Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1994 [PAGE 206]

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194

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[February 12

invest in some specific programs in order to retain their prestige. This individual opined that one reason the Urbana campus is not better known nationally is due to an unevenness in departmental strengths as well as the fact that 95 percent of the undergraduates come from Illinois. An increase in out-of-state students was advised. This candidate suggested that the University of Illinois' contribution to public service in the 21 st Century should be in the area of learning technology. It was emphasized that resources are essential for this and a loss of time could mean a compromise to excellence. The individual noted that the Urbana campus probably needs a theme, comparable to UIC's Great Cities program. This candidate returned to the matter of undergraduate education and stressed that an emphasis on undergraduate education is very important for the University of Illinois. Stress was placed on education outside the classroom as well and the need to develop leadership skills for the students. In sum this individual said the undergraduate educational experience should be a wholistic one. This candidate indicated that focus groups might be a useful tool for assisting professors to discover what students think of their educational experience. Questions from the candidate centered on how the president of the University and the Board of Trustees should relate to each other in order to be most effective. The interview was concluded at 11:30 a.m. The meeting was scheduled to reconvene at 8:30 a.m., Saturday, February 11, 1995.

BOARD MEETING, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1995

When the board meeting reconvened at 8:30 a.m. in executive session, the following members of the board were present: Mrs. Judith Ann Calder, Mr. William D. Engelbrecht, Dr. Jeffrey Gindorf, Mrs. Susan L. Gravenhorst, Mr. Thomas R. Lamont, Ms. Ada N. Lopez, Mrs. Martha R. O'Malley, Ms. Judith R. Reese. The following members of the board were absent: Dr. Gloria Jackson Bacon, Governor Jim Edgar. The following nonvoting student trustees were present: Mr. Christopher Didato-Castillo, Chicago campus; Mr. Chapin Rose, Urbana-Champaign campus. Also present were Professor Janice M. Bahr, chair of the Consultative Committee to Assist in the Selection of a President; Professor Richard M. Johnson, vice chair of the committee; Mr. R. William Funk, Korn/ Ferry International 1 and Dr. Michele M. Thompson, secretary of the board. At 8:30 a.m., the trustees met with the third candidate. 2 The board members' questions followed the same approach as was utilized in the

1 Korn/Ferry International assisted the board in identifying candidates for the position of president of the University and in conducting background checks on candidates. 2 This was Dr. James J. Stukel who was later elected by the Board of Trustees on March 9, 1995, to become president of the University of Illinois.