Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1988 [PAGE 544]

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534

BOARS OF TRUSTEES

[May 11

volved. The president would be expected to take leadership in the relationship and its management and the board will be kept informed regularly.

EXECUTIVE SESSION ADJOURNED

There being no further business, the executive session was adjourned. The board reconvened in regular session at 2:45 p.m.1

MINUTES APPROVED

The secretary presented for approval the press proof of the minutes of the Board of Trustees meeting of February 4, 1988, copies of which had previously been sent to the board. On motion of Mr. Forsyth, these minutes were approved.

BUSINESS PRESENTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY

President Ikenberry recognized and introduced observers from the campus senates and from the University Senates Conference.2

Report on Computer Fee, Urbana

An increase in this fee was proposed at the April meeting of the board and the recommendation withdrawn in the light of a student referendum and other expressions of doubt and concern from students. Chancellor Weir reported that a further review had emphasized the following criticisms: that the funds needed for computer services to students should not be obtained through a fee but from tuition; that the increase requested was too high (initially an increase of $20 per semester, reduced to $10 per semester by the chancellor); and that there was a need for more "open" sites, i.e., computer sites apart from those in departments to provide service more broadly among students. In response to these and other comments, Dr. Weir indicated he would now recommend that no action on the increase be taken for the 1988-89 year, the fee remaining as it is, at $20 per semester; that for the 1989-90 year any tuition increase recommended be set at an amount to generate the income now being received under the $20 per semester fee, plus an additional $10; and that the fee thereafter be abolished. (The tuition increase for this purpose would be in addition to any general tuition increase.) If approved, such actions would establish a tuition differential between the Chicago and the Urbana campuses. Further, he would probably recommend at some point that another controversial fee, the $10 graduation fee, be abolished and the amount

1 Following the initial executive session, there were brief meetings of the Buildings and Grounds Committee and the board as a Committee of the Whole. In the latter instance, the trustees received a presentation from Acting Vice President Robert W. Resek and Associate Vice President Stephen K. Rugg, of selected information concerning budget trends and other fiscal data. The information is a part of the basic analysis developed in the construction of the annual budget request. 1 University Senates Conference and Urbana-Gbampaign Senate Council: Donald L. Uchtmann, professor and acting head of the Department of Agricultural Economics; Chicago campus Senate: Stanley K. Shapiro, professor of biological sciences.