[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6098020,"mediaKeyId","2825237-714f23a4b0be8a645babb2f5682145ff","parentId",2825237,"title","Trustees approve committee‑recommended items, construction projects and academic program actions in unanimous votes","audioSeconds",475,"startMs",5325000,"endMs",5800000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2825237-714f23a4b0be8a645babb2f5682145ff&start=5325&end=5800","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2825237-714f23a4b0be8a645babb2f5682145ff/thumbnail_5325000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6098020/Illinois/Trustees-approve-committeerecommended-items-construction-projects-and-academic-program-actions-in-unanimous-votes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6098020-48e6a578ff466c3e78437eea87b235e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771126014&Signature=V504ijJJ9q~ZyyWYFQ7atPvY8AvtmKDYWqQJzotKgZKjLsyJc2y~F64KcRyDIGb0qMH-WcoQHK5rmKb515T2S4kG9ToNnNP~FXBRvhZYTZj46fL8ms0U6keMCREdaA1oOET4qsRoJNdMDspRdiSr1DNadO0t11Q3Aak6kXoKo3AqyE5Pn-cXK6sDXvlGmRFsF0cY86yVhdfYT5C4Kh~-XQRhC1VSoQoDgSvnm5uYwq3sEKDE2~PzSopcjdYYaXS73pPup0X6n6jCgmPRR672F1YwPsi0RfeeGWHYBWOV~Ac6kh~WYuMSdb0fr1gZZEgDc5jdfE08vsuc8V99Y5bx1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","University of Illinois Board of Trustees","date","2025-03-20T00:00:00Z","article","The University of Illinois Board of Trustees on March 25, 2025 approved a slate of committee-recommended items spanning academic program changes, facility projects and administrative actions. The board passed the regular voice vote agenda (items A1–A17) by voice vote and approved the roll‑call agenda (items 18–26) by unanimous roll‑call among trustees present.

Why it matters: The packages include academic program creations and eliminations, major construction and renovation budgets, and a delegation to pursue a public–private predevelopment process for the National Quantum Facility. Those approvals commit the university to next steps on projects and to changes in academic offerings across campuses.

Votes at a glance

- Regular voice vote agenda (items A1–A17) — approved by voice vote. Items included approval of board minutes, operating agreement amendment for the University of Illinois Research Park LLC, faculty and staff appointments, sabbaticals, student health insurance rates for AY 2025–26, application fee increases, expansion of a pilot tuition program for selected counties, new degree programs (BA in media; several departmental reorganizations in Carle Illinois College of Medicine and the College of Dentistry), elimination of two degree programs and naming of an area at Allerton Park and Retreat Center.

- Roll‑call agenda (items 18–26) — approved by roll‑call vote. Items included design and construction contracts for extension center and other renovation projects (Doris Kelly Christopher Illinois Extension Center; Jefferson and Henry Hall renovations), project budgets and awards for multiple facilities, delegation to the comptroller for the National Quantum Facility predevelopment (Item 23), purchase recommendations and an authorization to settle a litigation matter (Lee and others v. TetsaNoff, MD and others).

How the votes proceeded

The regular voice‑vote package was moved by Trustee Phelan and seconded; the chair called the voice vote and the board announced “Aye’s have it.” The roll‑call package was moved by Trustee Craig Schilling and seconded by Trustee Johnson; the secretary conducted a roll‑call and trustees recorded “Yes to all” responses. The chair announced motion carries.

Quotation

“All items passed,” the chair said after the voice vote; during the roll call the secretary read each item title prior to the recorded votes.

Details to note

- Several items had previously been reviewed and forwarded to the full board by committee meetings held March 24, 2025 (Audit, Budget, Finance and Facilities; Governance, Personnel and Ethics; Academic and Student Affairs; University Health Care System Committee).

- Project-specific approvals that moved forward into design and construction phases include the Doris Kelly Christopher Illinois Extension Center (Item 18), Altgeld/Hall and Illini Hall project budgets, and the undergraduate library redevelopment (Item 22). These approvals authorize design and contractor awards as described in the board materials.

