Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1968 [PAGE 334]

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282

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[December 8

approval to the establishment of a College of Education (and within it a School of Physical Education) as provisionally approved on November 10. As indicated earlier, this approval is subject to further action by the Board of Higher Education. O n motion of Mr. Jones, this recommendation was approved. M r . Dilliard and Mr. H u g h e s asked to be recorded as voting " N o . " Following is the complete text of the recommendation of the Chancellor at Chicago Circle and a supporting memorandum, and a Report of the A d Hoc Committee on a College of Education at Chicago Circle.

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO CIRCLE OFFICE OF THE CHANCELLOR

October 24, 1966

PRESIDENT HENRY :

This letter is to recommend the establishment of a College of Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle as soon as it is possible to do so. This recommendation grows out of a history of commitments and planning by the University dating back to January, 1961 (see attachment A ) , to meet the pressing and growing need for teachers in the elementary and secondary school systems. The Council on Teacher Education at Chicago Circle and the Executive Committee of the Chancellor's Administrative Council have reaffirmed their earlier recommendations first made in December, 1965, that a College of Education be established at the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle with a School of Physical Education within that college. The director of the school should be responsible to the dean of the college on matters relating to curricula and courses and to the Chancellor on matters relating to intercollegiate athletics and intramural programs. A College of Education at Chicago Circle would perform the following functions : (a) offer the professional education courses needed for undergraduate teacher-education curricula; (b) develop suitable graduate programs designed to train high-level professional personnel in educational administration and research; (c) conduct research and development in educational methods and materials (in collaboration with subject-matter specialists), with special reference to the needs of disadvantaged students; (d) maintain effective liaison relationships with the profession of education at local, state, and national levels. In addition to the University obligations and commitments to the hundreds of students, and the various agencies of the state of Illinois, a comprehensive organization and program for the training of teachers is an integral part of the University's total approach to its urban environment and calling. The need for teachers is nowhere more keenly felt than in the urban areas. An urban studies program which ignores this reality falls far short of major accomplishment in scholarship, research, and applicability to contemporary problems. At the October 11, 1966, meeting of the Faculty Senate at Chicago Circle, a report (attachment B) of an Ad Hoc Committee on a College of Education appointed by the Senate was presented, considered, and voted upon. The Ad Hoc Committee presented two plans to the Senate. The report of the Committee stated: "From the deliberations of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on a College of Education have emerged two plans for establishing an organization. Both plans have received equal support — by a vote of six to six with two abstentions. It had been hoped that consultation with recognized leaders in the educational field would suggest a solution of merit obvious to all. However, inasmuch as we have been informed that the urgency of the situation brooks no delay, we are submitting the two plans to the Senate at this time. "The Committee wishes to emphasize that the two plans are meant to reflect, through their structures, not only the differences in philosophy which have arisen, but also the very broad areas of agreements among all members. We subscribe to the general ideas expressed by the Provost relating to the unique function to be fulfilled by the University in its urban setting: the emphasis on research, on training of specialists and administrative personnel as well as teachers, on the achievement of close cooperation between the school of education and other faculties within the University. W e agree that academic departments should continue to bear major responsibility for training of secondary school teachers.