtesy of VP Sheila Manion:
AAUP
Principles to Guide Academy-Industry Engagement; Principles and Standards
Donor Control Over Charitable Gifts - The Catholic Foundation's The Good Advisor, volume XXI, issue III
Guidelines for Reporting and Counting Charitable Gifts
Gift Policy (CASE has a library of policies)
Columbia University Gift Policy Manual
Loyola University Maryland Gift Acceptance Policy
Declaration of research independence - WFU Eudaimonia Institute
Academic patronage and research independence - from Heterodox Academy
UFF-FSU statement on donor agreements
GMU Report of the Review of Gift Agreements - October 2018 [Includes recommendations regarding gift acceptance policies, procedures and protocols]; FS motion to pause funding of gifts with temporary support of permanent positions.
Wake Forest Report of the ad hoc senate committee on the Eudaimonia Institute; Committee of Academic Freedom and Responsibility Report
UIUC senate resolution (2007); AAUP policy committee action
FSU faculty senate ad hoc committee report
WCU ad hoc committee report
Syracuse Senate Committee on Research report
University of Utah statement of faculty concern
University of Oregon and "University of Nike" book
Harvard - gifts versus sponsored research policy.
AJCU May 2018 Connections magazine: Building a Culture of Philanthropy
Chronicle: How Academic Corruption Works
Times Higher Education: University Donations: No Strings Attached?
Plutocratic Philanthropy, Journal of Politics
Dave Rapach's Academic Capture web page
Establishing Centers or Institutes
IRS rules and regulations on donor influence
IRS control test for type III supporting organizations (see part 3)
"An organization will be considered controlled, for purposes of section 509(a)(3)(C), if the disqualified persons, by aggregating their votes or positions of authority, may require such organization to perform any act which significantly affects its operation or may prevent such organization from performing such act. This includes, but is not limited to, the right of any substantial contributor or his spouse to designate annually the recipients, from among the publicly supported organizations of the income attributable to his contribution to the supporting organization."