Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1994 [PAGE 565]

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1996]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

553

said that setting money aside for salary increases for faculty who are good teachers is important in this regard. Continuing the discussion on the undergraduate experience at the Chicago campus, the candidate stressed that recruitment of larger numbers of outstanding students would be a priority. Expansion of the Honors College was cited as a need, in order to attract more of the State's outstanding students. Trustee Lopez asked the candidate about plans to make the campus a more diverse environment. The candidate responded that UIC is today the most diverse institution of its type in the country, that is among Research I universities. Next, Trustee Gravenhorst asked the candidate to describe relationships with faculty. The candidate referred to meetings with the faculty through senate committees and working with them on standing committees, such as the Campus Priorities Committee. Next, Mrs. Gravenhorst asked the candidate about developing relationships with the alumni. The candidate replied that the administrative structure of the Alumni Association needed to be changed, as is planned. This candidate opined that having a campus administrator for the Alumni Association report to the chancellor as well as the executive director of the Alumni Association would help draw the chancellor into alumni activities more effectively. Trustee O'Malley then asked the candidate what the major issue confronting higher education in the future would likely be. The candidate cited external forces that would have an effect on the academic enterprise but were not directly related, such as reduction in autonomy of universities, deferred maintenance of university facilities, managing technology, and for universities such as UIC, such external issues as managed care and the Federal government withdrawing support in many ways. Next, Trustee Calder asked why the candidate thought more Urbana students did not attend summer classes at UIC. The candidate indicated that this would be good for UIC, that there was no resistance, but there were no answers at this time. Trustee Gindorf asked the candidate what should be done at UIC to help the health sciences. The candidate noted that the timing of some changes had been difficult for UIC. Following that, the candidate said that support staff needed attention in terms of training and responding to the public. Also, the facilities needed renewal, such as the proposed State support program now being considered by the legislature would provide. (This program is known as Excellence in Illinois Medicine in the legislation proposed.) Following this, Trustee Lamont asked the candidate about the need to work with elected officials and government administrators, asking specifically how comfortable the candidate would be with this task. The candidate responded by saying that previous work with the mayor's