Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1942 [PAGE 201]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

198

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[February 21

legally permitted so to do, on the understanding that no financial commitments are incurred by this action."

On motion of Mr. Jensen, this action was reaffirmed.

NATIONAL DEFENSE RESEARCH PROJECTS (25) Pursuant to the authorization of the Board of Trustees (Minutes, September 27, 1940, page 50), I have authorized the execution by the Secretary and Comptroller of the Board of Trustees of contracts with the National Defense Research Committee covering four research projects to be carried on in the Department of Chemistry. T h e total amount of money which the Government has agreed to pay covering the cost of these investigations is $26,100. O n m o t i o n of M r . M a y e r , t h i s a c t i o n w a s c o n f i r m e d . W . P . A . MUSEUM EXTENSION PROJECT (26) At the meeting of the Board on January 22, 1940 (Minutes, page 171), a report was made that the W o r k Projects Administration had asked the University to sponsor a state-wide project covering museum assistance, museum extension, and visual education, in which relief workers will be employed for the accomplishment of educational objectives. The Board requested the President to secure further information on this matter. Subsequently conferences have been held with representatives of the W o r k Projects Administration concerning this matter. T h e total cost of this project is estimated at $2,295,695, of which $616,842 would represent contributions in cash and services of the sponsor and cooperating agencies. It is estimated further that the minimum cost to the University of sponsoring this project would be $2,500, which would have to be provided from University funds to pay the salaries of personnel required for the supervision. This contemplates operating with a three-man administrative or supervising committee, using men now on the staff with a chairman as the official agent to consider and pass upon requests from cooperating agencies for approval of their projects. I also present a letter from the W o r k Projects Administration formally requesting the University to sponsor this project and explaining the public service aspects of the sponsorship of this program. O n m o t i o n of M r . M a y e r , t h e P r e s i d e n t of t h e U n i v e r s i t y w a s a u t h o r i z e d t o u n d e r t a k e t h e s p o n s o r s h i p of t h i s p r o j e c t , at a n e x p e n s e not to exceed $2,500. UNIVERSITY RETIREMENT PLAN (27) F o r the past four years the Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees has had on its docket of business the question of revising the University's system of retiring allowances and death benefits to place it on a fund basis instead of the present practice of meeting these obligations out of current income. Shortly after this matter was referred by the Board to the Finance Committee, the latter requested the President of the University to appoint a special committee of the faculty to make the detailed and technical studies necessary for the consideration of the broader questions of public and financial policy involved. T h e faculty committee presented a report to the University Council in June, 1940, for consideration along with the biennial budget for 1941-1943. At the request of the Council the committee placed this report before all University staff members and employees through executive committees of colleges and departments. The committee has continued its studies, taking into consideration the suggestions made and questions raised by various staff members concerning the proposed new retirement and death benefit plan. As a result of these further studies the committee has prepared a revised report and recommendations contemplating legislation by the General Assembly of Illinois providing for a retirement and death benefit plan for all state institutions of higher education and allied agencies (specifically, the State Scientific Surveys) concurrently with legislation providing pensions for other state employees. In the preparation of this report and the recommendations, the committee has been guided by the suggestions of advisory committees set up in various divisions of the University