To: All Faculty & All Academic Professionals & All Civil Service Staff &
           All Undergrad Students & All Grad Students <everybody@illinois.edu> 
    From: "Sol" <sol@illinois.edu>

Reply-To: sol@illinois.edu
 Subject: MASSMAIL - test-draft-again

Dear Colleagues,
As the academic year winds down, I'd like to share my appreciation with you
and update you on the important work we're doing together. As our
commencements conclude, it's a time of celebration and hope, yet a
bittersweet moment as we watch our graduates leave us for wonderful careers
and great futures all over the world. Our graduates are among those most
sought by employers and among those who give the most back to their
communities. I'm proud of each of them and of the dedicated faculty and
staff who have prepared them for their lives ahead. 

We have many other successes to celebrate, too. Our campuses, faculty,
staff, and students continue to garner national and international acclaim
for their accomplishments. Our Foundation is completing its successful
"Brilliant Futures" campaign, which pledges more than $2.3 billion in new
support to our University. Our research portfolio is growing. And more
students than ever are applying for admission, demonstrating again the high
regard for the University of Illinois.  We should never lose sight of the
tremendous accomplishments of our faculty, staff, and students - the
innovative discoveries and many contributions they make to a better future
for people all over the world. We are strong and resilient, the economic
crisis we face today will pass, and we will emerge better than ever. 

Yet, we do need to recognize the challenges still ahead. When I visit with
faculty and staff, I hear concerns about pension and benefits. I continue
to communicate with leadership in the General Assembly and to our
legislators how important it is for the state to fulfill its commitment to
our employees on the pension front. We've also been in direct contact with
the director of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services
on attempts to eliminate Health Alliance as a healthcare option for our
current employees and retirees. <See
http://www.uillinois.edu/go/healthcare>. We've communicated that thousands
of University employees and retirees would be negatively affected by such
an action, and there's good reason to believe that costs would actually
increase for the state. Our legislators are listening and we're gaining
more support for our position with every passing day.

Another area is procurement, where we've taken a lead role in preparing a
document explaining the extensive costs of new regulatory requirements to
universities and the state in terms of lost contracts, declining
competitiveness, and the loss of precious time and effort. We recognize the
importance of fair, legal, and ethical procurement practices. But many of
the new regulatory burdens cost the state millions in lost opportunities
for the best possible value and service and are undermining participation
by vendors, especially small businesses and minority-owned firms. We've
presented compelling evidence, and our legislators are interested in
working with us on solutions.

Another concern involves "position exemption authority" from the State
Universities Civil Service System, under which the University determines if
a position is classified as civil service or academic professional, within
criteria set forth by state statute. We've made some mistakes, which we're
resolved to correct and avoid in the future. A bill introduced in the
Senate (SB 1150), however, would remove this authority and undermine our
ability to make appointments in response to rapidly arising academic and
research needs. The bill is now in the House and we are working closely
with representatives to communicate the unique employment situation at the
University and the importance of retaining our position-exemption authority.

There are other issues we're weighing in on, including the "concealed
carry" legislation (HB 148). We've helped draft amendments that can exempt
parts of our campuses from the carrying of concealed weapons, should this
legislation pass.  Another is the Illinois DREAM Act (SB 2185). This bill
will provide greater support to our undocumented students. As we know,
students admitted to the University of Illinois, whether documented or
undocumented, are among the nation's brightest. And like all of our
graduates, they go on to stellar careers and become tax-paying citizens and
contributors to our economy and society. It's important for us, as a nation
of immigrants, to ensure that the most precious resources our state has -
bright minds - are not closed off from reaching their potential. 

I've had many opportunities to speak directly with Governor Pat Quinn,
House Speaker Michael Madigan, and Senate President John Cullerton on these
and other issues. I'm grateful that they take our views seriously and keep
us apprised of developments in Springfield. Several legislators have been
very supportive as well, and we're grateful for their help. We also
appreciate the efforts of the Alumni Association's Illinois Connection,
which organized an impressive "lobby day" at the state Capitol to apprise
legislators of the University's needs. They've also supported us by
encouraging their members to write legislators and members of our
Congressional delegation to support the University. We're fortunate to have
such loyal and committed partners. Additionally, our Governmental Relations
team is also hard at work on these issues with legislators in their offices
and in the halls of the state Capitol. They're working around the clock for
us and deserve our thanks for their efforts.

