Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1940 [PAGE 352]

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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

349

It will take at least a year to organize and set up the general courses so that this curriculum will not go into effect before the year 1940-1041. In the meantime, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences proposes to appoint a director of the Division and to relieve certain members of the faculty of a part of their present teaching loads so that they can be put to work on organizing the new general courses. All of this is subject to budgetary considerations, but in the meantime provision is being made in the budget for 1939-1940 to organize this new work.

On motion of Mr. Cleary, this General Division and Curriculum were approved as recommended, and the Board expressed its appreciation of the work of all who have had a part in the formulation of the conditions of organization of this Division.

CONSTRUCTION OF POWER AND HEATING PLANT AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (24) A recommendation that the Physical Plant Department be authorized to prepare specifications and secure bids as soon as possible on the balance of the equipment (approximate cost $520,100) for the Power and Heating Plant, on the assumption that State funds only, and no Federal funds, will be used for the purchase of this equipment. Such a policy is advisable for the following reasons: 1. T h e regulations and requirements of the Federal Emergency Administration of Public W o r k s might create complications and delay in securing the special type of equipment needed for this Plant. 2. T h e r e is no certainty that the Federal Public W o r k s program will be extended nor, if it is, that the University will receive a grant to supplement the State appropriation for the P o w e r and Heating Plant. In any event, awaiting approval of an application for a grant might result in delaying by several months the completion of the plant. T h e r e will be a balance of approximately $600,000 in the State appropriation for the distribution system and piping. If the Federal Public W o r k s program is extended, and if the Federal Government will accept this balance of $600,000 as the sponsor's share of the cost of a Public W o r k s Project, this would make available (on the basis of a 45-55% distribution of cost) funds as follows: State appropriation for Power and Heating Plant and Distribution System $ 600 000 Federal grant for other new buildings (a part of this could also be used for the Heating Plant Building if necessary) 490 000 Total $1 090 000 T h e plans and specifications for the Power Plant Building and Distribution System will not be ready to send to bidders until after July 20, by which time it may be known whether Federal funds will be available.

On motion of Mr. Moschel, this recommendation was adopted.

REINSTATEMENT O F ALTERNATES IN CONTRACTS FOR ILL1NI U N I O N BUILDING (25) In awarding contracts for the Illini Union Building it was necessary to take certain alternates on all contracts, aggregating $145,498, in order to keep the total of the contracts within the funds available. T h e University has applied for an increased Federal grant of $74,820 based on the revised total estimated cost of the building which would justify such an increase. An application has also been made to the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company for an increased loan. Assurance has already been received from the Company that an additional loan of $106,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, will be made for this project. This makes possible the reinstatement of a part, if not all of the alternates, depending on action on the application for an increased grant. If that is forthcoming, all of the alternates could be reinstated. I n view of this the Director of the Physical Plant Department requests authority to reinstate alternates as funds become available. If the amended