Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1986 [PAGE 455]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

444

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[January 16

EXECUTIVE SESSION1 President Shepherd, referring to Section T w o of the Open Meetings Act, stated: "A motion is now in order to hold an executive session to consider information regarding the appointment, employment, or dismissal of employees or officers; to discuss pending, probable, or imminent litigation; the acquisition of real property; and to discuss campus security." T h e motion was made by Mr. Howard and approved unanimously. President Ikenberry reported, and asked others to report, on a variety of matters as follows: University Counsel Higgins provided further information on the Corey Jackson case, a medical malpractice claim. Earlier, the trustees had authorized a settlement of u p to $2 million. T h e plaintiffs are seeking more, and outside counsel has advised that a settlement of $2.5 million may be realistic. T h e case is scheduled for trial in mid-March. T h e University's insurance coverage provides for a $500,000 deductible, the next $500,000 to be covered by insurance, and the remainder to be paid by the University. Mr. Higgins recommended that the authorization be increased to $2.5 million and, without objection, the recommendation was approved. Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs Alexander M . Schmidt of the Chicago campus was asked to report concerning a member of the faculty who has been sending extraordinary amounts of written material to the trustees containing charges and complaints about faculty and administrative officers. Vice Chancellor Schmidt reviewed the history of the individual's employment with the University, indicating that he has been relieved of his teaching duties. President Ikenberry reported that the search for a director of the Chicago Technology Park has narrowed to a favored individual and that there is a fair likelihood of attracting him to accept the position. Each chancellor reported briefly on the status of various searches for higher administrative officers. In Chicago, interviews are underway among finalists for the position of associate chancellor for development, who will be me director of a new Campus Development Office. Searches for the deans of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Honors College are continuing, as is the search for an associate chancellor for special projects (concerning which the board received information in March 1985). This search is just beginning and is one in which outside groups have expressed considerable interest. T h e board will be kept informed. In Urbana, searches underway include those for the vice chancellor for academic affairs and vice chancellor for research; a renewed search for the

1 On the previous day, Wednesday, January 15, the Committee on Academic Affairs met to receive presentations concerning the University's involvement with the elementary and secondary schools of Illinois. Present to review the work of their Colleges of Education were Deans Nancy Cole from Urbana and Gary Griffin from Chicago. Dean Cole discussed selective initiatives of the college at Urbana. Her presentation was supplemented by comments from Dr. Heini Halberstam, head of the Department of Mathematics._ He reviewed efforts to improve the teaching of mathematics in the public schools and, in particular, a large testing program to help students improve their skills in mathematics during the final year of high school. Dean Griffin's comments were supplemented by those of Professor Philip Wagreich of the Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science at Chicago. He reviewed a variety of programs in Chicago, including a teacher-enhancement program, a summer institute for young students^ and other activities designed to improve mathematics instruction in Chicago and the school systems in the Chicago area.