Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1950 [PAGE 1130]

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1122

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[May 19

MATTERS PRESENTED BY PROVOST GRIFFITH

The Board considered the following matters presented by the Provost acting for the President of the University.

RATES OF PAY FOR BUILDING TRADES (1) The Board of Trustees has authorized the appointment of a fact-finding committee to make an investigation of wage rates in Piatt County to be paid for construction work at Robert Allerton Park and report on the same to the President of the University and to the Board of Trustees. This Committee is composed of one member appointed by the Illinois State Federation of Labor, one member appointed by the President of the University, and a third member selected by the first two; provided that if they do not agree upon a candidate within ten days the Director of the State Department of Public Works and Buildings shall be asked to appoint the third member. The personnel of this Committee is Mr. Robert L. Gordon, Urbana, former Director of the State Department of Labor, Mr. Donald E. Dickason, Director of Nonacademic Personnel, and Mr. Winfield Meyer, Deputy Director of the State Department of Public Welfare. At a hearing held recently, Mr. Meyer of this Committee brought to the attention of Director Dickason a memorandum of agreement entered into between the State Department of Labor and the international representatives of several building trade unions specifying how rates of pay for building tradesmen in the employ of the state of Illinois shall be determined. On June 28, 1949, the Governor authorized the Director of the State Department of Labor to distribute this agreement to the Code Departments and the elected state officials. This agreement has never been brought to the attention of the University of Illinois officially and, in fact, was not known to University officials until it was shown to the Director of Nonacademic Personnel informally by the Deputy Director of the Department of Public Welfare.

This matter was discussed at length. The Provost recommended that no action be taken to change the agreement now in effect, but that the fact-finding committee continue its investigation on the basis of the existing agreement. No action was taken.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR DEAN LOUIS N. RIDENOUR (2) Dean Louis N. Ridenour of the Graduate College has requested leave of absence without pay for the period July I, 1950, to September 1, 1951, to accept an assignment as Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force, for Development. The Secretary has formally requested the University to make Dean Ridenour's services available. The President recommends that Dean Ridenour be granted leave of absence for the period indicated, one month (July) to be with pay to cover normal vacation allowance and the balance of the leave from August I, 1950, to September 1, 1951, to be without pay. Dean Ridenour expects to keep in close touch with the University and to make visits to the campus periodically during the period of his leave of absence to consult with his staff and other administrative officers regarding University matters. I recommend that the President be authorized to make the necessary provisions for the administration of the Graduate College during Dean Ridenour's absence.

On motion of Mr. McLaughlin, this leave was granted as recommended.

PURCHASE OF PROPERTY AT 1 0 0 5 WEST NEVADA STREET, URBANA (3) It is necessary to provide additional space and more adequate quarters for the Psychological Clinic, now housed at 404 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana. This building must eventually be vacated because it is on a part of the site of the proposed Biology Building. The University has an opportunity to purchase the property at 1005 West Nevada Street, Urbana, which has been offered at a price of 558,500. Action in the