Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1944 [PAGE 183]

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[November 27

belongs, viz., in the faculty, subject to administrative guidance, support, and stimulation. In view of this basic consideration, and in view of the foregoing analysis and review, the Administration has presented certain recommendations. T h e principal recommendations are here submitted in summary form.

A. EDUCATIONAL OFFICERS

T h e four major items discussed in the Report and in the Administration's Review of the Report a r e : J. Functions of President It is proposed to reduce the number of officers, committees, and boards reporting to the President {Report, pp. 31-34, 64-75).* Action: Authorize and direct the President as provided in the University Statutes, page 3, Section 2, to delegate more responsibility to other principal administrative officers, who shall act for him in such cases {Review, pp. 99-102).' 2. New Administrative Officers Three new administrative officers are proposed: (a) Vice President of Education and Research {Report, p. 65). Action: Continue the Provost as the chief educational officer in charge of courses, curricula, and all general matters related to undergraduate teaching, and assign him such additional duties and responsibilities as the President may direct. Continue the Dean of the Graduate School as the chief research officer in charge of graduate courses, graduate faculty, graduate scholars and fellowships, and all general research projects, grants, and routine cooperative agreements {Review, pp. 119-122). ( b ) Business Manager in charge of Business Office and the Physical Plant {Report, p. 6 5 ) . The Report recommends that the positions of Comptroller and Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds be made subordinate to a Business Manager. F o r the reasons stated in the Review, however, the Administration proposes that the position of Comptroller be continued as the chief financial and business officer of the University, responsible to the President. T h e Comptroller shall be an officer of the Board, functioning as its fiscal and auditing officer. As in the past, the Comptroller will advise and assist the President in all financial and business matters as the latter may request. Various functions of a business character, more fully described in the Review, which have hitherto been handled by the President, will be assigned to the Comptroller. The responsibilities and functions of the Comptroller will cover all departments and activities in Urbana and the Chicago divisions {Review, pp. 108-109). (c) Public Relations Officer {Report, p. 65). T h e recommendation in the Report fails to take account of present important public relations activities in Colleges and Schools. Action: In view of reorganization of the Alumni Association with a full time Executive Director who will take office in January, and in view of present plans for improved public relations, action on this office should be deferred {Reiiew, pp. 109-118). 3. Committee System Reduce the number of committees of all kinds {Report, pp. 34-37). Action: Direct the President to review all general and special committees and take appropriate steps to reduce their number. Also direct all colleges and departments to take similar action {Review, p. 99). 4. Board of Trustees Trustee functions include too many administrative details {Report, pp. 62-63). Action: Approve the recommendations of the Survey as presented on pages 37, 62, and 63 of the Report, all of which are in line with the functions of the Board as defined in the University of Illinois Statutes, page 3, Section 1 {Review, p. 98).

1 In this summary, references to pages in the Survey Report begin with the word Report, and references to pages in the Administrative Review begin with the word Review.