Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1944 [PAGE 186]

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1942]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

183

brought to bear for still further unionization and even the University's Civil Service employees must affiliate with the union in order to work at the University" {Report, p. 192). In general, the Administration believes that the University has maintained a firm but reasonable policy toward organized labor. This fact was recently substantiated by the Assistant Director of the State Department of Labor, Mr. Robert Gordon, when he appeared before the Board of Trustees. Organized labor's endorsement of the University's Employee-Council plan is another evidence of the relationship between the two organizations. Action: Do not concur in the suggestions outlined in the Report, but continue constructive studies of labor relations {Review, p. 174). z. Working Cash Fund It is found that the University's "Working cash fund is too small" {Report, p. 195). It is proposed that the fund be increased from $100,000 to $250,000. The need for such a change has been recognized for some time, particularly with the increase in activities in both Urbana and Chicago in the past two years. The matter was reported to the Board at its meeting of July 25, 1942, by the Comptroller, and referred to the Finance Committee for consideration and report. T h e proposed change could only be accomplished by an act of the General Assembly. The problem already has been mentioned to the Director of Finance, for consideration in connection with the coming biennial budget. Action: Concur in the proposal to increase the working cash fund, and work out the other details in accordance therewith {Review, p. 176). 3. Coal Purchasing The Report states that the University's coal purchasing is loose and unbusinesslike. The specific criticisms are that specifications are not based on comprehensive tests of various grades and kinds of Illinois coal, that penalties for failure to meet specifications are inadequate, that there are no weighing scales at the Abbott Power Plant, that there is split authority and responsibility for selecting a vendor, and the like {Report, pp. 203-205). Action: Since the Administration has ample evidence that some of these criticisms are not based on fact, and that others are misinterpretations of fact, it cannot concur in all of the recommendations. Some changes, however, can be effected {Review, p. 186). 4, Long-Time Plans for Maintenance and Operation The Report recommends a comprehensive and coordinated long-term program for routine operation, maintenance, and modernization of the University's facilities {Report, pp. 207-209). The Administration's Review of the Report, however, has shown that correlation does exist, that there are intelligent and logical standards of excellence, that there are plans, that there have been studies of life expectancy, that costs are not high, that the personnel is skilled, that seasonal jobs are hampered by storage facilities, that there is a painting routine within the limits of the budget, and that the small amount of defective wood paneling in the Illini Union Building has been replaced. Action: T h e Administration proposes {Review, p. 187): (a) to continue its special studies of operation and maintenance by its own and by outside experts; (b) to continue its special officer for constant studies on room efficiency and the adjustment of space, both as to amount and as to modernization, to educational needs; (c) to continue its highly effective Faculty Building Committee; and (d) to perfect its long-range plans both for the campus as a whole and for modernization within the limits of available budgets. 5. Allocation of Office Space It is charged that "office space in the Administration Building is poorly allocated" {Report, p. 209) ; that in many cases throughout the campus, office space does not permit sufficient privacy, that the Physical Plant Department should be moved from the Administration Building; that a second and third story should be added to the connecting court between the East and West wings of the Administration Building; that the present Service Building be