Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1990 [PAGE 130]

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118

BOARD O F T R U S T E E S

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T h e president indicated that his main remarks for this meeting concerned the Federal budget deficit agreement. A m o n g items averted in this agreement is provision for all University employees to enroll in the Federal medicare p r o g r a m . If this had occurred the cost to the University would have been $12 million. Also avoided was a provision for mandatory participation in social security for students. A m o n g items included in this agreement are a continuation, for 18 months, of the research and development tax credit, support for the International Soybean Laboratory, and continuation of tax deduction to individuals who donate works of art to universities. T h e president concluded by stating that while sacrifices are definitely a part of the Federal budget as far as universities are concerned, these are much fewer than anticipated. REPORT FROM UIC SENATE Dr. Edward Lichter presented a report from the senate at the Chicago campus which included a summary of activities for the 1989-90 academic year and these two major conclusions: (1) T h e faculty have been involved in a major way in policymaking and the senate urges continuation of this; and (2) T h e Educational Policy Committee of the senate has finished the task of converting the academic calendar from the quarter system to the semester system. This will be introduced in fall 1991. For this, 5,000 courses were reviewed and the presentation of content adjusted. OLD AND NEW BUSINESS T r u s t e e Reese r e p o r t e d on the responses received from other governing b o a r d members in Big T e n institutions to a questionnaire she and T r u s t e e Wolff sent out in July 1990, seeking an indication of interest in having a Big Ten trustee conference. Approximately 90 letters and questionnaires were sent. T h e r e were 26 responses received. In addition, the secretary of the board polled seven institutions' governing b o a r d offices. Eight institutions responded. T h e responses were mixed as to interest and on this basis T r u s t e e Reese decided not to pursue planning efforts for a conference and indicated that all respondents would be so informed. Resolution, Governor James R. Thompson T r u s t e e Wolff presented a resolution to h o n o r Governor T h o m p s o n as he leaves office. It was adopted by the board without dissent.

Whereas: James R. Thompson has led the people of Illinois as their Governor for fourteen years and is the first alumnus of the University of Illinois to serve as Governor of this State; and Whereas: throughout his time as Governor, both his door and his heart have been open to this University; and