SC.06.11
September 25, 2006
University of Illinois
Urbana-Champaign Senate
The meeting convened at 10:00 a.m. at the Student Center West on the University of Illinois at Chicago campus. After roll call, introductions, and a review of the agenda, Chair Lawrence C. Eppley stated that the Urbana campus would award its 500,000 degree. Trustee Kenneth Schmidt subsequently recognized the student trustees from all three campuses and presented each with a certificate of appreciation. President B. Joseph White stated that he was in the process of developing plans should a pandemic strike in Illinois. He indicated that the three chancellors are in charge of developing plans for their respective campuses.
The primary agenda item for the morning session, plans for healthcare facility development on the Chicago campus, included a PowerPoint presentation and discussion of need. Presenters noted that the current emphasis on out-patient care and demand for intensive care service left them with a shortage of facilities. Trustee Niranjan Shah said he was concerned about financial obligations since the estimated cost of $470M to complete the facility was not readily available. The presenters emphasized that they were not requesting approval for that amount but for the Certificate of Need which would cost less than $7M. Several trustees were concerned that the architectural design, which included a tower, would make construction an “all or nothing” endeavor, and the overall cost was far more than the Board could handle. President White said he would like to pursue the Certificate of Need mindful of Board concerns.
At 11:30, the Board met in Executive Session, broke for lunch, and reconvened again in Executive Session until 2:30. At 2:45 the meeting of the Board resumed to discuss the architectural plan and timeline for the renovation of Memorial Stadium on the Urbana campus. The architects emphasized their mission was to renovate, provide an updated structure, maintain the historical integrity of the stadium, and provide an enhanced game day experience for fans. The project will address the remodeling of restrooms to exceed industry standards and will include the addition of suites atop the west side of the stadium. New concessions will be located throughout the stadium and tickets will be collected outside the gates to enable fans to walk around the inside and outside of the structure more easily. Construction will begin at the end of the 2006 football season. Chancellor Richard Herman and the Board thanked Athletic Director Ron Guenther, who was in attendance, for his considerable efforts in raising the funds necessary for the successful completion of the project.
At 3:05, the Board discussed the regular items on the agenda. Related to the Urbana campus, the following items were addressed:
- Dr. Mary Kalantzis was approved as the new Dean of the College of Education and will begin service on August 1, 2006.
- Dr. Ilesanmi Adesida, currently Interim Dean of the College of Engineering, was approved as permanent dean of the college. Dr. Adesida, who was in attendance, was acknowledged by Dr. Herman and received a large round of applause.
- Coach Bruce Weber’s multiyear contract was extended for another year until the end of the 2011-12 basketball season and his salary was increased by $100,000 (from non-state funds). Dr. Herman commented on Coach Weber’s exceptional performance and emphasized that he is the kind of individual with whom the University of Illinois desires to be associated.
- The Board approved that the College of Applied Life Studies will be renamed the College of Applied Health Sciences to reflect a greater emphasis on health, wellness, and enhancement of the quality of life.
- The degree program in Russian and East European Studies was redesignated as Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies.
- The Board approved the merger of the Departments of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering and redesignated the department as Mechanical Science and Engineering.
- A contract was awarded for the remodeling of the fourth floor of Everitt Laboratory.
- A $4.6M contract was awarded for an addition to the Irwin Academic Services Center.
- The board approved the employment of an architect/engineer for Poultry Research Facilities.
- An architect was approved for the initial phase of the new dining and residential facility that will reflect the modern needs of students and create green space. Students from Beckwith Hall will be the first students to be accommodated.
In other business, Trustee Frances Carroll expressed concern that no African American contractors submitted bids for new projects on the Chicago campus and wanted to know if they had been encouraged to bid. President White said he appointed an energy task force from all campuses to address the energy supply and demand problem that was the result of higher energy prices. He also stated that the next 66 acres of the Research Park on the Urbana campus had been allocated.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kim C. Graber
Senate Observer