Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1982 [PAGE 105]

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94

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[October 16

semester). After signing a contract the student will be required to fulfill the contract (for the first semester) if the student attends the University, unless request for release in writing is received, postmarked before midnight, July 21 Beginning July 22 (or after the first semester termination period) the student will be released from this agreement only for one of the following reasons: a. Not attending the University. b. Marriage if living with spouse in the community. c. To enter other available certified housing, where a reciprocal agreement for midyear contract terminations exists between the private certified housing unit and the University. I t is clearly the expectation that residence hall contracts, in general, will be in effect for the entire academic year. T h e economic impact of the recommendation on residence hall operations will be considerable. Approximately $30 of the current room and board rate is attributable to the fact that many students (some 800 annually) leave the residence halls at the end of the fall semester. In addition to some significant financial benefit in setting future rates, the Housing Division will be able to provide space for more new freshmen and transfers. If the recommendation is approved, the Housing Division will notify all persons who have already received housing information for fall 1981. In addition, signed agreements will be sought from such other certified housing units as may wish to participate in a reciprocal arrangement for midyear contract terminations. T h e director of housing will continue to have discretion for contract releases for other justifiable reasons. I recommend approval. (A memorandum providing further information is filed with the secretary of the board for record.)

Upon presentation of the recommendation, Mrs. Shepherd moved that it be referred to the Student Welfare and Activities Committee for a hearing next month, or at the earliest opportunity. She expressed concern as to the timing of the recommendation, questioning whether sufficient provision had been made for student reaction to the proposal and, specifically, student comment to the trustees through the Student Welfare and Activities Committee. President Ikenberry asked that the board consider the recommendation, although disposing of it as they might decide. He indicated he had no doubt as to its merit, granting that it was a question of timing. H e did not wish the trustees to feel that they should act precipitately. H e had been advised that failure to approve the proposal at this meeting would delay its implementation for a year, i.e., making it effective no earlier than fall of 1982. In the course of the ensuing discussion, the trustees expressed varying views on the matter. T h e point was made that in recent years the board had been reluctant to act on significant matters of policy with regard to students without providing for hearings before taking action. T h e following points were also m a d e : that the need to make the changes recommended was self-evident; that students had in fact been consulted; and that one of the signal merits of the proposal was the saving of money by students, a saving that could serve as an offset to tuition increases.