Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1984 [PAGE 491]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

482

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[February 16

general counsel. J i m has earned the respect of this academic community and of universities throughout the country. H e served as president of the National Association of College and University Attorneys in 1975-76, as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Council of Education that year, and member of the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association in 1976-77. Jim Costello is Illinois, through and through. Born in Bloomington, he received his undergraduate degree from Illinois Wesleyan University and his law degree from the University of Illinois. Before returning to the University in 1961, he had been a partner in the Chicago law firm of Clark and Costello for more than ten years. In many ways, the position of university counsel is the most difficult of all University posts to fill. It is critically important to our future and to the sound functioning of the University. I believe it would be wise to begin the search procedure immediately. Therefore, I am asking Earl Porter, secretary of the board and of the University, to chair the search committee. H e will be joined by John Cribbet, whose knowledge of the University and the law will be invaluable; Craig Bazzani, who, in his capacity as vice president for business and finance, works closely with the university counsel; Earl Neal, former member of the board and highly respected member of the Chicago legal community, who will provide a valuable link to the profession; and Victor Harnack, chairman of the University Senates Conference and an able representative of the faculty. This group will be responsible for developing a cadre of top candidates for our consideration. We will never replace Jim Costello. No one else will approach his breadth of experience, his integrity, and the soundness of his judgment. H e is a valuable advisor and counselor, quick to grasp the essence of a problem and skillful in finding solutions. H e serves as our institutional memory. When I find a person with all these qualities (and should he or she be able to walk on water), we shall know we have found Jim's replacement. Absent that, we will search for the very best university counsel we can find and will keep you apprised of our progress. M r . Costello responded, expressing his satisfaction in having served the University under three presidents, a changing Board of Trustees, and a changing complement of general officers of the University during an exciting and stimulating two decades. H e paid tribute to the officers and t h e trustees of the University. Budget Recommendations of the Governor, Fiscal Year 1985 T h e president was encouraged by the recent announcement of the governor concerning the general level of support he would recommend for fiscal year 1985 (some $57.5 million for all of higher e d u c a t i o n ) . H e expressed appreciation in particular for the timeliness of the announcement, which suggested that the relative priority of higher education in State a p propriations was being advanced significantly. T h e overall figure should permit moderate faculty increases, continued funds for the "Renovation for Excellence" program, coverage of cost increases and of most energy cost increases, a n advancement to the second year in the engineering revitalization program, and some new selected academic programs. T h e r e will be review of the governor's recommendations by the Board of Higher Education and within the University, including the possibility of some reallocation of funds a n d the question of tuition and fee increases, at the M a r c h meeting. Recommendations will be presented t o t h e board in April.