Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1904 [PAGE 96]

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72

UNIVERSITY OP ILLINOIS.

[June 8,

have been materially advanced in recent years, and now average as high as a t other state universities. I n some grades of the service they are decidedly higher. One who is induced to leave university teaching by the one consideration of increased though perhaps temporary pay in commercial work is not ordinarily the kind of man upon whom university responsibility ought to rest. Accordingly, it is a great mistake, yes, a decided wrong, to the high interests committed to our care, to assume the necessity for a wholesale overhauling of salaries every year. I t is a particularly unwise thing to do upon impulse or inadequate information. We might very easily divide the entire advance in our operating funds upon the large number of salaries we have to deal with. I t would perhaps be easier to do that than not to do it. But it would not be sound administration. Still, I will welcome any thorough investigation of the subject by the Board of Trustees and any action to which such examination may lead. EXPANSION. "We must prepare to meet a t an early day some all-important questions touching the further expansion of the Agricultural and Engineering colleges. I n the Agricultural College we may well be guided in general policies very largely by the committees constituted by the law and representative of the agricultural organizations of the State. I n the Engineering College there must be very deliberate and very thorough consideration of the expenditure of the $150,000 granted us for enlarging the engineering equipment so that it will be of most use to engineering education and go as far as it may to give our Engineering College the best practicable position in the engineering educational work of the country. I am not willing to see this money divided between the different departments of the College upon the basis of inter-department courtesy, or upon the basis of the supposed relative importance of the departments. I t should be done through the most thorough examination of our relations to the mechanical and constructive industries and, as it seems, with a purpose to lead all engineering colleges in the United States in some lines if we can not in all. And while we are rejoicing over and looking after the enlargement of the industrial colleges we are bound to leave no stone unturned to advance the other colleges and schools of the university. Our revenues will enable us to give them a substantial uplift at an early day, and all the impulses of our nature and all the interests of education in the State adjure us not to neglect the opportunity. I n other years we have felt the necessity of hasty action between the time of the adjournment of the legislature and this meeting of the Board of Trustees. This period has not been sufficient to consider thoroughly policies or find a sufficient number of men who would render the most thoroughly acceptable service to us for an indefinite time. And as the University has grown, as our rivalries have have become sharper, as it has been more difficult to know what were the wisest policies, and as the initiative in finding new men has had to be referred in some measure to the heads of colleges and departments the difficulties of the situation have multiplied and intensified. My advice is that we arrange our matters a t this time so as not only to yield no ground, but to maintain a steady advance and take the best care we can of the constantly increasing number of students who come to us, but conservatively- and in hope of getting even with the world and gaining a stronger financial grip upon the future, and, that after the vacation, when we have had rest and ample time for reflection, we enter upon a systematic examination of all matters incident to University expansion, growth and efficiency. E E C E E A T I O N GEOUNDS. For reasons which are obvious the Agricultural College may, and for some reasons it must, move more rapidly towards its new work than other parts of the University organization. This justifies me in making a suggestion before it may be of no avail.