Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1992 [PAGE 378]

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366

B O A R D OF T R U S T E E S

[October 7

housing for their first 30 credit hours. Specifically, Mr. Grabowski had asked that a comparison be made between the earlier rule that students live in University certified housing for their first 60 credit hours and the current "30-hour rule." Mr. Lamont, chair of the Committee on Student Welfare and Activities, introduced Dr. Stanley R. Levy, vice chancellor for student affairs, who presented this report, a copy of which is on file with the secretary of the board. Dr. Levy summarized for the board the various types of housing that qualify as "University certified housing'' and gave statistics regarding percentages of students selecting each. He noted that even though sophomore students are not required to live in University certified housing, 70 percent of them elect to do so. In response to several questions about problems, Dr. Levy described various attempts his office and others were making to address drinking problems of students, safety issues on campus, and the provision of circumstances where students could be assured nondisruptive living situations. Dr. Levy turned to the dean of students, Dr. William Riley, to describe special programs designed to decrease the pervasiveness of drinking and others intended to ensure safety for students on campus. Next, Dr. Levy asked the director of housing at the Urbana campus, George Shoffner, to describe various changes in the University residence halls that have been developed to provide students who wish an environment that is free of some kinds of noise as well as various substances. Mr. Shoffner reported that the "30-hour rule" followed by the Urbana campus is consistent with requirements at peer institutions in the Big Ten. Chancellor Aiken indicated to the board that housing policies and practices were one aspect of a comprehensive review of student services and transitional experiences for freshmen students at the University that he had undertaken and would present within the year. The president thanked Trustee Grabowski for raising the issue of student housing and thanked Vice Chancellor Levy and his staff for their thorough responses. He then spoke of the educational philosophy and political underpinnings of the issue concerning where undergraduate students live. The president stressed the conflict inherent in providing freedom of choice to students and the responsibility of the University to provide guidance and control. He noted that the latter is the reason that freshmen students are required to live in University certified housing. Further, the president noted that the economic impact over the past ten years, since the requirement for living in University certified housing was changed from 60 hours to 30 hours, had not been adverse for the University. He stressed the importance of the chancellor's task force recently commissioned at the Urbana campus to look into undergraduate education. Dr. Ikenberry emphasized that the main question was whether