Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1956 [PAGE 36]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1954]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

33

preparing for a doubling of enrollment on the Champaign-Urbana campus, was referred by President Morey to the University Building Program Committee and the Senate Committee on Educational Policy for their study and recommendations. Proposal 7, concerning a system of junior colleges under the direction of the University of Illinois, was referred to a subcommittee under the chairmanship of Dean B. L. Dodds of the College of Education. T h e following three statements from the conclusions of the subcommittee's report are pertinent here: 1. The potentialities of development of junior colleges to an extent which would have a significant effect upon the predicted enrollments in the institutions of higher education are sufficiently promising to warrant this alternative being recommended for serious consideration by the proposed State commission. 2. The subcommittee seriously questions the desirability of the University's attempting to establish, support, and operate junior colleges throughout the State (except perhaps as an emergency measure or under very special conditions) for both practical reasons and reasons of policy. 3. The subcommittee is of the opinion that the University should cooperate closely in any State study of the development of junior colleges but should not undertake any comprehensive study on unilateral basis. In discussing proposals for meeting increasing enrollments, it would be remiss on the part of our Committee not to warn those interested in future educational planning of the present lack of teachers. Colleges today are not turning out enough teachers for elementary and secondary schools to meet the present demands. Yet, it will be necessary during the next two decades to increase greatly the number of teachers from kindergarten through college. Seeking ways and means to increase the number of students in teacher-trainee curricula and, at the same time, keeping the quality on a high level are vital questions which also should be studied by a State-wide group. D. Recommendations Made in an Interim Report, Dated March 31, 1954 The main problem facing the State is: "Can the post-high school students be taken care of by 1970?" Whether it is by junior colleges, technical and vocational institutes, or other methods, there still will need to be increased physical facilities. While it is recognized that private and public institutions of higher learning can satisfactorily accommodate a good many more students than they do now, their present facilities probably will fall short of those needed for the anticipated increase. In any case, the State institutions will need to prepare for their proportionate share. To study these proposals or possibilities, this Committee, on Page 9 of its interim report, recommended that: 1. The University of Illinois should recommend that the Governor appoint immediately a special commission to: a. Study the long-range problems of meeting the higher educational needs for an increased population by additional facilities or other measures. b. Work cooperatively in such a study with representatives of existing institutions of higher education in the State. c. Recommend a program for financing such additional construction as may be needed. d. Submit a report by March I, 1955. Our Committee, feeling that the University must concurrently plan for its part in the future, further recommended that: 2. The University should give immediate consideration to construction on the Champaign-Urbana campus to correct existing crowded conditions. 3- The University should plan for permanent plant capacity increases which will be required for the maximum enrollment to be established for the Champaign-Urbana campus. Our Committee believes that the above studies and planning are essential and should be carried on concurrently with any study made concerning a fouryear division of the University of Illinois in the Chicago area. While we