Provenance

Secretary read the roll‑call agenda titles and recorded votes; roll call excerpts: “Item 23, delegate authority to the Comptroller to initiate a public private partnership pre development process and to enter into related agreements to construct the National Quantum Facility” followed by trustees’ recorded “Yes to all.” (transcript s=5655.02 to e=5686.38 and s=5795.78 to e=5800.20)","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","University of Illinois Board of Trustees Meeting (March 20, 2025)","oneSentenceSummary","The University of Illinois Board of Trustees on March 25, 2025 approved committee-recommended academic, budgetary and facilities items in unanimous voice and roll‑call votes.","taxTitle","University of Illinois Board of Trustees, U, Boards and Commissions, Executive, Illinois","taxId",54117,"location","Illinois","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6098030,"Board hears update on Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park; delegates predevelopment authority for National Quantum Facility",3220,2466000,5686000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2825237-714f23a4b0be8a645babb2f5682145ff&start=2466&end=5686","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2825237-714f23a4b0be8a645babb2f5682145ff/thumbnail_2466000.jpg","/articles/6098030/Illinois/Board-hears-update-on-Illinois-Quantum-and-Microelectronics-Park-delegates-predevelopment-authority-for-National-Quantum-Facility","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6098030-3ff73a5814241788169610fe7c3d5522/orig.mp4?Expires=1771126014&Signature=QKxbbtp6hUix6XSXGEkAk7sxwPBFwFSjnDCUwoU~BjhEbSsrC14wBlF9HN6jeXBoRTq-f-~WXSh7DwmBfJaubjCppgZs6UIHZK3G-dDAGBo5oR9W8jzi6JR5l046rp32LeQa~Y42dVoKcM0dsYIs9SqJ~0hLgr5B--QyekRzncwGDhMSaWStfP-Z8V1yFqP9LrJihGAA7ZnFmlHDUVPNshAjCUq8xNhxQ07nyyPDsUw8e88wCK6VtHm8zC4I9k7YVbgrcO0xdy4OzbCqoLYZRr2jHI60gVJRJHXFtLe3lnuJSTG6oDHE4CRmACAyaG~mDLRIB6PLh-kMh0t9Q-GBdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A University of Illinois Board of Trustees meeting on March 25, 2025 heard an update on the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP), including project scale, private partners and next steps; trustees unanimously delegated authority for a public–private predevelopment process to construct the park’s planned National Quantum Facility.

The IQMP update came from Harley Johnson, director and CEO of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park LLC, who described the project as “a massive public private partnership dedicated to the scale up of quantum computing.” He told trustees the park will occupy 128 acres on the south portion of the former U.S. Steel South Works site on Chicago’s South Side and noted a FY2025 state appropriation of $500 million to support construction and early operations.

Johnson said the park will host multiple facilities including a National Quantum Facility — “a shared experimental facility with an industrial scale cryo plant” — and a National Quantum Algorithm Center focused on software and algorithms to run at scale. He named industry partners already committed or in advanced talks, including PsiQuantum and IBM, and said the development team is coordinating with federal programs such as DARPA’s Illinois Quantum Proving Ground. He also said the IQMP LLC is working with research institutions across Illinois and with Argonne and Fermilab.

Why it matters: trustees and university leaders framed IQMP as a statewide economic and research initiative that could anchor private investment, workforce development and federal research programs in Illinois. The board approved a motion to delegate authority to the comptroller to initiate a public–private predevelopment process and enter related agreements to construct the National Quantum Facility (roll call agenda Item 23), allowing the system to move from planning toward contracting and deal-making.

Details and next steps

- Site and partners: Johnson said the overall U.S. Steel South Works site is about 440 acres; IQMP will occupy the 128-acre southern portion bounded by the Calumet River. He identified early partners by name and said more than 20 companies were in active discussions.

- Facilities: The National Quantum Facility will provide cryogenic infrastructure necessary for many quantum platforms; the National Quantum Algorithm Center is intended to develop algorithms and software for end users.

- Community engagement: Johnson described ongoing community meetings with residents, environmental groups and local education leaders, and said the project team is addressing questions about legacy environmental conditions from the site’s industrial past and emphasizing that quantum development itself is “clean technology.”

- State support: The presenter noted the state’s $500 million set‑aside in FY2025 to help build the park and that the IQMP LLC is governed by a URO owned by the Board of Trustees.

Board action and vote

The Board of Trustees voted by roll call to delegate authority for a public–private predevelopment process and related agreements for the National Quantum Facility (Item 23). Trustees present recorded “yes to all” on the roll call agenda; the board’s clerk conducted the vote and the chair announced the motion carries.

Quotation

“The IQMP is a massive public private partnership dedicated to the scale up of quantum computing,” Harley Johnson said, summarizing the project’s goals.

What the board approved earlier in the day

Before the system meeting convened, the Board of Trustees acting as the sole member of the IQMP LLC met and approved two items (approval of IQMP LLC minutes and appointment of an external audit firm). Those items were moved and approved unanimously by trustees present.