Our budget remains a concern. Earlier, I reported on my testimony before
the appropriations committees, which went well. It's clear from these and
other conversations that legislators recognize the tremendous value of
University of Illinois to the state. They're proud of the U of I and
impressed by our efforts to streamline the University's business functions,
seek new revenues, improve services, increase efficiencies, and generate
millions in cost-savings, while protecting our academic core.  Efforts such
as the Administrative Review & Restructuring (ARR) programs are helping us
achieve this goal, while also making a favorable impression on our
legislators. With assistance from Springfield and careful planning on our
part, we've avoided furloughs this year and hope to offer a salary program
for all eligible faculty and staff in the coming fiscal year.

The Board of Trustees has directed us to continue the ARR efforts and
accelerate them in this continued challenging fiscal environment. The ARR
Steering Committee - which includes the University Senates Conference
Chair, the Chancellors, and the CFO - will continue its work to move these
efforts forward. I appreciate the involvement of many of you in this work
and the support you're expressing for those leading these efforts. 

I know the campuses are engaging in their own reviews and assessments and
many of you are participating in those efforts. Please know how grateful I
am for your hard work. The decisions we make about implementing ARR and
campus initiatives are informed by the insights that you bring to these
discussions. Yet, it's important to clarify some misconceptions about the
changes we've made. For instance, one colleague shared concerns with me
that our consolidation of some of our Human Resources functions removed
oversight of faculty recruitment, promotion, and tenure from the campuses.
This is not the case - faculty review procedures remain within the purview
of the campus. 

Others have expressed alarm upon hearing, incorrectly, that changes in
administering campus information technology (IT) infrastructure mean that
IT budgets and operations at all levels of the campuses would be
eliminated. In fact, the majority of IT delivery occurs at the college and
department levels and that will continue to be the case. Further, campus
chief information officers (CIOs) are retaining their portfolios and are in
regular communication with administrators on the campuses. The major change
for campus CIOs is that they will play a bigger role in University-wide
decisions through their reporting line to the University's Executive CIO.
The administrative changes we're making at the infrastructure level will
support and improve services, just as they will support our academic and
research policies rather than determine those policies. 

Change can be difficult, but as one of the world's great centers of
research and innovation, we live with and explore change every day. As many
of you have shared with me, change is embedded in our research, teaching,
and service as we seek ongoing improvement in everything we do and the
world in which we live. I appreciate your forward-looking vision and
willingness to work on the changes we're currently making and those still
ahead. These changes will allow us to save millions to protect and enhance
our core academic priorities during these challenging times and to invest
in our students, faculty, and staff. I look forward to continuing to work
with you as we seek improvements and find solutions to the challenges we face.

I'm grateful that many of you have accepted invitations to serve on
advisory groups as we develop governance plans to improve in areas like HR
and IT. For example, Michael Hites continues to consult with campus and
collegiate IT leaders and a faculty advisory group recommended by the
University Senates Conference. He's working closely with them and with
provosts and chancellors to establish IT governance plans. Likewise,
Maureen Parks continues to consult with campus HR leaders and Larry Schook
has formed a faculty advisory committee for the Office of the Vice
President for Research. We'll continue this pattern of consultation, just
as we have been doing since the ARR efforts were first undertaken last spring. 

We have a very promising future ahead. As I've said before, the University
of Illinois is a world-class institution, with world-class individuals. I
believe our best days are ahead. My belief is based on what I see in all of
you - exceptional, hardworking faculty, staff, and students who love the
University as much as I do. I wish you all a wonderful summer.

Sincerely,

Mike
Michael J. Hogan
President, University of Illinois
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