Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1988 [PAGE 33]

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1986]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

23

Discontinuance of the Teacher Education Degree Program in Dance, College of Fine and Applied Arts, Urbana

The Urbana-Champaign Senate has approved the discontinuance of the Teacher Education Program in Dance (B.A. program). The last candidate in this program graduated during the 1982-83 academic year, and no new candidates have been accepted since that time. The department focuses on professional preparation for performers, choreographers, and studio teachers rather than teaching leading to public school certification. T h i s report w a s received for record.

Change in Administrative Structure, School of Human Resources and Family Studies, Urbana

(17) The Urbana-Champaign Senate has recommended a change in the administrative structure of the School of Human Resources and Family Studies of the College of Agriculture, effective August 1986. The revision would delete the four departments within the school, with a director assuming administrative responsibility for the unit. The Department of Home Economics was renamed the School of Human Resources and Family Studies in 1974, and four departments were established within the school in December 1977. It is now proposed to return to the earlier structure of the school without departments; this will centralize the administrative tasks, simplify the administrative and governance structure, produce a larger unit with greater flexibility in the allocation and reallocation of resources, and retain a professional focus on the well-being of individuals and families. The reorganization will not require additional funds, nor will it affect names of curricula or program options. The chancellor and the vice chancellor for academic affairs have recommended approval. The University Senates Conference has indicated that no further senate jurisdiction is involved. I concur, subject to further action by the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

On motion of Mr. Madden, this recommendation was approved.

Establishment of the Arnold O. and Mabel M. Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, Urbana

(18) The Urbana-Champaign Senate has recommended the establishment of the Arnold O. and Mabel M. Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, effective January 1, 1987. The Beckman Institute is intended primarily to be an interdisciplinary research institute which will initially emphasize research on artificial and biological intelligence and provide an environment for graduate student research and dissertations. The institute will not offer a curriculum of its own. It will be headed by a director, a position parallel to that of the dean of a college. In that capacity, the director will report to the vice chancellor for academic affairs. At the same time, since the institute's program is largely dedicated to research, the vice chancellor for research will play a major role in providing guidance for the director and the institute's programs. Participants in the institute will be drawn largely from the existing Urbana faculty who hold full-time appointments in regular academic units. A visitors' program will be established to bring to the institute scholars who wish to participate in this unique program and interdisciplinary setting. Establishment of the Beckman Institute will enhance substantially the ability of the University to conduct research across a broad range of research areas. Much of the research will have applications in industry or the potential for substantial technology transfer, and the Beckman Institute could play a significant