Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1954 [PAGE 1090]

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1953]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

IO87

COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES OF INDIA (12) In March, 1952, the University entered into an agreement with the Technical Cooperation Administration of the United States Department of State, whereby staff members of the University would be temporarily assigned to the Allahabad Agricultural Institute in India, as required by a program of collaboration then established. The project, under the "Point Four" program, was to assist in the development of the agricultural resources of India, to which the government of India is also a party. The total cost of this project, estimated at £200,000, is to be paid by the United States government. Four staff members of the College of Agriculture have been assigned to the Allahabad Agricultural Institute and are presently there. In August, 1952, the original contract was amended to provide for the training of Allahabad staff members at the University of Illinois and ?20,ooo additional was made available for this purpose. Early in the summer of 1953 TCA requested the University to send a survey team to India to examine the program at Allahabad Institute and also to confer with staff members at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India, to determine the needs of this Institute and to study the feasibility of a somewhat similar arrangement with that institution. Two senior members of the staff of the College of Agriculture went to India, at TCA expense, and made the study and have reported favorably. At the same time, the University of Illinois executed a "Letter of Intent," signifying that the University would be willing to proceed with the cooperative program at the Indian Institute of Technology. Under the terms of the proposed program, the staff members of the University who are specialists in soil and water conservation, exploratory work in geophysics, structural engineering and machine design would go to the Indian Institute in the fall of 1953. Somewhat later the University would stand ready to provide specialists in agricultural engineering shop work, machinery construction, repairs and farm work foremanship, line communications, wireless communications, and industrial organization and business methods, together with such additional personnel as might be required by the Institute and approved by the TCA administration and the University. The University would also agree to provide training for members of the Institute staff at the University of Illinois or at such other institutions as might be agreed upon by the University and the Indian Institute. The estimated cost of the program with the Indian Institute is $450,000. This amount will cover all direct costs of the University, plus a 10 per cent allowance for indirect costs. The College of Agriculture with its research and extension program holds that its first responsibility is to the people of Illinois and particularly to the producers and consumers of agricultural products. The College and most of its staff believe that there are also larger areas which can be served without detracting in any way from the service to the citizens of the state. In fact, all research and much of the educational program extends to the nation and to the world. In a more definite way, the College has for some time been rendering service to visitors from other lands, particularly those who are here to study the outstanding results of research and development in agriculture. The dominant motive in accepting this proposal is one of service in the interest of international peace and cooperation. However, there are also advantages in having members of the college staff gain the experience of living and working in the Far East. I request approval of the proposed new project and authority for the Acting Comptroller and the Secretary of the Board to conclude a contract with the approval of the Dean of the College of Agriculture and the Legal Counsel.

On motion of Mr. Herrick, this agreement was authorized.

OPERATION OF CONTROL SYSTEMS LABORATORY (13) Early in 1951 the Department of Defense asked the University to undertake certain important confidential researches in the field of the physical sciences. As a result the University organized the Control Systems Laboratory of which the Head of the Physics Department is Director. In the past he has reported to the Provost but in the future he will report to the Director of the Engineering Experiment Station. Contracts with three branches of the armed services for the support of this project will have totalled £2,707,984 through November 30, 1953. This sum covers all direct and indirect costs to the University. From these contracts the University has received, or will receive in the near future, reimbursement for all costs incurred.