Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1986 [PAGE 602]

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1986]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

591

ports. However, I think it useful to call your attention to a representative sampling of this year's most important issues. T h e Senate and its committees have participated actively in the development of two major statements of policy and their accompanying guidelines for implementation. One of these, provisions for intellectual property rights ("Patent Policy"), we approved in March and you approved at your May meeting. T h e other, a policy on conflicts of interest, is in the final stage of review. A number of long-pending revisions to the Statutes have passed our senate and several of those have been submitted to the board. Of those you have not yet received, we believe that proposed provisions for faculty participation in the evaluation oi administrators reflect the fundamental principle of collegiality and should be included in the Statutes. A recurring theme in our attention to institutional policies and procedures is the premise that they could be improved. While evaluations by accrediting bodies, reputational surveys, demand for our graduates by other institutions, and the many successes of our alumni attest to the high quality of instruction provided our undergraduates, Chancellor Everhart took the initiative to stimulate campuswide development of proposals for the improvement of their education. T h e Committee on Educational Policy has incorporated that effort into an expanded agenda for detailed study of related matters. Also, and nearly coincident with press reports that a member of the General Assembly referred to our procedures as a model for qualifying teaching assistants, the Committee on Educational Policy secured senate approval for recommendations intended to further enhance T.A. performance. A major study of salary policy was begun in April 1985, and is nearing completion with presentation to the senate expected at the September meeting. We expect that this work will lead to a better understanding of campus salary distribution practices and their implications. O u r Committee on Faculty Benefits recently discovered that a state agency, Central Management Services, is making decisions on medical plans and benefits without any consultation from faculty and very little input from our administration. T h e committee is actively pursuing the question. Although this was a relatively quiet year in the senate, the senate council met frequently in lengthy sessions to ensure that we acted in a timely and effective manner. We have noticed an increasingly positive outlook on campus that is buoyed by the renovation of old edifices and stimulated by new initiatives. Heightened efforts to improve salary, benefits, and funding of SURS are particularly encouraging and we sincerely appreciate the active advocacy of the board, President Ikenberry, and Chancellor Everhart on our behalf. Also, the board's willingness to discuss a controversial topic with representatives of the university community at the February Retreat was applauded widely. We believe that this mechanism offers considerable promise in the future for the productive resolution of our most difficult internal issues. I am particularly pleased to report that Richard P. Jerrard, professor of mathematics, will be the 1986-87 chair of Senate Council. Dick has worn a number of senate hats through the years — you have known him during his current term as a member of our delegation to University Senates Conference •—• and we know the new hat will fit very well. Finally, I thank you for the many courtesies you have extended me during my two years as council chair. It has been a privilege to work with you and to observe at first hand your dedicated service to the University.

President's Report on Other Matters

President Ikenberry reported briefly on pending hearings and legislative actions with regard to the University's budget. He noted there would be hearings before the House Appropriations Committee within the next few days.