Presidential compensation

The Board of Trustees will vote on giving President Robert Easter a performance-based raise before he retires in June 2015. 

Previously, all top executives were given retention bonuses. However, the board decided to begin rewarding the president for his accomplishments last year.

When he assumed the role of president in March 2012, following the resignation of Michael Hogan, Easter was earning a starting salary of $450,000, roughly $200,000 less than Hogan. However, following a 3.5 percent increase he received in September, Easter’s current salary amounts to $478,558.

Directing Easter to explore  College of Medicine

The Board of Trustees has called on President Robert Easter to further explore the possibilities of the proposed College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign.

The proposed college will fuse engineering, computing, health sciences and medicine and will partner with Carle Health System. 

The Board of Trustees expects Easter to provide an overview on the current medical center and how it is insufficient. 

Additionally, they seek a summary of the challenges the proposed colleges will face and a personal recommendation on how to proceed.

Renaming the Institute of Genomic Biology

The Board of Trustees will vote on renaming the Institute of Genomic Biology to honor Carl R. Woese, one of the founding members of the institute. 

The IGB’s main mission of advancing life science research at the University was built on the visions of scientific innovators such as Woese, who won numerous awards for his contributions to modern biology, including the National Medal of Science and the Crafoord Prize. 

The Audit, Budget, Finance and Facilities committee recommend its approval. President Robert Easter and Chancellor Phyllis Wise have endorsed the proposal.

Building contracts

Chemistry Annex Building 

The building will need a budget increase of $900,000 in order to proceed with renovations estimated for completion in July 2016.

If approved, the next phase will be completed by Core Construction Services of Illinois Inc. Funding is available from the Academic Facilities Maintenance Fund Assessment Fund, institutional funds operating budget of the Urbana-Champaign campus and gift funds.

State Farm Center 

Renovations are underway and set for completion by November 2016. Wise and Vice President Walter Knorr recommend awarding a contract to Poettker Construction Company to complete the general work for “Package 3” for $9 million. 

Additionally, Wise and Knorr recommend awarding a contract to Oberlander Electric Co., to complete the electrical work for $6.8 million.

Funds are available through the Urbana-Champaign campus’ institutional funds operating budget, as well as through gift funds, auxiliary facility system repair and the replacement reserve budget. 

Abbott Power Plant 

Wise and Knorr recommend the Board approves a $1.35 million budget increase for the gas boiler replacement at Abbott Power Plant. The budget increase is required to award a contract for heating work to the Barton Malow Company. The funds for this budget increase are available through the Urbana-Champaign campus’ institutional funds operating budget.

Everitt Lab 

Everitt Lab was approved for renovation in March 2014, with a budget of $50 million. Wise and Knorr recommend the Board employs Harold O’Shea Builders for the construction management services of the project at a base fee of $1.7 million.

Funds are available through the Urbana-Champaign campus’ institutional operating funds budget and gift or endowment funds.

Faraz and Abigale can be reached at [email protected]