What remains open

Johnson and trustees noted active negotiations with additional tenants and ongoing environmental and community work; no construction contracts for the National Quantum Facility were executed at the meeting — the approved delegation authorizes the initiation of a P3 predevelopment process so those agreements can be pursued.

Provenance

Harley Johnson presentation – transcript excerpt: “The IQMP is a massive public private partnership dedicated to the scale up of quantum computing. It's located at a 128 acre site on the South Side Of Chicago on the former U.S. Steel South Works site.” (transcript s=2466.30 to e=2564.65)

Board roll call for Item 23 – transcript excerpt: “Item 23, delegate authority to the Comptroller to initiate a public private partnership pre development process and to enter into related agreements to construct the National Quantum Facility” followed by recorded roll call responses of “Yes to all.” (transcript s=5655.02 to e=5686.38 and s=5795.78 to e=5800.20)","A University of Illinois Board of Trustees meeting on March 25, 2025 heard an update on the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP), including project scale, private partners and next steps; trustees unanimously delegated authority for a public–private predevelopment process to construct the park’s planned National Quantum Facility.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6098015,"Three public commenters urge paid parental leave, budget transparency at UIS and fossil fuel divestment",378,5016000,5394000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2825237-714f23a4b0be8a645babb2f5682145ff&start=5016&end=5394","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2825237-714f23a4b0be8a645babb2f5682145ff/thumbnail_5016000.jpg","/articles/6098015/Illinois/Three-public-commenters-urge-paid-parental-leave-budget-transparency-at-UIS-and-fossil-fuel-divestment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6098015-5468dcfca7fdaf0d406f0e9ac85cebe6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771126014&Signature=FL1Hb4YB4RT35NIe4jvvVxghiEdK-jMLRnMqx0OX0ght2sF7LTCy2kexlFEypvWQHoODY9nTp6A7qP9CA7fr9DSB~Uy4LxI7OQHaE3eRS1r6Yq6RsnRCqAxFnPTjvgOSUMy1-KZLeQsUCX62r8tk1sCYE861hS~F55zs3k0uWw20liHANdPjDlF-xOXTFpyq-1vUPrYQvtliw3TuUDFS1upxBQir9TnsKoXBDOWVtYOj8IkQjrqotsATtsakUpGrP3b64ptCyblpSTLriHUU1tjAGcXdzqYiL4TzSAkj9q0DIl6rUTbu91y2fCcK7HnimPGn7--iwlE96L4M47zssQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Three speakers addressed the Board of Trustees during the March 25, 2025 public comment period, raising workplace and campus‑policy concerns: a hospital nurse sought expanded paid parental leave for university employees; a long‑time UIS employee asked for clearer explanations of how state funding is distributed across the system; and a student leader urged trustees to act on fossil‑fuel divestment following a campus referendum.

Paul Pater, an emergency department nurse at UI Health and a member of the Illinois Nurses Association, told the board he has used most of his paid time off since the birth of his daughter and urged a systemwide paid parental leave of 12 weeks. “All I'm here today is to ask for equity with other state employees,” Pater said, asking that the university match what other public employers offer.

Richard Gilman Opalski, a UIS employee of about 19 years, said campus leaders and staff are receiving messages about the need for drastic cost reductions and asked the board to provide clearer information on how the system allocates state revenue across the three campuses and the central administration. He said UIS is carrying a reported $8 million deficit and said cuts raise concerns about affordability for students and impacts to faculty and staff.

Gabriela Del Santo, student body president‑elect at Urbana‑Champaign, urged trustees to respond to student demand to divest system holdings in fossil fuels. She said students passed a UIUC student referendum with roughly 73 percent support and that students feel unheard despite repeated meetings, protests and governance efforts. “Fossil fuel companies don't come to learn at the university, we do,” Del Santo said, urging the board to give students a meaningful role in investment decisions.

Why it matters: Public comments flagged persistent policy questions trustees will face: employee benefits and parity with state employers, how system funds are distributed and the responsiveness of governance to student votes and activism on investments. Trustees did not take immediate action on these public comments during the meeting; the comments were recorded in the meeting minutes and will be part of the public record.

