UIHistories Project: A History of the University of Illinois by Kalev Leetaru
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Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1902 [PAGE 227]

Caption: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1902
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208

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

[Dec. 10

and that the Superintendent of Buildings, in connection with the department of architecture, prepare plans and specifications and estimates for the work, having regard to the amount of the appropriation and the necessity of completing the work in the next summer vacation, and that the work proceed under the general direction of the Committee on Buildings and Grounds. 7. A communication from Dean Kinley to me, suggesting general plans touching the organization and work of the contemplated department of political science and industrial economics, has been forwarded to each member of the Board. This letter expresses my own views of the subject in a general way, for it was framed after a very full comparison and adjustment of ideas concerning the matter. Beyond this the University Senate has discussed the subject somewhat, and has voted that in its judgment the new work (a) should be carried in a department of the College of Literature and Arts; (b) should be undergraduate in character without precluding graduate instruction; and (c) that museum features as means of instruction should not be relied upon or specially developed. If the Trustees have any suggestions or directions to give in the premises, either in modification or extension of the plans projected, it is desirable that, so far as practicable, they be now given, to the end that they may proceed in cordial cooperation. We have come to the time to search for the men who can inaugurate this work strongly, and it is well known that there are not many of them. It is quite possible that the characteristics of the men who may be available may in some measure modify the lines of work proposed. With the approval of the Board, I will proceed in the search, in cooperation with Dean Kinley, in the hope of being able to lay before you at the March meeting recommendations covering the work and the faculty of the new department. 8. The rule of the Board touching leaves of absence for professors begins as follows: " A professor who has served seven consecutive years, and requests it, may be given a furlough for one year on half pay." It may be remembered that the wording of this rule was arrived at rather hastily, in the midst of a busy session of the Board. I have always supposed that the common thought was that these leaves of absence were not for relief from regular work, because the summer vacations would ordinarily seem ample for that, but in order to enable professors to pursue study abroad which could not be carried on in the summer time. Some members of the Faculty, at least, have understood it otherwise. It seems to me that the view I have expressed is the only one which can be safely upheld or allowed to become of general operation. If one desires more than this the case should be special and brought up outside of the general rule, and the special circumstances and purposes shown which will justify a departure from the rule. It also seems to me that we shall avoid misunderstandings if we call the privilege accorded a "leave of absence for the purpose of foreign study" rather than a "furlough." It also seems that the privilege may as well be extended to associate professors and assistant professors as to full professors. For the purpose of securing the action of the Board and settling these matters I recommend that the rule be amended so as to read as follows: " A professor, associate professor, or assistant professor, who has served seven consecutive years, and requests it, may be given a leave of absence for the purpose of foreign study for one year on half pay; provided, that these permits shall only be given on the advice of the President, and shall not be given so as to conflict with each other in any way, or to hamper the work of the University. Also, that a professor taking such leave of absence shall pledge himself to remain at the University for three years after his return, at the salary of his grade, and that the University in return shall agree to retain him in its service during his leave of absence and for one year thereafter." 9. A recent movement of the Urbana and Champaign Street Railway Company to lay new tracks and equip and operate an electric road over their old right of way running east and west between the Mechanical Engineering Wood Shops and the Metal Shops seems to me to claim the close attention of the Board of Trustees.