Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1982 [PAGE 204]

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1981]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

193

MINUTES APPROVED T h e assistant secretary presented for approval the press proof of the minutes of the Board of Trustees meeting of October 16, 1980, copies of which had previously been sent to the board. O n motion of Mr. Forsyth, these minutes were approved as printed on pages 85 to 107 inclusive. 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 H e also introduced Professor Karl F. Otto, Jr., chairperson of the Chicago Circle Senate Council, who made a brief report to the trustees on the activities of that senate during this academic year. President's Reports President Ikenberry 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. T h e president reported to the trustees on the status of the budget for the coming year. He stated that the appropriations bills will probably move rapidly this year. His testimony before legislators dealt with compensation, both as a matter of principle and as a practical means of recruitment and retention, the effect of differential tuition, and the reduction of federal funding including Area Health Education Services. He then read to the trustees a letter he had sent to the chancellors and other general officers concerning steps to be taken to monitor employment levels as part of a program of internal economies. The text of the letter follows: As you are aware, both the initial BHE budget recommendations (BHE I) and the BHE recommendations in response to the Governor's Budget (BHE II) gave high priority to compensation along with the expectation that the University would generate a portion of the monies required to achieve the recommended increases. This would be done through such strategies of internal economies judged best by the institutions. In the case of "BHE I," the expectation was for .5 percent. In "BHE II," it was for 1.5 percent. While the final determination of the budget for 1981-82 remains to be resolved, it is apparent that prudent preparatory steps need to be taken now. I am asking that each campus and the general university implement, effective today, procedures to monitor employment levels. I am asking also that there be no net increase in the number of personnel paid from State funds across the University. Further, and in accord with the priority assigned to move compensation to more competitive levels, we should plan for a careful and gradual decrease of at least one percent in overall employment levels during the next twelve to sixteen months. This should be accomplished, in general, by careful oversight of natural vacancy

1 University Senates Conference: Robert L. Hall, professor of sociology, Chicago Circle; Chicago Circle Senate: Frank Tachau, professor and chairperson of the Department of Political Science; Mary E. Bevis, assistant dean for graduate studies in the College of'Nursing and associate professor of general nursing; Urbana-Champaign Senate Council: H. George Friedman, Jr., associate professor of computer science.