Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1976 [PAGE 461]

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES

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of Higher Education and that this draft contains major revisions, particularly in the section dealing with program directions for institutions. With the expectation that many of the concerns of the Board of Trustees in this area have been spoken to in the second draft, the Board will not today repeat those concerns except to emphasize the importance it attaches to them. It is also the expectation of the Board of Trustees that this second draft eliminates much of the negative "tone" to which the Board spoke in October. These and other concerns were addressed in the October 15, 1975, resolution of the Board of Trustees which was sent to members of the Board of Higher Education. The Board of Trustees has also reviewed the various statements used by the administration of the University in working with the staff of the Board of Higher Education and the comments submitted by various internal groups of the University. While not prepared to endorse each and every statement within these materials, the Board of Trustees does support the general thrust of these statements and supports the continued pursuit of the general aims of these statements. There are several major concerns which the Board of Trustees wishes to make known specifically to the members of the Board of Higher Education. First, the Board of Trustees views with real concern the suggestions contained in several recommendations (most notably in # 6 3 of the first draft of Master Plan, Phase IV) related to program review. While the Board of Trustees recognizes the statutory responsibilities of the Board of Higher Education in this area, it also fears that unnecessary duplication in program review will be costly and will distract the attention of institutional and Board of Higher Education staff members from more important concerns. The Board of Trustees urges that the primary role of governing boards and of academic administrators and faculty be recognized and honored in any Board of Higher Education program review format. The Board of Trustees is concerned that Master Plan, Phase IV, fails to recognize fully the legitimate and increasing requests for public legal education in metropolitan Chicago. The Board of Trustees reaffirms its goal to provide a full and complete program of legal education at the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle at the earliest possible time that funding permits. T h e Board of Trustees reasserts its interest in adult and continuing education and expresses its feeling that neither the enrollment nor the public service sections of Master Plan, Phase IV, provide die recognition and encouragement of programs in this area which are appropriate. An undue concern with so-called duplication will do a real disservice to the people of Illinois and will reduce the ability of higher education to properly serve the people of Illinois. Several recommendations in the first draft of Master Plan, Phase IV, seem designed to deter institutional efforts to serve an expanding clientele and should, in the view of the Board of Trustees, be reconsidered. In the area of tuition, the Board of Trustees recognizes that this matter is complex and involves many governmental agencies and officers. At the present time, the Board of Trustees finds itself opposed to the recommendations contained in Master Plan, Phase IV, regarding tuition. The Board of Trustees feels that a fuller understanding of and agreement about the issues must be reached by governing boards, the Board of Higher Education, the General Assembly, and the executive branch before a comprehensive and realistic tuition policy can be achieved. Finally, the Board of Trustees reasserts its opposition to recommen-