Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1994 [PAGE 229]

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1995]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

217

BUSINESS PRESENTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY

President Ikenberry recognized and introduced observers from the campus senates and from the University Senates Conference.1 President Ikenberry then introduced his family who had joined the meeting at this time. Next, the president asked Chancellor Aiken to comment on a gift that had been received recently by the Urbana campus. Chancellor Aiken noted that this was a $3 million gift from Mrs. Joyce Eiszner to honor the memory of her husband, James R. Eiszner, a graduate of the Urbana campus. Chancellor Aiken told the board that this gift would be used to establish the James R. Eiszner Distinguished Chair in Chemistry. He informed the board that this was the largest single gift for an endowed chair to be received at the Urbana campus. President Ikenberry then introduced students from Professor Stanley R. Levy's course in the Discovery Program who were attending the board meeting as observers. Chancellor Aiken said he wished to thank Dr. Levy for his fine efforts in helping to develop the plans and oversee the completion of the Illini Union Bookstore that was dedicated the day before.

President's Report

President Ikenberry told the board of the progress of the University budget, a part of the governor's budget, through the Legislature. He said that if the budget stays at the level it is now proposed it would be a good budget for the University. He noted that the bill to change higher education governance in Illinois that he described at the board's previous meeting one month ago had passed both chambers of the legislature and been signed by Governor Edgar. This meant among other things that Sangamon State University was to be transferred to the University of Illinois. He added that completing this transfer would be a major effort for the board for the next two to three years. He then asked Dr. Sylvia Manning to report on her work concerning this transfer. For the purpose of discussing the transition, she described a meeting of faculty from the University and Sangamon State that occurred in February. She indicated that this had been a very successful discussion. She said that the next step is for Sangamon State to start a strategic plan for their new status. She commented that Sangamon State faculty seem to be concerned about preservation of their mission. She concluded by saying that she expected the area of public affairs research and teaching to remain the strongest area at this campus. The president then asked Mr. Kirk Hard to provide the trustees with an update on developments in the Legislature. Mr. Hard spoke of

1 University Senates Conference: Thomas J. Riley, associate professor of anthropology, Urbana-Champaign campus; Urbana-Champaign Senate Council: Geneva G. Belford, professor of computer science; Chicago Senate: Sylvia E. Furner, associate professor, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.