Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1974 [PAGE 558]

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[April 17

Early in this academic year, the Board of Trustees was made aware of certain concerns expressed by some representatives of the Latino communities in Chicago related to the recruitment and admission of Latino students to the Chicago Circle campus of the University. Since that time, the Board has received various communications from these representatives, has received and comniented upon progress reports with regard to recruitment and admission policies and programs submitted by Chancellor Cheston and by the Chicago Circle Senate, and has followed closely reports of events on the Chicago Circle campus related to these matters. Yesterday, April 16, 1974, this committee of the Board conducted a hearing from 1 :15 p.m. until 3:45 p.m. at which time representatives of the Latino communities, operating under an agenda of their choosing and presenting speakers of their choice, described what are alleged to be discriminating practices in the recruitment and admissions programs at Chicago Circle. This committee was specifically asked to provide a Board response to a series of demands submitted by representatives of the Latino communities and the Committee recommends that the Board of Tmstees adopt the following statement in response to this request.

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In spite of what are obvious failures^ in communication among the various groups concerned, the overriding evidence is that the Chicago Circle campus — its faculty, staff, and administration — has made real progress in recruiting students from various minority ethnic groups. In 1970-71, the nonwhite enrollment at Chicago Circle was less than 7 per cent; in 1973-74, it is 18 per cent. The actual number and the percentage of Latino students enrolled has steadily increased. There is in existence a clearly identified effort to recruit Latino students as well as to recruit students from other minority, ethnic groups. The University of Illinois, including its Chicago Circle campus, is a part of a total system of public higher education in Illinois with a special mission as a comprehensive university offering programs of teaching, research, and service with emphasis upon professional and graduate education and with a commitment to academic excellence at all levels. It is important that the University of Illinois honor its special mission, and admissions and curricular decisions are recommended by faculty bodies within the requirements of that mission. The Board of Trustees reaffirms its long standing commitment to support programs designed to recruit and admit students, regardless of ethnic background, who possess the qualifications necessary to meet the academic requirements of a university such as the University of Illinois. The Board supports the efforts of administrators and faculty bodies who have worked and continue to work on behalf of such programs. Within this framework, the Board agrees that the increased recruitment of qualified students from the Latino communities is desirable. The "demands" discussed with the committee involve decisions which are made by the Board of Trustees upon the recommendations of the administration and of the Senate of the Chicago Circle campus. The primary "demand" is that efforts to recruit qualified Latino students to the Chicago Circle campus be increased. The Board of Trustees has a long and consistent record of developing policies and supporting programs designed to insure that all qualified students, regardless of race, sex, or ethnic background, are encouraged to enter the University of Illinois. The Board is convinced that real progress toward this end is being made and will continue to be made under the auspices of the Senate and the administration of the Chicago Circle campus. The Board has confidence that the faculty, staff, and administration of the Chicago Circle campus are willing and able to support these policies and programs particularly if efforts to do so are permitted to continue within the regular and orderly procedures which have long characterized academic decision making within the University of Illinois. George W. Howard III, Chairman pro tern Jane Hayes Rader President Earl M. Hughes, ex officio President John E. Corbally JT., ex officio

Messrs. Hahn and Neal, other members of the Committee, were unable to be present for the. meeting of the Committee on April Ifl.