Senator Vernon Burton (LAS), Chair of the Senate Executive Committee (SEC), provided the following report.

Welcome to the second Senate meeting of this academic year.
Since the last Senate meeting, the Senate Executive Committee has held discussions about, among other matters, the President’s and Chancellor’s strategic plans. The SEC will host a shared governance seminar on January 23 beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the Levis Faculty Center. You will continue to hear more about these items.
We are fortunate to have University President B. Joseph White as a guest speaker today; the President will be discussing “Hard Choices for a Brilliant Future”.
The SEC approved the slate of nominations for the Campus Budget Oversight Committee (CBOC), which is on today’s agenda for Senate approval.

Please note that after the full slate is approved, a selection committee consisting of the SEC Chair and Vice Chair and the Provost will make the final CBOC selections.
With no objection, the Executive Session for the consideration of nominations for honorary degrees will be deferred until the next Senate meeting.
Floor privileges have been requested for Associate Dean of Students Dick Justice to speak to SD.05.01. I move that such privileges be granted (there was no objection).
Tellers for today’s meeting are Billie Theide (FAA), Norm Denzin (COMM), Leslie Struble (ENGR) and Abbas Aminmansour (FAA).

Chancellor’s Remarks

Chancellor Herman deferred his remarks and turned the podium over to University President B. Joseph White, to talk about “Hard Choices for a Brilliant Future”.

President White stepped down from the stage and used the wireless microphone to create an informal, unscripted atmosphere.

He began by thanking faculty for their demanding work, especially in the wake of the last few tough fiscal years for the University. The President cited three reasons why he believes our institution’s future must be brilliant – 1) Our future must reflect the brilliance of our past, 2) Because of unstoppable global forces, our educational mission has never been more important, and 3) Pride.

Dr. White acknowledged that we need the state to continue to provide its share of our budget, while we must work to improve from an underachiever to an overachiever in private giving. He added that in a perfect world, tuition increases are modest, internal reallocation is a thing of the past, state funding is adequate, and academic excellence continues unabated.

The President said the three questions he hears the most often as he travels around the state speaking to all types of groups are: 1) Why is the University of Illinois exempt from restructuring and layoffs that are found in nearly every other industry in today’s economy?, 2) Is there a culture clash between academics and conservative groups?, and 3) Does a value-added benefit of higher education really exist?

He answers these questions this way - 1) The University is not exempt from these market forces, 2) There may be a clash perceived by some, but not generally by us, and 3) Absolutely.

Questions and comments from the assembly included reference to the teaching v. research components of the institution’s mission, the role of the University President as it relates to the campus Chancellors, and the need to dispel skepticism about the three questions noted above, including an acknowledgment by President White that he is a strong defender of tenure and its associated academic freedom.

The Senate responded with an enthusiastic round of applause.