Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1954 [PAGE 449]

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446

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[October 24

The costs of supplies and equipment for the day-to-day use of students in their laboratories continue to rise rapidly. In addition to price increases, all areas of teaching and research must turn to the newest methods of analysis and measurement, and to the latest monographs and other sources of scholarly effort. In agriculture alone, soil research, weed control, crop nutrition, food analysis, breeding methods and kindred problems require instrumentation far beyond the needs of a few years ago. The College of Agriculture is seriously in arrears in funds for these purposes. All other scientific departments are likewise in a constant state of hunger for larger expense and equipment budgets. The nonscientific departments face a parallel problem in library resources, and in funds for the publication of scholarly works. All the programs recommended are meritorious. (See Schedule B for a complete listing and description of these projects.) Limited space and the high priority attached to other budget requests force a slower pace in the processes of normal growth. After careful review, the sum of $2,143,820 per year has been allocated for the most essential developments. The tentative allocation of funds for growth and development, compared with the original requests, is shown in Schedule A. Because of the material reduction in these requests, some of the items included in the lists can not be carried out and their presence in the list does not constitute a commitment to any specific item. Ultimate selection will be made on the basis of urgency when the 1953-54 internal operating budget is prepared. VI. Auxiliary Enterprises and Revolving Activities Income of auxiliary enterprises and revolving activities must be deposited in the State Treasury and appropriated for use by the University. An estimated higher level of activity requires an increase of $175,000 a year in the appropriation for these purposes. VII. Summary Comments It can not be said too often that a great university wholly befits the great State of Illinois. Its youth deserve the best that can be secured for them because it is through these youth, as they filter into the cultural, economic, industrial, commercial and professional life of the State, that the people of the State can look forward with confidence to the future. A great university holds fast to the basic values of western civilization, and teaches these values to each new generation; but also, it stands alert on the forward edges of knowledge, always ready to prepare youth for the life of tomorrow in all major branches of learning. A task of this sort — it has been assigned to no other kind of social agency — requires the best teachers, the most imaginative research personnel and the finest equipment that can be secured. The 1953-55 biennium will be crucial for the simple reason that the great gains made in recent years must be protected in terms of (a) the quality of the staff, (b) a sense of financial security in the hearts and minds of this staff, (c) an increase in enrollment which will materialize earlier than previous!}' anticipated, and (d) a sustained high level in standards of living which threatens to leave the academic profession in an unfavored position. Schedule A

ANNUAL INCREASES IN DEPARTMENTAL BUDGETS

(Subject to Revision within Total) Urbana-Champaign Liberal Arts and Sciences Agriculture Farm and Home Advisers Engineering Graduate College Commerce Education Fine and Applied Arts Physical Education Veterinary Medicine Law Original Request $ 330 044 461 795 455 316 367 202 154 078 24 750 176 344 134 530 34 375 51 150 11 950 Revised Request # 1 6 0 497 146 000 274 123 53 83 91 32 31 11 946 985 000 463 430 825 750 950