[{"_1":2,"_115":-5,"_116":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,85,95,105],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6155793,"mediaKeyId","5473609-4e374e3971495e8eb9e3013e956b3ffb","parentId",5473609,"title","Students and community members press University of Illinois trustees to divest and address antisemitism and anti‑Palestinian discrimination","audioSeconds",1845,"startMs",3755000,"endMs",5600000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5473609-4e374e3971495e8eb9e3013e956b3ffb&start=3755&end=5600","thumbnailUrl","https://d352y6ypj4mjo3.cloudfront.net/AudioPlaceholder.png","articleUrl","/articles/6155793/Illinois/Students-and-community-members-press-University-of-Illinois-trustees-to-divest-and-address-antisemitism-and-antiPalestinian-discrimination","mediaUrl","author","University of Illinois Board of Trustees","date","2025-07-17T00:00:00Z","article","CHICAGO — Dozens of public commenters at the University of Illinois system board meeting on July 25 urged trustees to divest the university’s investments from companies they said fund the Israel–Gaza conflict, and described a campus climate they said has failed to protect both Jewish and Palestinian students.

Speakers representing a mix of current students, alumni and community groups told the board during the allotted public‑comment period that university relationships and investments with Israeli institutions and certain corporations amount to complicity in human rights abuses and have harmed students on campus. Charles Cohen, executive director of Metro Chicago Hillel, said Jewish students feel unsafe and urged administrators to adopt remedies similar to agreements reached in Urbana‑Champaign to address discrimination. “Jews are scared,” he said.

Other commenters detailed alleged incidents they said were evidence of anti‑Palestinian discrimination. A UIC alum who said she had served as sorority president told trustees, “Using our presence on campus is not representation, it's exploitation,” and asked the system to create a student‑selected chancellor advisory committee for Middle Eastern and North African students. Another alum said the system awarded $200,000 to research projects in partnership with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and linked that grant to broader campus harms: “That $200,000 grant went to researchers at a university in a country currently committing genocide,” she said.

Several speakers reported filing or pursuing complaints with university offices and with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. One speaker said an Office for Civil Rights investigation is now open; another said they had to file complaints after alleged removal of Palestinian students from online events and after being doxxed on a website aimed at exposing pro‑Palestinian activists. Olivia Schwartz, a student from Urbana‑Champaign, said she and others reported antisemitic incidents to campus officials and that she had seen little substantive action. “No one from the chancellor to the vice chancellor or student affairs to the Title VI office can say they are unaware,” she said.

Speakers on both sides of the issue urged stronger protections for students’ free‑speech rights and for their physical safety. Commenters demanded trustees direct the university to divest from specific defense and weapons manufacturers and to end partnerships they described as morally inconsistent with the university’s teaching on ethics and public good. One alum asked trustees to “divest from any investments in companies that sustain Israel's ability to kill us and to steal our land.”

Board chair Brandon Ruiz and other trustees declined to engage in debate during the public‑comment period; the board’s stated procedures reserve that time for comment rather than discussion. After repeated interruptions from protesters later in the session, Ruiz cautioned that disruptions could require removal and emphasized the board’s public‑comment procedures.

No formal board action on the investment or divestment requests was taken at the meeting. Several speakers said they expect further action or formal responses from the university system and noted ongoing complaints to federal civil‑rights authorities.

Why it matters: Trustees oversee university investments, policies on nondiscrimination and student conduct. Public commenters asked the board to align investment decisions and campus procedures with the university’s stated commitments to access, equity and safety for students and faculty.

What trustees recorded: The board listened to 10 public commenters under its rules and did not vote on any of the demands presented during public comment.","mediaType","Audio","parentTitle","University of Illinois Board of Trustees Meeting (July 17, 2025)","oneSentenceSummary","CHICAGO — Dozens of public commenters at the University of Illinois system board meeting on July 25 urged trustees to divest the university’s investments from companies they said fund the Israel–Gaza conflict, and described a campus climate they said has failed to protect both Jewish and Palestinian students.","taxTitle","University of Illinois Board of Trustees, U, Boards and Commissions, Executive, Illinois","taxId",54117,"location","Illinois","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":50,"_51":82,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6155775,"Board approves appointments, program changes, property acquisition and settlements in voice and roll‑call votes",250,5770000,6020000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5473609-4e374e3971495e8eb9e3013e956b3ffb&start=5770&end=6020","/articles/6155775/Illinois/Board-approves-appointments-program-changes-property-acquisition-and-settlements-in-voice-and-rollcall-votes","CHICAGO — The University of Illinois Board of Trustees approved a slate of routine academic and administrative items by voice vote and completed a roll‑call voting package that included capital and legal matters during its July 25 meeting.

