Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1980 [PAGE 464]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1979]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

453

t h e Illinois B o a r d of H i g h e r E d u c a t i o n : Public Universities").

" A T u i t i o n Policy for Illinois

T h e fundamental tuition policy considerations, I believe, are set forth in the first two pages of the document. It recognizes that tuition is just one element ir» the overall cost of higher education to be borne by students and their families and it emphasizes four key policy considerations that must be brought into balance: first, the necessity for revenues sufficient to support high quality academic programs; second, the principle that both students and society share in the benefits of higher education and therefore should share in meeting the costs; third, that no student should ever be denied access from a public university or college solely for reason of inability to pay; and fourth, that it is in the best interests of the State of Illinois and society at large to encourage full participation in higher education programs through the vehicle of low tuition in our public universities and colleges. I think most of us can support these fundamental policies. The recommendations contained on pages 36-38 supplement these more basic policies. It is realistic, in my view, to recognize that tuition, as any other item, can not be fully insulated from the pressures of double digit inflation. I do feel changes in certain of the recommendations are needed. The need for legislation to permit governing boards to expend tuition revenues without those actions being subject to General Assembly or gubernatorial approval also is cited, and properly so. I hope these changes will be incorporated. Delay in action on this matter has provided an opportunity for those most vitally concerned with these issues, the governing boards who must exercise authority and responsibility in setting tuition, to review the proposals. I would be interested in the views of the members of this Board Viewed in its entirety, and with the incorporation of the noted improvements, I can support the policy. ( A m o n g the changes r e c o m m e n d e d by the president was one to modify R e c o m m e n d a t i o n N o . 2, w h i c h w o u l d p r o v i d e for t h e a d j u s t m e n t of t u i t i o n a b o v e t h e c u r r e n t level in a c c o r d w i t h c h a n g e s in t h e " H i g h e r E d u c a t i o n Price I n d e x . " T h e president's modification would bring into p l a y " r e l e v a n t e c o n o m i c i n d i c a t o r s " a n d " c o n s i d e r a t i o n of e d u c a t i o n a l issues" in a d d i t i o n t o t h e use of t h e i n d e x . ) M r . L e n z e x p r e s s e d his g e n e r a l a g r e e m e n t w i t h t h e p r e s i d e n t , e m phasizing; t h a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y a n d t h e staff of t h e B o a r d of H i g h e r E d u c a t i o n w e r e c o n s i d e r a b l y closer in t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e final s t a t e m e n t t h a n h a d b e e n t h e case e a r l i e r . T h e p o i n t w a s m a d e t h a t t h e r e is a d i s t i n c t i o n to be m a d e b e t w e e n t h e B o a r d of T r u s t e e s ' a p p r o v a l of t h i s d o c u m e n t to be issued by t h e B o a r d of H i g h e r E d u c a t i o n a n d a n y specific a c t i o n t h a t t h e t r u s t e e s m i g h t elect t o t a k e w i t h r e g a r d t o t u i t i o n in t h e f u t u r e . M r . L e n z s t a t e d t h a t if t h e m o d i f i c a t i o n s discussed w e r e m a d e , h e w o u l d feel c o m f o r t a b l e in s u p p o r t i n g t h e n e w policy s t a t e m e n t a t a f o r t h c o m i n g m e e t i n g of t h e B o a r d of H i g h e r E d u c a t i o n . P r e s i d e n t I k e n b e r r y also took n o t e of s o m e of t h e m a j o r gifts t h u s far a n n o u n c e d for t h e " C a m p a i g n for I l l i n o i s " j u s t b e g u n by t h e U n i v e r s i t y of Illinois F o u n d a t i o n . T h e y a r e as follows: M r . A r n o l d B e c k m a n , C h a i r m a n of t h e B o a r d of B e c k m a n I n s t r u m e n t s , I n c . , a n d M r s . B e c k m a n , p r o v i d e d a c h a l l e n g e gift of $ 5 m i l l i o n for t h e G r a d u a t e R e s e a r c h B o a r d ,