The University’s Board of Trustees met in Springfield Thursday to discuss budget, performance and administrative issues. Board members approved the FY 2010 operating budget and the 2011 budget request during the executive session of their meeting, according to a University of Illinois press release. The FY 2010 operating budget is $4.7 billion.

Revenue for this budget will include $747.1 million from the state of Illinois and $45.5 million from federal stimulus funds that will not be available in 2011.

During the executive session, the trustees also approved a $96.7 million increase in this year’s state budget request . This is a 6.4 percent increase over the previous year’s request, and is intended to keep tuition down and maintain the quality of the University, according to the press release.

After returning from the executive session, the board approved a motion to broaden the responsibilities of Interim Provost Robert Easter. Effective immediately, he will be the Urbana campus’ Interim Provost and Interim Chancellor. Easter will continue to hold these positions until permanent replacements are named for both positions.

Also in the executive session, the board appointed a presidential search committee to be chaired by Trustee Pamela B. Strobel.

The committee includes other trustees, faculty members and students from the three Illinois campuses. All 19 members have accepted their positions, said Christopher Kennedy, board chairman.

Committee members will meet Monday, Nov. 16. Anyone wishing to participate in the conference can call. To view the full schedule and get the telephone access code visit uillinois.edu/trustees/agendas.cfm

In open session, President B. Joseph White began his last board meeting as president by addressing the board with a few comments, and afterward, received a standing ovation. White announced his resignation Sept. 23, and will officially resign Dec. 31.

“I regret the admissions problems that occurred on the Urbana campus. The last five months were a searing experience,” he said. “My goal throughout this period was to put the University first and act accordingly.”

Kathryn Eisenhart, member of the University Senates Conference that oversees faculty governance on all three campuses, awarded White a plaque commemorating his service to the University.

“I appreciate that everyone who matters to me, personally and professionally, has been steadfast in their confidence in my honesty and integrity,” White said.

University Vice President for Academic Affairs Mrinalini Rao spoke about the diversity within the undergraduate and faculty of the three campuses.

She said the race and ethnicity representation of undergraduates has increased at the Urbana and Springfield campuses but decreased at the Chicago campus.

“Many of our faculty have done pioneering research on the impact of diversity, including thoughtful and compelling evidence that institutional commitment to diversity benefits all constituents,” Rao added.

Rao said the race and ethnicity representation of tenured faculty has increased on the Urbana and Chicago campuses but has decreased on the Springfield campus.

Another issue discussed in open session was faculty salaries. Rao delivered a report on the competitiveness of salaries between private and public universities.

She said Urbana campus faculty salaries continue to remain consistent, while salaries at private universities have increased at a higher rate.

Rao said that the process of reducing costs while maintaining the consistent quality of the University is difficult.

“As much as we don’t want to do it, it’s a balancing act,” she added.

While these problems are cause for concern, many other public universities face the same problem because of their reliance on state funding, Rao said.

“We’re lucky to have one of the best faculty in the world of any university, public or private, and our main concern is to keep it that way and if we can make it even stronger going forward,” Interim President designate Stanley Ikenberry said.

“And that’s not soley dependent on faculty salaries; it’s related to providing what the faculty members need in their labs.”

Ikenberry said students also play a role in the retention of faculty because faculty enjoy teaching bright and engaged students.

“So all of these things work together and I think our focus is trying to make sure that we attract and retain the best students,” he added.