Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1970 [PAGE 394]

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394

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[May 21

sequences described above and will require the approval of the head of the participating department. The loans will be interest-free but a service charge will be made to cover University costs. Initially, this program will apply to the Urbana campus. However, if other campuses of the University wish to establish such funds, the President would expect to approve them. I recommend that a general authorization be granted to establish this fund and similar funds for the other campuses should it be desirable to establish them. O n m o t i o n of M r . C l e m e n t , t h i s r e c o m m e n d a t i o n w a s a p p r o v e d . MODIFICATION O F ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS TO THE COLLEGE OF MEDICINE. MEDICAL CENTER (13) The Dean of the College of Medicine and the Chancellor at the Medical Center campus recommend discontinuance of the current rule limiting applicants for admission to the College of Medicine to those having at least a 3.5 collegiate grade-point average. The change would become effective for the class to be selected for admission in September, 1970. On April 8, 1931, the Board of Trustees, on recommendation of the faculty of the College of Medicine, adopted the rule that each applicant to the College of Medicine, whether from the University of Illinois or another institution, must have a grade-point average of at least 3.5, or its equivalent, to be considered for admission. It is now believed that the rule acts to reduce unduly the freedom of action of the Committee on Admissions as it seeks to accept applicants considered most likely to succeed in the program of medical education. A review of admission requirements for other medical schools indicates that none has established a firm minimum grade-point average, below which consideration can not be given in any circumstance. Because the meaning of grades varies widely from one undergraduate institution to another, an arbitrary minimum grade-point average may result in unfair treatment to some applicants. (Some potentially-successful applicants are unable even to complete an application for review by the Committee on Admissions.) The Office of Admissions and Records has indicated that the additional work involved in processing applications for students with grade-point averages below 3.5 would not be a substantial problem. Discontinuance of the rule will not reduce the quality of the applicants accepted, but will make it possible for the Committee on Admissions to accept an applicant with excellent potential who had, for justifiable reasons, a grade-point average below the current minimum. The Medical Center Senate has endorsed the proposal. The Senate Coordinating Council has advised that no further Senate jurisdiction is involved. The Executive Vice President and Provost concurs in the recommendation. I recommend approval. O n m o t i o n of M r . P o g u e , t h i s r e c o m m e n d a t i o n w a s a p p r o v e d . AMENDMENTS OF THE BY-LAWS OF THE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (14) The Board of Directors of the Athletic Association has approved changes in the By-Laws of the Athletic Association. The changes provide for an increase in the membership of the Board from seven to nine members, and for revisions relating t o : selection of officers and committees of the Board, replacement of Board members, and times of Board meetings. A copy of the revisions is being filed with the Secretary of the Board. I recommend approval of these amendments in accordance with Article V I I I of the By-Laws of the Athletic Association which states that "any such amendment shall, after adoption by the Board, be submitted to the Trustees for its consideration before the same shall take effect." O n m o t i o n of M r . P o g u e , t h i s r e c o m m e n d a t i o n w a s a p p r o v e d . FOREIGN LANGUAGES BUILDING. URBANA (15) The Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Urbana, has recommended that the new building under construction which will house the foreign