Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1982 [PAGE 474]

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1982]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

463

REQUEST TO APPEAR BEFORE THE BOARD (Committee to Save Women's Studies) President Stone presented a request sent to each of the trustees by the Committee to Save Women's Studies, a group concerned about the possibility of budget reductions in areas of their interest at the Chicago Circle campus. He noted that he had discussed with the president and the secretary the problems involved if the board were to receive testimony or conduct hearings about the budget allocation process, the administration of which is delegated to the appropriate officers at the campus and general University levels. He recommended, as a matter of policy, that the Board of Trustees not approve such requests. President Ikenberry assured the trustees that there are in place elaborate mechanisms for appropriate deliberation and review of such matters. In the course of discussion, it was also pointed out that the trustees cannot hear all who might request such an appearance or make a selection among them; and that in any event, the board cannot readily resolve the conflicting interests involved. Accordingly, by consensus, the trustees agreed as a matter of policy that it would not be appropriate for the board to arrange for such appearances or to conduct hearings on such matters. 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 President Ikenberry presented a report on selected topics of current interest, copies of which were distributed at the meeting, and a copy filed with the secretary of the board. President's Report on Other Matters The president presented the following written report:

T h e fiscal health of the State of Illinois continues to worsen, and the uncertainty of federal policies and funding continues to grow. In recent weeks a continuing deterioration in the state revenue picture has been apparent. Governor Thompson now projects a drop in the new monies to fund the total of all state program needs for Fiscal Year 1983 to $150 million. This new figure will not even cover the more obvious obligations that remain unfunded from last year, including deficits in the retirement systems. There was an expectation the governor would announce to the Board of Higher Education in early February the level of support he would recommend for higher education. As you know, he did not do so. He did announce, however, a freeze on most state construction projects. Fortunately, as we have reported, the addition to the University Library and the reconversion of the Abbott Power Plant,

1 University Senates Conference: Arthur R. Robinson, professor of civil engineering, UrbanaChampaign; Urbana-Champaign Senate Council: James A. Filkins, graduate teaching assistant. Department of History; Medical Center Senate: Ruy V. Lourenco, Edmund F. Foley Professor of Medicine and head of Department of Medicine, Abraham Lincoln School of Medicine; Chicago Circle Senate: Beverly Lynch, University librarian and professor of library administration.