Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1978 [PAGE 499]

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486

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[December 14

I recommend that the secretary of the board report this contract to the executive director of the Illinois Board of Higher Education. O n m o t i o n of M r . L e n z , t h i s r e c o m m e n d a t i o n was a p p r o v e d .

Contract for Professional Services, Productivity Improvement Program

(7) In an attempt to increase the operational effectiveness of units within the University, a contract proposal has been developed by staff members in cooperation with Work in America Institute, Inc., a nonprofit organization. A pilot program, the project would involve the University business affairs function at Urbana and the Urbana campus's Operation and Maintenance Division. Work in America Institute, Inc., was established in 1975 to provide practical support to all sectors of the work community for improving performance and productivity. It has the support of both public and private sectors, including government, foundations, labor, and management. This will, however, be the first time its efforts have been directed toward a higher education institution. Exploratory efforts, involving the administrators and personnel concerned, have been undertaken in the University project. Upon approval of the contract proposal, investigation will be conducted by means of survey techniques and sample interviews with individuals from the units involved. When these data are analyzed, they will be reported and discussed within functional areas to involve all personnel in definition of problems, development and implementation of corrective action, and establishment of measurement criteria. At the end of ten months, the effectiveness of the units will be measured against the criteria developed by survey of the units and, independently, by Urbana's Department of Business Administration. Charges for the services of Work in America Institute, Inc., and other consultant staff whom they will employ, are estimated to be $52,000, including authorized reimbursable expenses. The contract would be for the period January 1 through December 31, 1978. The Exxon Education Foundation has provided a grant of $25,000 in support of the program. The remaining amount is available in the institutional funds budget. The vice president for administration, with the concurrence of the executive officers, has recommended the employment of Work in America Institute, Inc.. to provide the services stated at a cost not to exceed $52,000. I concur.

T h e student advisory vote was: Aye, Miss Conlon, Mr. Overstreet, Miss Winter; no, none. O n motion of M r . H a h n , this recommendation was approved by the following vote: Aye, M r . Forsyth, Mr. H a h n , M r . Howard, M r . Lenz, Mr. Livingston, Mrs. Rader, Mrs. Shepherd, M r . Velasquez; no, none; absent, M r . Neal, Governor Thompson. Contracts for Remodeling, 1919 West Taylor Street, Medical Center

(8) The president of the University, with the concurrence of appropriate administrative officers, recommends award of the following contracts, the award in each case being to the low bidder, for the remodeling of the entire fourth floor of the 1919 West Taylor Street building for the physical therapy staff of the School of Basic Medical Sciences at the Medical Center campus. General Work Mutual Contracting Co., Chicago Plumbing Work Fullerton Plumbing & Heating Co., Inc., Elk Grove Village $ 81 467 10 795