Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1944 [PAGE 119]

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[October 17

It is, of course, an essential responsibility of the Deans and the President to help in finding these scholars and to provide and maintain the buildings, equipment, and staff for their work. T h e University of Chicago became a great University under President Harper because he found and was able to attract to his campus through most adequate salaries many distinguished scholars. It was not because he had a top management group of high-salaried administrators who conducted a business. T h e University of Chicago will cease to be a great University when it is unable to hold and attract distinguished scholars to its faculty, no matter how many high-salaried executives are in top management positions.

III. MAJOR PROPOSALS OF T H E REPORT

As the letter of transmittal indicates, the Survey proposes a far-reaching plan of reorganization for the administration of the University, as well as numerous changes in the use and structure of various buildings. It provides for three new principal officers: Vice President of Education and Research, Business Manager, and Vice President of Public Relations (pp. 66-72), directly under the President, in addition to the present Executive Dean of the Chicago Colleges. It also provides for 41 additional positions and for the elimination of 33 positions, together with numerous salary increases and decreases. These positions are listed in the Appendix to the Report. T h e total of these salary increases is $161,270 and the total of the salary decreases is $153,468, so that the net increase (exclusive of salary increases and decreases in clerical and stenographic personnel which have not been taken into consideration at all) is estimated by the Report to be $7,802 per year. In addition to these changes in administrative personnel, the Survey proposes (Item 5 on p. 209) numerous and important changes in the Physical Plant itself, if the new officers are appointed and properly housed and the new business methods and procedures are put into effect. There are also eleven specific changes in present business methods and procedures recommended (pp. 237, 238). The program of capital expenditures for changes in the Physical Plant embraces seven principal items (pp. 213, 214) for which no cost estimates arcsubmitted. T h e probable cost of carrying out such a program of major building remodeling will not be less than $500,000, based on our experience in doing similar work on the campus. Moreover, the necessity for doing this work must be weighed against pressing educational and research needs. It is finally estimated (p. 240) that if all the changes in personnel and buildings recommended by the Survey are put into effect the annual savings in operation should amount to not less than $50,000 per year. This estimate, however, is extremely indefinite and is not supported by detailed evidence. The estimated annual savings of $50,000' consist of the following items: (i) Estimated additional cash discounts $ 5 (These are contingent on an increase in working cash funds bylegislative action.) (ii) Estimated reduction in clerical and secretarial help 45 (Based on 10% of present salaries, and to be gained by job evaluation, work load studies, etc. The saving, of course, is merely a guess, for it overlooks many departments inadequately supplied with clerical help, existing salary scales which are too low, and our own studies of job evaluation, work load, and the like.) (iii) Estimated savings in printing costs 5 (But based on a merger of printing facilities which could be effected only by a large capital expenditure.) Estimated total $55 Less new administrative staff (net) —7 Net estimated savings per year $47 000 000

000 000 802 198

It should be pointed out also that a great many changes in the present University Statutes, some new legislation such as an increase from $100,000 to $250,000 in working cash funds, a capital appropriation of at least $500,000 from the State, and amendments to the new University Civil Service Act will be necessary if the Survey proposals are put into effect. /The sum of $50,000 is mentioned in the letter of transmittal and the sum of $55,000 is mentioned on p. 240 of the Report.