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Procedures Governing Appearances Before the Board of Trustees

Making a Request

  1. Requests to appear for public comment to the Board must be received by the Secretary in writing no later than three business days before the Board meeting at which the individual wishes to speak.
  2. In making a request to appear before the Board, individuals must give their names and any relevant title or affiliation. Substitute speakers or ceding a speaker’s time will not be permitted. Approved speakers will be required to present photo identification at the meeting prior to speaking.
  3. Each request should set out clearly the nature of the subject matter to be presented and must relate to matters within the jurisdiction of the Board of Trustees. The Board will not hear presentations or entertain questions on the following topics:
    1. issues under negotiation as part of the University’s collective bargaining process;
    2. statements concerning the private activities, lifestyles or beliefs of individuals employed by or associated with the University;
    3. grievances of individual students or employees;
    4. proposals or bids for contracts; or,
    5. litigation involving the University.
  4. The Secretary will review each request and notify the person making the request whether the person may give public comment at the next meeting.
  5. Copies of speakers’ comments, questions, and/or other written materials for distribution to the Board of Trustees will be accepted regardless of approval to speak during the public comment session. Where appropriate, responses to questions germane to the University will be provided within a reasonable amount of time. Any member of the public may submit written comments to the Board via email (UIBOT@uillinois.edu) or by sending to 352 Henry Administration Building, MC-350, 506 S. Wright St., Urbana, IL 61801.

Scheduling of Public Comment Sessions

  1. The Chair will preside during Board of Trustees' sessions to receive public comment. The Secretary is responsible for scheduling such sessions, which normally will occur after presentations to the Board and before voting on agenda items.
  2. The Board will allow up to thirty minutes in total for public comment per meeting. An individual speaker will be permitted three minutes for a presentation. Speakers must end their presentation upon the request of the Secretary when their time is up, to allow the next speaker to begin. A maximum of ten speakers will be recognized for each Board meeting.
  3. When the number of requests to address the Board at a given session exceeds the time available, requests will be approved based on the date the written request was received by the Secretary of the Board. In addition, preference will be given to subject matters that relate to the agenda for the relevant Board meeting and to avoid repetitiveness. To provide equitable opportunity to members of the public to address the Board, individuals will not be approved to appear before the Board at consecutive meetings unless fewer than the maximum number of speakers are approved to speak.

Meeting Participation

  1. The Board values and welcomes public input through attendance at meetings, participation in public comment, and written communication to the Board. Such participation should demonstrate mutual respect and not interfere with the Board's execution of its duties. Profane language, unsolicited comments, and disruptive behavior at meetings are prohibited. Individuals who are disruptive or interfere with the performance of the Board's duties may be given a warning, may be removed, may not be permitted reentry, and/or may be prohibited from attending or participating in a future meeting, at the direction of the Chair.

Revised November 13, 2025