Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1978 [PAGE 518]

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1978]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

505

gested that the recommendations seek too much, I must strongly suggest that our data indicate that in the area of faculty and staff salaries these recommendations seek too little. The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois devoted major attention in the development of its budget request to salary needs and concluded that salary increases averaging 10 percent for all personnel of the University were essential. The data in support of increases of at least this amount have been before you in salary studies conducted by or for your staff, and I will not repeat those data again. But I do want to say to you today and through you to the people of Illinois, to Governor Thompson, and to the General Assembly that what you see as printed justifications of salary needs, I and my colleagues experience each day in real and human terms. I am watching the beginnings of the deterioration of one of the great university faculties in all the world — the faculty of the University of Illinois. Morale is low; contentiousness is high; minor irritations assume major proportions; and a faculty which traditionally devoted its attention to teaching, research, and public service now finds itself increasingly concerned about its own welfare. The low salary rank of our top quality faculty is viewed by the faculty as a sign of the lack of respect which Illinois and its leadership have for higher education, for intellectual excellence, and for over a century of significant academic achievement. I know the leadership of Illinois, and I know that they do respect and honor higher education. The time is nearly here when we will have lost what our predecessors built. The time is here for real, honest action — not for pats on the head and for friendly words. I will urge the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois to continue its strong support of its request for 10 percent salary increases, and I hope that many of you on the Board of Higher Education will join in this effort. This support is crucial if education is indeed to remain visible as a real priority of the leadership of Illinois. There are other and much less significant items within these recommendations about which we continue to work with the IBHE staff. My view about the recommendations is a positive view, and it seems inappropriate, therefore, to discuss details today. Only in the crucial area of salaries is it imperative that we speak out today strongly and clearly so that the significance of that concern is not lost. Presentation, Urbana Chapter, American Association of University Professors (AAUP) President Howard recognized Mr. Scott Bennett, president of the U r b a n a Chapter of the A A U P , who made a brief statement in support of faculty salary increases for 1979 in excess of the 8 percent recommended by the Illinois Board of Higher Education. M r . Bennett reviewed the dete'riorating effect of relatively lower state support for the University i n recent years a n d supported the 10 percent salary increase recommended .by the president of the University a n d by the Board of Trustees in the University's appropriation request for F Y 1979. H e also noted that the effect of increasing state support for higher education by one percentage point would, though modest, fund the 10 percent salary increase, new programs recommended, and the University's operating budget, and would provide similar increases for other universities in the state. (A copy of M r . Bennett's statement is filed with the secretary for record.)