Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1986 [PAGE 123]

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112

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[November 15

expand and sharpen our leadership development opportunities for minority students. Fifth, Chancellor Shaw from Southern Illinois University has recommended that Illinois create a faculty development program to increase the supply of minority faculty members. The University of Illinois is currently involved in a similar program in concert with other Big Ten universities. I believe Chancellor Shaw's proposal for Illinois is a creative initiative that could yield long-term benefits for our colleges and universities and that it should go forward. Sixth, as outlined by Chancellor Langenberg, we intend to solicit funds from private sources to establish a series of career development grants to be used to provide incentives in the recruitment of minority faculty members. If we are successful in recruiting the faculty member to the University of Illinois, these flexible funds can be used to advance his or her research program, cover travel costs, purchase books, materials, or equipment, or be used in other ways to advance career development. Finally, and perhaps the most difficult and at the same time the most important challenge, we must expand our efforts to improve the quality of educational programs offered in our elementary and secondary schools, especially in those academic subjects that are absolutely fundamental to success in advanced study in our universities and colleges. Many of the young people we wish to reach attend schools that do not offer the range of subjects needed, nor do they provide an optimum environment for learning. Graduation rates in many instances are too low, and this further diminishes the talent pool. Building quality education in our elementary and secondary schools is one of the most urgent challenges in Illinois. Universities have become more active partners in this effort in recent years. As we expand this cooperation, the opportunity to apply technology in the form of computerassisted instruction to reach students directly — as illustrated by the University of Illinois-developed P L A T O system — should receive special attention. In short, Mr. Chairman, there is much to be done. We must rededicate our energies to expanding access to quality education. The seven initiatives I have emphasized are in no way exhaustive of the opportunities, but they are suggestive of some of the more promising options at the University of Illinois. I look forward to the opportunity to lend these initiatives my personal support and work with you and members of the subcommittee toward the fulfillment of the American dream.

OLD AND NEW BUSINESS

President Forsyth reported the action of the Buildings and Grounds Committee on the previous day, when the Committee voted to reconsider its approval in October of the architectural design, Addition to the Krannert Art Museum at Urbana. The design is being reviewed at the campus, and a recommendation will be submitted later.

REGULAR AGENDA

The board considered the following reports and recommendations from the president of the University.