In the voice vote portion, trustees approved minutes, a set of appointments (including vice chancellor for finance positions at Urbana and Springfield and a member appointment to the University of Illinois Research Park LLC board), promotions and changes in academic rank for 2025–26, an extension of the term for the dean of the College of Dentistry in Chicago, and several curricular actions including elimination of the Doctor of Arts in mathematics and establishment of a Doctor of Philosophy in engineering technology and management for agricultural systems at Urbana.

Trustees then approved the roll‑call agenda, which the secretary read aloud. Roll‑call items included approval of a project budget for an energy conservation project (laboratory facilities, Urbana), approval of acquisition of property at 901 West University Avenue in Urbana, master‑plan variance for building demolition in Springfield and several purchase recommendations. The board also authorized two settlements: Esquivel v. Soluja, RT, and Hill v. Hajiri, MD and others. The roll‑call vote was recorded as “yes to all” from trustees present, and the secretary completed a line‑by‑line roll call.

Motions and votes: The voice vote motion to approve the listed voice‑agenda items was moved by Trustee Tammy Craig Schilling and seconded; the roll‑call package motion was moved by Trustee Blackwell and seconded by Trustee Cepeda. Secretary Jeffrey Stein recorded unanimous affirmative votes among trustees present for the roll‑call items.

Why it matters: Trustees routinely approve appointments, degree program changes and capital actions; the property acquisition and settlements carry administrative and legal implications that will be handled through university channels.

What trustees recorded: The approvals were recorded and committees had reviewed most items in prior committee meetings the day before. No dissenting votes were recorded for the acted items.","At its July 25 meeting the University of Illinois Board of Trustees approved a package of routine appointments, faculty promotions and degree program changes in a voice vote and passed a roll‑call package that included a project budget, a property acquisition and authorizations for two settlements.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":50,"_51":92,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":93,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":94,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6155779,"University Senate Conference advances statutory revisions and emphasizes shared governance",208,2392000,2600000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5473609-4e374e3971495e8eb9e3013e956b3ffb&start=2392&end=2600","/articles/6155779/Illinois/University-Senate-Conference-advances-statutory-revisions-and-emphasizes-shared-governance","CHICAGO — The University Senate Conference (USC) told trustees on July 25 that it has advanced a major statutory overhaul known as ST83 and has been closely involved in consultation over Discovery Partners Institute governance and other shared‑governance matters.

Jeffrey Eric Jenkins, chair of the University Senate Conference, summarized USC’s work during the 2024–25 academic year. He said USC appears 33 times in the text of the statutes, reflecting its formal role, and noted the ST83 process has included multiple rounds of feedback from the three campus senates and consultation with system administration.

“The s t 83 process continues, and I expect we will see a positive outcome in the coming academic year,” Jenkins said. He described a statutes and governance committee working to synthesize senate input and produce a final draft for the president’s office and emphasized that the revision process is iterative and requires further senate consideration on academic‑freedom and tenure issues.

Jenkins also said USC engaged in discussions about shared governance in the context of changes to the Discovery Partners Institute (DPI), noting USC representation on DPI’s executive committee during the institute’s development. The conference reviewed DPI steering‑committee reports and forwarded synthesized feedback to university leadership, Jenkins said.

Why it matters: Statutory revisions and shared‑governance arrangements shape faculty roles, tenure protections and the involvement of faculty and academic senates in university policy. Changes to DPI’s governance could affect how the system coordinates research and external partnerships.

What trustees recorded: USC will continue consultations with system leadership on ST83 and DPI and expects further steps in the next academic year; no formal board action was taken at this meeting beyond receiving the report.","The University Senate Conference reported work on a major statutory revision called ST83, consulted on the Discovery Partners Institute changes and stressed shared governance and academic freedom during the past academic year.",{"_33":96,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":97,"_41":98,"_43":99,"_45":100,"_47":101,"_49":50,"_51":102,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":103,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":104,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6155784,"UIC highlights $10.6 billion economic impact, new community health and quantum initiatives",614,1642000,2256000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5473609-4e374e3971495e8eb9e3013e956b3ffb&start=1642&end=2256","/articles/6155784/Illinois/UIC-highlights-106-billion-economic-impact-new-community-health-and-quantum-initiatives","CHICAGO — University of Illinois Chicago Chancellor Marie Lynn Miranda used the July 25 Board of Trustees meeting to summarize UIC’s community engagement, workforce initiatives and research investments, and to list recent grants and partnerships aimed at supporting Chicago neighborhoods.

