To: All Faculty & All Academic Professionals & All Civil Service Staff
           <everybody@illinois.edu> 
    From: "uipres@uillinois.edu" <uipres@uillinois.edu>

Reply-To: uipres@uillinois.edu
 Subject: MASSMAIL - PRESMAIL

May 4, 2003



Dear Colleagues:

As we wind up another successful and eventful academic year, I want to 
express my gratitude to every one of you for the hard work that makes 
this a great university and to wish you a pleasant and productive summer.

This year marks the fortieth anniversary of my earning a master's degree 
at the University of Illinois, and I have been proud to be a part of the 
university community ever since. Every day, every semester, and every 
year, I continue to be inspired by the wonderful things, great and small, 
taking place on our three campuses.

This year was no exception. The accolades and awards continued to roll in 
for our outstanding faculty and students. The staff that keeps the 
university running--and makes possible the discovery and transfer of 
knowledge--did so with record enrollment that challenged our capacity for 
delivering high-quality education, research, and public service. It's all 
heady, exciting stuff, and it is what makes our university environment so 
exhilarating.

It is a tribute to each one of you that the University of Illinois 
maintains its preeminence in American higher education despite our 
state's troubled financial condition. This was another extremely 
difficult year for our budget, and we can expect more of the same in the 
coming year. (Stay abreast of developments by visiting my Web site: 
www.uillinois.edu/president/.)

To provide some context for what is in store: if the governor's proposed 
budget for fiscal year 2004 is approved by the legislature, the U. of I. 
will have absorbed nearly $200 million in lost state revenue since fiscal 
year 2002. The impact such a staggering loss of state support has on 
salaries, academic programs, tuition and fees, student and employee 
services, and the upkeep of facilities at a public university cannot be 
underestimated.

The chancellors and provosts, my office, and our Board of Trustees will 
collaborate and work with the legislature for the remainder of the spring 
to manage this latest round of budget cuts in order to preserve the 
exceptional quality of the university. It is too early to say what the 
impact will be on the price to our students. The fact is that we will 
have fewer employees, starting in the administrative offices, and fewer 
academic offerings and services when the new academic year begins.

In my four decades at the University of Illinois, our great people have 
always proven their resiliency and excelled in good times as well as bad. 
It is impossible to describe how meaningful your continued dedication to 
excellence is to the university and, equally important, to the people of 
Illinois. I have never been prouder of my association with this 
university, and I look forward to working with you to meet the challenges 
we face.

As always, Joan and I wish you a safe and refreshing summer respite.


James J. Stukel
President
uipres@uillinois.eduThis mailing approved by:
The Office of the President

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