Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1980 [PAGE 545]

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534

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[February 21

readmission among students who have valid reasons for temporary interruptions in their education. Revenue from the fee amounts to approximately $90,000 at Chicago Circle and $30,000 at Urbana-Champaign. T h e financial impact of this action will be taken into account in the FY 1981 Income Fund appropriation. I concur.

Ford Foundation Undergraduate Awards in Engineering, Urbana

(17) During the years from 1959 to 1965, grants totaling $585,000 were received from the Ford Foundation in support of a forgivable loan program for doctoral students in the College of Engineering at Urbana-Champaign. The object was to assist such students who were interested in becoming college teachers of engineering. The terms of the grants provide: "After twelve years from the date of the grant, the University has the option of discontinuing the loans and using any balance remaining from repaid principal and interest for other purposes in engineering education." As of December 3 1 , 1979, a cash balance of $80,226 remained in the Ford Foundation Loan account. T h e original objective of these grants has been attained and the College of Engineering now seeks to use the residual funds in other ways to enhance programs in engineering education. T h e college has proposed that the entire residual cash balance be invested, with the income to be used initially to provide grant-in-aid merit awards to undergraduate students in engineering. Although it is not intended that the principal of this fund be used to pay current program costs, part or all of it could be so used in the event income is not sufficient to meet the needs of the program. Any additional amounts received under the original forgivable loan program would be added to the principal. The chancellor at the Urbana campus has recommended that the proposal be approved and that the comptroller be authorized to establish appropriate accounts and make appropriate investments to accomplish the ends described. I concur.

Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences with a Major in French Commercial Studies, Chicago Circle

(18) The Chicago Circle Senate has recommended the establishment of a major in French Commercial Studies leading to the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences. T h e objective of the program is to provide training for students who seek to combine the mastery of a foreign language with basic knowledge in the workings of the business world. T h e program is the first of its kind to be established at a major comprehensive university located in an important commercial center. T h e program consists of 53 hours in required French courses at the 200 and 300 levels and 36 hours in required collateral courses in the College of Business Administration. Students in the program are urged to spend a year abroad in the Illinois Year Abroad Program in Paris. No additional state resources will be required as the curriculum will be composed of existing courses and will be taught by faculty members now on the staff. The chancellor at Chicago Circle and the vice president for academic affairs have recommended approval. T h e University Senates Conference has indicated that no further senate jurisdiction is involved. I recommend approval, subject to further action by the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

Renaming of the Physics Research Laboratory, Urbana

(19) T h e head of the Department of Physics and the dean of the College of Engi-