Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1978 [PAGE 196]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1977]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

185

BUSINESS PRESENTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY President's Reports President Corbally presented a report on selected topics of current interest, copies of which were distributed at the meeting, and a copy was filed with the Secretary of the Board. Recommendations, Board of Higher Education, 1978 Budgets President Corbally provided a brief summary of the recent action of the Board of Higher Education, indicating general support for the actions taken, although he noted that the University would continue to present its argument for salary increases as originally requested, this level being somewhat larger than that recommended by the Board of Higher Education. OLD AND NEW BUSINESS Mrs. Shepherd expressed her view that the Trustees should have more knowledge of the academic program of the University on a regular basis and that she had been considering an appropriate format for this purpose. She suggested that an hour be provided in the course of Board meetings at which time the Chancellors or academic officers of each campus might present information on this general subject. Search Committee, Vice President for Academic Affairs Mr. Matthews, noting that the University Senates Conference had been asked by President Corbally to serve as a search committee and to advise him with regard to the appointment of this officer, called attention to the fact that the Conference did not contain any students or members of minority groups. H e suggested that the group be augmented accordingly. President Corbally reported that he would meet with the Conference the next day and discuss the question. H e expressed his reluctance to augmentation as a matter of principle, inasmuch as the Conference is the body designated by the University Statutes to advise him on such appointments, and the Conference membership is determined by election within each Senate. President Corbally said that he would consult the Conference and report to the Trustees. Subsequently, on January 20, 1977, the President wrote the Trustees as follows:

On December 17, 1976, I wrote to you outlining the search process for a successor to Eldon Johnson as Vice President for Academic Affairs. I met this morning with the University Senates Conference to discuss concerns which have been raised about the involvement of students, minorities, and professional/academic employees in the process. You will recall that with my memorandum of December 17, I enclosed a document entitled, "Procedures for Selection of a Vice President for Academic Affairs." T h a t process provided for a ten-step screening process which would produce no later than May 1, 1977, a list of six "most probable candidates." No interviews would be conducted prior to the identification of that list of six candidates.