Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1940 [PAGE 942]

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1940]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

939

2. T h e admission of a limited number (not to exceed ten per cent of the class) of students superior in scholarship and other qualifications who are not residents of Illinois. O n m o t i o n of M r s . P l u m b , t h e s e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s w e r e a d o p t e d . NEPOTISM (7) F o r many years it has been the policy of the University not to appoint to its staff individuals who are closely related by blood or marriage to persons already on the staff, except in circumstances over which the University has no control, such as in the operation of the State Civil Service law. When an individual has been certified by the Civil Service Commission for a vacancy on the staff, the fact that he may be related to someone on the staff cannot operate against his appointment, since that would conflict with the Civil Service law. At one time the employment of relatives was specifically prohibited by regulations of the Board of Trustees, but during the past twenty-seven years there has been no statutory prohibition, although the policy has been continued. In April, 1935, the policy was restated in a letter from the President of the University to the Deans, Directors, and H e a d s of Administrative Departments. They were instructed that: 1. As a general rule employment should not be given to more than one member of the same family, even though different departments are involved. 2. W h e n situations arise in which the employment of members of the same family is brought about through causes over which the University has no control, the departments concerned should take steps to alter this situation as early as practicable in whatever way is found possible to avoid hardship to the individual and inconvenience to the department. 3. No member of the staff should be directly responsible for the employment of a relative or should permit such a person to be employed in a position for which he is responsible, even though the employment should be of the most temporary nature. Departures from this policy have been authorized in emergency situations and for exceptional reasons, but only for temporary periods. W h e n a member of the staff marries the son or daughter of another member of the staff, the former is not asked to give up his position immediately but is given a reasonable time to make the change. While I have no recommendation to make, I am bringing this to the attention of the Board in case it wishes to review the policy.

The Executive Committee saw no reason for a change of policy in this matter.

HONORARY DEGREES (8) It has been the policy of the University of Illinois to confer honorary degrees rarely and only on unusual occasions. T h e last time such degrees were conferred was in 1031 at the installation of Dr. H a r r y Woodburn Chase as President of the University. F r o m time to time, suggestions are made to the University that honorary degrees be conferred on certain individuals. Under the University Statutes degrees may be conferred only by the Board of Trustees and then only on recommendation of the University Senate, which in turn relies on recommendations from the several faculties of the colleges and schools. T h e same procedure would apply to honorary degrees, except that recommendations may originate with the Senate itself as well as with college or school faculties. Since a number of candidates for honorary degrees have been suggested within the last year or two, I am bringing the policy to the attention of the Board for review, or for reference to a committee for study. N o action w a s taken on this matter. USE OF UNIVERSITY RADIO STATION BY N O N UNIVERSITY ORGANIZATIONS (9) At the request of the President of the University, the Advisory Committee on the University Radio Station has considered a policy to govern the use of