Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1986 [PAGE 408]

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1985]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

397

Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, Urbana At the fiftieth anniversary meeting of the Universiy of Illinois Foundation on October 7, 1985, a gift of $40 million from Arnold O. Beckman and Mabel M. Beckman was announced for the purpose of establishing the "Arnold O . and Mabel M . Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology" at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. T h e gift is thought to be one of the largest, if not the largest, by a private individual to a public university in this country. T h e aim of the institute will be to bring together a large number of resident faculty and scientists, supplemented with visitors and others who may be recruited, to apply a new approach to interdisciplinary research by joining the biological and physical sciences. A Center for Materials Science, Computers, and Computation and a Center for Biology, Behavior, and Cognition will be established. Research to be emphasized in the first center would include solidstate materials, large-scale integration and systems, computer sciences, and information sciences. Among the most promising interdisciplinary fields in the second center would be molecular life sciences, cell biology, neuroscience, and cognitive science. It is anticipated that, among other objectives, the joining of the two basic scientific areas will lead to a better understanding of h u m a n and artificial intelligence. T h e gift from the Beckmans is conditioned upon a $10 million contribution from the State of Illinois toward the construction of the facility as well as State and University support for its maintenance and operation. (Mr. Beckman is chairman of the board of Beckman Instruments, Inc., and a native of Cullom, Illinois. H e received a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering at U r b a n a in 1922 and a master's in physical chemistry in 1923.) Discussion, South African Investment and Campus Security T h e trustees were briefed on matters of campus security, in particular as related to the present meeting. T h e trustees discussed their concerns in this area, short- and long-range, and the best means of responding to problems raised by students and other demonstrators at meetings of the Board of Trustees. EXECUTIVE SESSION ADJOURNED FOR COMMITTEE MEETINGS1 There being no further business, the executive session adjourned at 9:30 a.m. for meetings of the Committee on Buildings and Grounds and the Committee on Academic Affairs. MEETING, COMMITTEE ON ACADEMIC AFFAIRS T h e committee heard extended presentations from the deans of the

1 On the previous day, the Committee on Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity met to receive reports from officers responsible in this area from both campuses, with particular emphasis on services provided students and the accomplishments of such students in affirmative action/equal opportunity programs. The board also met as a Committee of the Whole to receive_ a report on the planning and review of proposals from various companies for a University-wide telecommunications system. Specific recommendations will be presented to the board at its November 1985 meeting.