Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1934 [PAGE 478]

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476

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[April I I

PROFESSOR WILLARD'S ACCEPTANCE OF THE PRESIDENCY

President Williams presented for record a letter from Professor Arthur Cutts Willard, accepting the Presidency of the University.

April 6, 1934 Mr. Walter W. Williams, President, Board of Trustees

M Y D E A R PRESIDENT WILLIAMS:

In addition to my recent verbal acceptance of the presidency of the University of Illinois, effective J uly 1, 1934, may I also express my deep appreciation of the action of the Board of Trustees in selecting me for this important post. I realize that this selection is, in itself, a great honor, but I know that it also imposes great responsibilities. M y success in discharging these responsibilities will depend in large measure upon the advice and counsel of the Board itself, and with that assistance I hope tojustify, insofar as may be possible, your confidence in my ability to administer the office of President. While it is neither feasible nor desirable, a t this time, for me to formulate any statement of policy concerning the future development of the University, it may not be out of place to record briefly my present conception of the functions and objectives of the Institution. "The University of Illinois was founded to serve the people and the industries of the State, and the record of its accomplishments is written largely in the lives of its alumni—the men and women who have been its students and then gone forth to make the world a better place to live in. "The opportunity and the need of worth while service to the State is probably greater today than ever before in the history of the University. This opportunity will be met with all the resources which the faculty and scientific staffs of the University, both in Urbana-Champaign and in Chicago, can bring to bear on the educational, as well as the social and industrial, development of the State of Illinois." With the assurance that I will devote my best efforts to the service of our University, and with sincere personal regards to yourself and the other members of the Board, I remain Cordially yours,

A. C. WILLARD

Acting Dean and Director

For lack of a quorum, the Board adjourned.

H. E. CUNNINGHAM WALTER W. WILLIAMS

Secretary

President

E X E C U T I V E C O M M I T T E E M E E T I N G , APRIL 11, 1934 A meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois was held at the University, in Urbana, on Wednesday, April 11, 1934, immediately following the adjournment of the meeting of the Board on the same day. Mr. Walter W. Williams, Chairman, and Mr. Edward E. Barrett, a member of the Committee, were present; also Mr. James W. Armstrong, Mrs. Nellie V. Freeman, and Mr. 0 . M. Karraker, members of the Board, Dr. Arthur H. Daniels, Acting President, and, during part of the day, Professor Arthur C. Willard, President elect.

MATTERS PRESENTED BY PRESIDENT DANIELS

The Executive Committee considered the following matters presented by the Acting President of the University.