Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1982 [PAGE 179]

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BOARD OF T R U S T E E S

[February 19

ELECTION OF REPRESENTATIVES TO THE STATE UNIVERSITIES RETIREMENT SYSTEM O n motion of M r . M a d d e n , the incumbents, M r . Forsyth and M r . Howard, were elected. BUSINESS PRESENTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY President Ikenberry recognized and introduced observers from the campus senates and from the University Senates Conference. 1 President's Reports

The president presented a report on selected topics of current interest, copies of which were distributed at the meeting, and a copy was filed with the secretary of the board.

The University Operating Budget, Fiscal Year 1982

President Ikenberry presented to the trustees the following statement with regard to this subject.

Governor Thompson has announced his budget recommendations for higher education. I want to report to you the nature of these recommendations, the implications, and how we hope to proceed. T h e governor's budget recommendations for higher education contain three essential elements: 1. A recommended increase of 6 percent in General Revenue Fund support for higher education; 2. A request that the universities provide an average salary increase of 8 percent, plus an additional 2 percent "catch-up" factor to improve faculty and staff compensation ; and 3. A directive to increase support to the Illinois State Scholarship Commission. In his statement, the governor did not say that greater support for higher education was not needed, but rather, he said that more monies simply were not available. I n fact, the figure is far below what is needed. T h e recession, Federal fund cutbacks, and the tax relief measures enacted last year will cause State spending this year to exceed revenues. T h a t gap will reduce funds available for next year, 1981-82. Given this situation, choices must be made. We won't be able to do some things. We are determined to do others. Pending advice from the University Planning Council and the Chancellors, it would appear that if the governor's recommendations are enacted for 1981-82, we will be unable to accomplish the following: 1. We will be unable to replace, this year, the loss of some $2 million dollars in Federal funds for the education of Medical Center students. 2. The initiation of a program in engineering research to aid industry in Illinois and to help restore the health of the Illinois economy will be deferred. 3. T h e battle to replace old and obsolete equipment in our laboratories and classrooms will have suffered a setback with the loss of $800,000 earmarked for that purpose. 4. T h e drive to replace operating and maintenance deficiencies in the University's physical plant will suffer by $500,000.

1 University Senates Conference: Leona M. Peterson, associate professor of medical-surgical nursing, Medical Center campus; Chicago Circle Senate: Frank Tachau, professor and chairman of the Department of Political Science; Medical Center Senate: Mary E. Bevis, assistant dean for -aduatey studies in the College of Nursing and associate professor of general nursing; Urbanahampaign Senate Council: Richard F, Cavenaugh, junior in the College of Engineering.

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