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HE.06.11
April 24, 2006

University of Illinois
Urbana-Champaign Senate

HE.06.11. Report on the Illinois Board of Higher Education Meeting, April 4, 2006.*

The BHE met in Springfield. Actions specific to the UIUC campus:

·Approved the Pennsylvania Avenue Resident Hall Dining Building Improvements—estimated cost of $12M. ·Approved Atkins Tennis Center and Eichelberger Field (softball) expansion and upgrade—estimate cost $5.4M. ·Allocated $43,300 for the cooperative work study program. ·Allocated $170,000 for the TIMES Project (tech-intensive mathematics and science model) as part of the “No Child Left Behind” federal funding. ·Approved a B.S. in Horticulture, off campus in North Suburban, Fox Valley, West Suburban and Chicago Regions.

The Faculty Advisory Council presented a statement of eight theses that discussed reasons why higher education had been “starved” and why the state must reinvest in higher education; a shorter version of 4 statements on the need to fund higher education; a position paper opposing the recommended $1,000 tax credit for freshman and sophomore students arguing money would be better spent to assist the neediest students by funding ISAC or by giving the funds to public universities and colleges.

The Board heard presentations by Randy Dunn, State Superintendent of Education and Larry Isaak, president of the Midwest Higher Education Compact.

The Board approved new units of instruction and degree programs for community colleges, public universities and independent institutions and operating authority for a few of the latter. The Board accepted a report on evaluation of the Illinois Articulation Agreement, had a legislative update and a report by the Disability Committee. A report on employer satisfaction with higher education in Illinois noted generally favorable responses to the quality of graduates but notes some areas for improvement including communication skills.

Ken Andersen
FAC to the IBHE Representative

·This report is based on the agenda and descriptions of the meeting from various sources. Due to a schedule conflict, the author could not attend.