Miranda said a system‑commissioned report estimates UIC contributes $10.6 billion in income to Illinois annually and noted a Carnegie Foundation designation identifying UIC as an “opportunity university” for providing broad access and improved post‑graduation earnings. She pointed to workforce programs such as Chicago Roadmap 2 and UIC’s partnerships with employers including ComEd, Morningstar and JPMorgan Chase that, she said, strengthen career pipelines.

Miranda highlighted health‑care initiatives at UI Health: a $33,000,000 state award for a Community Centered Comprehensive Care model (C6) on the Southwest Side and an $11,000,000 maternal‑health research center focused on pregnancy outcomes. She also cited more than $485,000,000 in research funding secured during the fiscal year and noted that UIC faculty received 15 National Science Foundation CAREER awards.

On technology and research collaboration, Miranda described a planned quantum research visioning event on campus in August 2025 and UIC’s leadership in the Co‑Design Center for Quantum Advantage, a U.S. Department of Energy center. She said UIC is leading the ReactWise consortium, a Department of Energy initiative with a $4.8 million allocation \"aimed at ensuring that all groups participate in and benefit from the quantum revolution.\"

Why it matters: UIC’s stated expansion of community engagement and targeted research investments affect workforce development and health outcomes in Chicago neighborhoods and inform trustees’ oversight of system priorities and external partnerships.

What trustees recorded: Trustees heard the chancellor’s report and acknowledged UIC’s partnerships and grant awards; no board action was taken on the described projects at the meeting.","Chancellor Marie Lynn Miranda told trustees that UIC’s civic engagement includes neighborhood partnerships, workforce programs and major research initiatives. She cited $10.6 billion in annual income contribution to Illinois and itemized state and federal awards for health and quantum projects.",{"_33":106,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":107,"_41":108,"_43":109,"_45":110,"_47":111,"_49":50,"_51":112,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":113,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":114,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6155789,"University of Illinois president touts record enrollment, warns of federal funding headwinds",244,906000,1150000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5473609-4e374e3971495e8eb9e3013e956b3ffb&start=906&end=1150","/articles/6155789/Illinois/University-of-Illinois-president-touts-record-enrollment-warns-of-federal-funding-headwinds","CHICAGO — University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen told the Board of Trustees on July 25 that the system is following strong enrollment and degree‑production trends even as it prepares for possible federal funding cuts.

“We again have record enrollment,” Killeen said, citing systemwide enrollment near 98,000 students and more than 27,000 degrees awarded annually. Killeen highlighted research and public‑health contributions from across the system, including the Shield test‑and‑trace program developed during the pandemic and shared with other institutions, and he noted the system’s economic impact on Illinois: $24.9 billion a year.

Killeen also described the system’s investment in student aid and affordability. He said the system now directs about $283,000,000 in institutional financial aid annually and pointed to relatively modest tuition increases over the past decade. He acknowledged headwinds ahead: “Changes in federal policies and priorities continue to come at us rapidly, and there is no doubt that they will mean deep cuts in federal funding for research and education,” he said, urging trustees to work with system leadership on resilience and partnerships.

Killeen framed the university’s role as both an educator and an economic engine; he highlighted partnerships with government, industry and internal units such as the Discovery Partners Institute and the Illinois Innovation Network. He also welcomed newly designated and incoming chancellors and installed student trustees during the meeting.

Why it matters: The president’s comments set the system’s near‑term priorities — maintaining access and affordability while protecting research funding. Trustees use these assessments when considering budgets, capital projects and strategic partnerships.

What trustees recorded: The board accepted Killeen’s remarks and proceeded to committee reports and public comment; no formal system‑level budget changes were voted at this meeting beyond routine agenda approvals.","President Tim Killeen told the trustees on July 25 that the system has record enrollment and increased economic impact but faces possible federal research and education funding cuts, and highlighted programs such as Shield test‑and‑trace and expanded financial aid.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Students and community members press University of Illinois trustees to divest and address antisemitism and anti‑Palestinian discrimination

Board approves appointments, program changes, property acquisition and settlements in voice and roll‑call votes

University Senate Conference advances statutory revisions and emphasizes shared governance

UIC highlights $10.6 billion economic impact, new community health and quantum initiatives

University of Illinois president touts record enrollment, warns of federal funding headwinds