Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1982 [PAGE 547]

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536

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[May 20

Illinois develop a network of high technology facilities to be associated with universities and other centers of technical excellence, and that these centers help nurture the development of embryonic high technology industry in the state as well as attract and retain mature high technology companies in Illinois. If the state of Illinois proceeds with these recommendations, it is apparent that further policy issues focused on university/industry interaction will need to be addressed within the academic community and ultimately by the Board of Trustees. A group of University of Illinois faculty and administrative leaders under the chairmanship of Dr. Brady and Dr. Yankwich has been functioning for some months looking at the implication of these issues for the University. With the appointment of Dr. Ed Cohen as director of the Office of Research Development at the University of Illinois at Chicago, systematic planning toward the immediate and long-range potential in Chicago has been going forward. Consideration is being given to how a high technology research park, for example, might be developed in Chicago. As planning is refined we intend to share with you the outlines of the possibilities. I note these broader implications because the revision of the patent policy before you today is indicative of the need for the University community to continue to explore the broader issues of industry/university interaction. REPORT, URBANA-CHAMPAIGN SENATE COUNCIL Professor Kenneth Andersen, chairman of the Urbana-Champaign Senate Council, reported on issues concerning the senate during the past academic year, including efforts toward strengthening and better organizing the senate committee structure, interaction between the Senate Council and the campus and general University administrative officers, and attention to a number of issues such as the following: the impact of federal regulations and the problems associated with limited state appropriations and their impact on the fiscal stability of the State Universities Retirement System. Professor Andersen commented upon various resolutions passed by the senate concerning the nature of funding for salary increases by state government, study of a n incentive program to encourage early retirement, and, finally, special attention to the development of c o n s u l t s tive processes with particular attention to the development of campus and University priorities. H e expressed the general view that faculty morale was surprisingly good but fragile and that the faculty were aware that present financial difficulties place the University's standards of quality at risk. OLD AND NEW BUSINESS Report, State Universities Retirement System Mr. Howard, who has been reelected as president of the State Universities Retirement System ( S U R S ) Board, reported briefly on current activities of the S U R S Board; that the new investment structure established by the board has produced some significant results in the brief time in which it has been in place. M r . Howard expressed general unease at current legislative proposals that might lead to the use of retirement funds in