Gov. Pat Quinn talks about focusing on the UI’s future and said that he is looking forward to working with the new board members.
Champaign Senate delayed its vote on whether to recommend Herman and White be retained or let go for two weeks. The delay was to give Herman and White “every opportunity to make their case” with constituents and give faculty members ample time to deliberate.
Much of the meeting was spent on presentations familiarizing the new trustees with the financial, academic and development aspects of the UI.
Financial aid emerged as a critical concern, as the state’s Fiscal Year 2010 budget only funded MAP grants, which aid the neediest students, for the fall semester. About 6,000 Urbana students, 6,200 UIC students, and 700 students at UIS receive MAP assistance, and there was concern that some students would drop out if they did not receive MAP grants for the spring semester.
Quinn is assembling a group that will include students and work with him “to put together a movement” to address the situation with state legislators.
At Kennedy’s request, White will report on diversity initiatives – including use of minority vendors, faculty hiring and students – at every trustees’ meeting.
The meeting was moved from the Illini Union’s Pine Lounge to the much larger Illini Rooms A, B and C, to accommodate more spectators, but fewer than 50 showed up. Before adjourning, Kennedy joked that he had been heartened to see a long line of students in the hallway that morning.
“I thought, ‘Well, isn’t this terrific to see all of these young people so interested in our work, to hear what we have to say and to be there to cheer us on, and see whatever changes the new board can bring to the institution to make it better,’ ” Kennedy said. “I was glad that I didn’t start working the line to thank them all for coming, because I quickly understood that they were there to queue up for tickets for the Jay-Z concert. They were not here to see any of us.
“And, to tell you the truth, I think that’s how it should be. They need to know in their lives that what they do on this campus is more important than what we do. And I hope that every action that we take will be taken in that vein.”
