The approval of the Fiscal Year 2011 budget and the University’s diversity efforts will headline the Board of Trustees’ agenda at its meeting Thursday in the Illini Union Pine Lounge.

Trustee Lawrence Oliver said one of the most significant items on Thursday’s agenda is the approval of the budget.

“That’s always on the forefront of everyone’s agenda in these difficult economic times,” Oliver said.

Trustee Edward McMillan said he does not think there is anything in the budget that will prevent its approval.

McMillan, the chair of the board’s Audit, Budget, Finance and Facilities Committee said the FY 2011 operating budget will be slightly greater than the FY 2010 budget due to the increase in tuition and a reduction in the operating costs of the University. According to Thursday’s meeting agenda, the budget will have a 3.9 percent “increase in all operating funds from FY 2010.”

Oliver said another significant item on the agenda is a resolution to increase the University’s utilization of minority owned companies such as construction contractors.

He said the University has a “sincere commitment to making sure that minority and female contractors are participating in the process.”

As of Monday afternoon, the board will have an additional vote as Gov. Pat Quinn designated Urbana student trustee Daniel Soso as the student trustee with the binding vote.

Soso, senior in Engineering, said his approach to the meeting has not changed since being delegated the binding vote. He said he was already well informed of all the agenda items and prepared to vote on them before he knew his vote would actually have significance.

“My goals for the meeting haven’t changed,” he said. “I’m well aware of every topic I’d be voting on.”

Soso said he did not know the decision would be made in time for Thursday’s meeting.

“I had no clue it was going to be me and definitely had no clue it was going to be so fast,” He said.

Soso added he plans on meeting with the other two student trustees on Wednesday to discuss various items on the agenda.

The meeting will begin with an 8 a.m. roll call followed by an executive session that is closed to the public. The regular meeting is scheduled to resume at 9:30 a.m. and is scheduled to conclude at 4 p.m., although that time may be extended if any previous sessions run long.