Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1944 [PAGE 282]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1943]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

279

S O U T H E R N ILLINOIS NORMAL UNIVERSITY M r . D a v i s p r e s e n t e d a r e c o m m e n d a t i o n of t h e C o m m i t t e e o n G e n e r a l Policy that the following resolution be a d o p t e d : Whereas, the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois has continually had in mind the interests of higher education in the entire State of Illinois; and Whereas, the Board of Trustees has felt that duplication of effort existed, and has already had surveys made, and has suggested to the American Council on Education in its survey that this point be covered specifically in its report, but was informed that the Department of Finance has engaged Dr. George A. Works to advise it specifically on these questions; and Whereas, the Board of Trustees is conscious of the changes in education that are being caused and will be caused by the w a r ; and Whereas, the Board of Trustees realizes that the educational requirements of the State must be financed by appropriations by the General Assembly and approved by the Governor; and Whereas, the Senate and the House of the General Assembly of the State of Illinois have received six bills intended to convert the Southern Illinois Normal University into the University of Southern Illinois, with its own Board of Trustees, and to amend other legislation in such a manner as to legalize the relation of the new institution to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and to the University Retirement System; and Whereas, the creation of a new university would, in spite of the absence of a request at present for additional funds, eventually increase the tax burden on the people of the State without contributing essentially to the avowed purpose, namely, to provide education at a university level at a lower cost to the youth in the southern counties of the State, except at the expense of a serious lowering of existing standards for university training, especially in the professional fields; and Whereas, the problems of the future development of higher education in the State of Illinois and its proper organization and administraiton are necessarily greater than the admitted values that might accrue to the youth in anysingle section of the State, and should receive expert appraisal by a disinterested group of nationally recognized authorities before actions are taken that might jeopardize the whole project; Therefore be it resolved, by the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, that any actions on proposals now pending before the General Assembly be delayed until a broad review of the entire problem can be made by a joint committee of qualified, disinterested members of the General Assembly, assisted by an unbiased commission of educational experts including national authorities and with the help of surveys already completed or in process in this and other states, with the view of formulating a comprehensive educational policy for the State of Illinois. O n m o t i o n of M r . D a v i s , t h i s r e s o l u t i o n w a s a d o p t e d , a n d t h e S e c r e t a r y w a s i n s t r u c t e d t o s e n d c o p i e s t o t h e G o v e r n o r , D i r e c t o r of F i n a n c e , S p e a k e r of t h e H o u s e , a n d t h e L i e u t e n a n t G o v e r n o r a s p r e s i d i n g officer of t h e S e n a t e . I n this connection, M r . Nickell p r e s e n t e d for r e c o r d the following r e s o l u t i o n a d o p t e d b y t h e C h a m p a i g n C o u n t y B o a r d of R e a l t o r s : Whereas, it appears that a movement is underway for the establishment of a University of Southern Illinois; and Whereas, it is our considered opinion that the proposed plan of establishing a University of Southern Illinois has more of a political than an educational origin and that to establish such a school as proposed would add greatly to the now already overburdened tax payers of the State of Illinios; and Whereas, it is our opinion that the University of Illinois with its vast educational resources can and will take care of every demand necessary for the education of the youth of the State of Illinois; and Whereas, in our opinion, an investment of approximately $42,000,000 as now is represented in the University of Illinois, certainly demands the undivided support of every loyal citizen of this State; and