Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1978 [PAGE 60]

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1976]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

49

serving the appropriations process in Illinois. This process resulted in an appropriation for the University for FY 1977 of $251,325,800. From this amount, Governor Walker eliminated $5,778,100. The major components of this reduction are: Salary increase reduced from 4 . 5 % to 2 . 5 % Support for health professions education New program funds Total $3 800 000 1 200 000 800 000 $5 800 000

We are now in the process of working to seek the restoration of this $5.8 million at the session of the General Assembly which begins on November 17, 1976. This effort is one in which many groups have asked or will be asked to join. I have asked Professor Sam Gove to assist me and members of the administration of the University by serving as the coordinator of these efforts to restore these funds so that our efforts will be comprehensive, but also nonduplicative of the efforts of others. Our activities will involve faculty and staff members, alumni, and other individuals and groups, and representatives of both business and labor groups in Illinois. As you know, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, in a position paper issued in late May, endorsed appropriations to higher education at the level approved by the Board of Higher Education — a level which included salary increase funds averaging 4.5 percent. Representatives of labor groups which represent many of our staff members have committed themselves to work on behalf of restoration and have shown admirable understanding of our fiscal problems in discussions of wages and salaries for the coming year. Legislators from areas in which our campuses are located and from other parts of Illinois have urged us to seek restoration of funds and have indicated their strong support of that undertaking. In many conversations in the last two months I have expressed to faculty and staff members my appreciation of the high level of support which you of the Board of Trustees have provided and will provide as we seek equitable salary treatment and adequate support for health professions education. I have indicated that you recognize the absolute need for some combination of resources which will restore the University of Illinois to the competitive position it must have if we are to maintain our level of quality and the level of services which the people of Illinois expect from us. It does no good to pretend that the University is something which public support will not permit it to be, and it does no good for us to aspire to a level of public service which the public does not desire. Our quality attracts nearly $60 million of federal support for programs which we offer to the people of Illinois; our quality has led to research breakthroughs of inestimable value to the economy and to the quality of life in Illinois; our quality permits young men and women of Illinois to gain and then to exercise personal and professional skills in and for Illinois; our quality attracts industry and human resources to Illinois and enhances the reputation of a great state. T h e attainment and preservation of that quality are viewed by some as costly, but few public expenditures can come close to providing the benefits which are provided by the existence of a world-renowned university within the boundaries of a state. I believe that the people of the state of Illinois are not prepared to turn their backs on higher education of excellence. T h a t belief is at the heart of our efforts to seek reaffirmation by the Illinois General Assembly of the support which was provided for FY 1977 after painstaking review and after consideration of our minimal needs to continue to serve the public interests of the people of Illinois. T h e restoration of those funds reduced by Governor Walker is our highest order of priority now, and we are working toward that restoration with optimism and with enthusiasm.

Annual Operating Budget for FY 1977

(1) The University budget for operations for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1976, is submitted herewith, including recommendations "for: (a) academic and administrative appointments beginning August 2 1 , 1976, a t Urbana-Champaign and Sep-