Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1940 [PAGE 310]

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1939]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

307

Whereas, it now appears that it will be impossible for the University t o complete the erection of this building by September 30, 1939; therefore, Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: Section 1. T h e sum of four hundred fifty thousand dollars ($450,000) or so much thereof as may be unexpended at the close of business on June 30, 1939, to the extent that the same may be necessary, is re-appropriated out of an appropriation heretofore made, t o the University of Illinois for t h e erection, equipment and furnishing of a building to be used primarily for classroom purposes as authorized by "An Act making an appropriation t o the University of Illinois for the construction and equipment of a building to be used primarily for classroom purposes," approved July 8, 1938. Sec. 2. T h e appropriation herein made is subject t o the provisions of "An Act in relation to State finance," approved June 10, 1919 as amended. Approved March 24, 1939

J O H N STELLE GEORGE M. MAYPOLE

Lieutenant Governor

and Acting Governor

Acting President of the Senate

H U G H W. CROSS

Speaker of the House A certified copy of this act is given t o the Secretary of the Board for record.

This report was received for record.

AFFILIATION OF RUSH MEDICAL COLLEGE W I T H THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS (51) It has been suggested informally a t one or two meetings of the Board that Rush Medical College is interested in becoming affiliated with the University of Illinois and that we should inquire into that possibility. I understand that the University of Chicago would be agreeable to such a change. Although there has been no formal request for such an affiliation, I asked the Dean of the College of Medicine t o consider the proposal. He has submitted a report, a copy of which is submitted herewith t o the Secretary of the Board for record. Copies of this report were also submitted to the members of the Board in advance of the meeting. T h i s r e p o r t w a s received for record. INSTRUCTION IN SWEDISH (52) T h e University has received resolutions from the Swedish National Society of Chicago and the Swedish Cultural Society of America requesting recognition of Swedish on the same basis as other language courses and the expansion of the University's course offerings in Swedish language and literature by providing for a major in that field. This proposal was first studied by the Senate Committee on Educational Policy and later by the Policy Committee of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. A summary of their findings is presented herewith: 1. There is no question as t o the cultural value of the Swedish language. Sweden possesses a literature, both humanistic and scientific, which is of high quality and of importance t o the world. 2. The actual demand for instruction in Swedish a t the University of Illinois as revealed by registrations in the past is slight. The largest registration in Swedish was in 1931-1932 when 17 students were enrolled in the elementary course. Since then the number has been declining and during the current year (1938-1939) only four students registered for Elementary Swedish and five for the intermediate course. 3. No very strong case can be made for the practical value of a speaking knowledge of Swedish. There is not the demand for Swedish-speaking graduates, either in government service or industry, t o justify a language curriculum. 4. In certain fields of graduate work Swedish is important, and occasional requests are made to have it accepted as one of the languages authorized by the Graduate School for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. However, it is only one of several other foreign languages having values in special fields and it does not have a stronger claim t o recognition than others.