Provenance

Paul Pater public comment – transcript excerpt: “All I'm here today is to ask for equity with other state employees. I believe 6 weeks is very nice and generous... but why should my daughter have less bonding time than other state employees?” (transcript s=4709.31 to e=4926.97)

Richard Gilman Opalski public comment – transcript excerpt: “We don't know how the system allocates state funding across the campuses... this campus has an $8,000,000 deficit.” (transcript s=4956.31 to e=5171.48)

Gabriela Del Santo public comment – transcript excerpt: “Fossil fuel companies don't come to learn at the university, we do.” (transcript s=5196.56 to e=5394.80)","During public comment at the March 25, 2025 University of Illinois Board of Trustees meeting speakers advocated for 12 weeks paid parental leave for university employees, greater transparency about system allocations to UIS, and fossil fuel divestment following a student referendum at UIUC.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6098025,"UIS chancellor outlines 'North Star' plan to address academic portfolio, deficit and retention",894,1498000,2392000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2825237-714f23a4b0be8a645babb2f5682145ff&start=1498&end=2392","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2825237-714f23a4b0be8a645babb2f5682145ff/thumbnail_1498000.jpg","/articles/6098025/Illinois/UIS-chancellor-outlines-North-Star-plan-to-address-academic-portfolio-deficit-and-retention","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6098025-2af264dd3c037819ff27fbbab7bd39db/orig.mp4?Expires=1771126014&Signature=BY7jwAsJNXVUWQtcRMVL4sfE1bwU6Q7C4N3AyY9Gp5hBN8RS~EMBmZODdYs5Hwuzj-VQQGxDMzOFIipBpJPMlWIvLrOeuXKcdKkrPjywOQcuOZFn~o3JMCuG-kVuer~k8fvl5ju-zQUQGwXsWqv0XZ745Bo8b-dVzAI5EOD2Chz~asgC3jqypOpIf6mLF7k78zs0n0YLIQYDgp8fxGbussrvVX5BY9DPB4q5s2qEqSxFcSRTNk7lAqHaGWbH9e7mW3v5RdP58BTovplfOQ0GZWwyhWpRbSlpx8p6FesIkLpJ0Tu3YVUayb2T4t1IM2~UQ52FksZI79qIlrzkVucB2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chancellor Janet Gooch told the University of Illinois Board of Trustees on March 25, 2025 that the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) has launched a North Star initiative focused on three strategic priorities: program portfolio review, fiscal stabilization and improved student persistence.

Gooch outlined a timeline and concrete steps for each priority, saying the initiative will guide decisions over the next two to three years. “North Star will serve as our guide as we strive to reshape the University for operational efficiency and academic excellence to ensure long term sustainability and relevance,” she said.

Why it matters: Gooch said UIS faces a structural deficit and enrollment pressures typical of regional public universities. The chancellor presented specific targets and interim actions intended to return UIS to balanced annual budgets while also protecting core student support and program quality.

Key points from the presentation

- Program review: An academic portfolio review produced a framework that will place programs into three categories — “enrich,” “maintain” and “reform or sunset.” Programs will receive dashboard reports by June 2025 and final decisions are expected by the end of fall 2025. The review used three higher‑order criteria: demand and viability, institutional and community impact, and versatility and effectiveness.

- Fiscal targets and actions: Gooch said UIS ran a $6.5 million deficit last fiscal year and that, after a fall Census Day update, the deficit was projected to grow to just under $9 million. The university set a goal to achieve annual budget balance by 2029. Immediate steps described included a hiring slowdown, a voluntary separation plan that is in its final stages, mid‑cycle budget adjustments and a space utilization study with plans to implement changes this summer.

- Student retention: A retention plan steering committee was established with representatives from academic affairs, student affairs, and enrollment management to produce institution‑wide retention work focused on academic support, wellness and bridge programs.

Details and framing

Gooch described specific operational changes already underway: an average of roughly 2% in fiscal‑year 2025 budget reductions implemented systemwide at UIS (with divisional reductions averaging about 3 percent in some scenarios), promotion of short session courses to boost enrollment, a completed space utilization study and exploration of hotel‑style office space to consolidate underused facilities. She said the university created an Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness to improve data‑driven decisions.

Gooch also noted the recently settled three‑year contract with the university’s non‑tenure track faculty bargaining unit and said that shared governance, data and transparency will guide difficult decisions.

Quotation

“North Star will serve as our guide as we strive to reshape the University for operational efficiency and academic excellence to ensure long term sustainability and relevance,” Chancellor Janet Gooch said.

What to watch

Gooch set a schedule for program dashboards in June 2025 and final portfolio decisions by the end of fall 2025. She described the voluntary separation plan as concluding shortly and said implementation of space and staffing changes could begin in summer 2025. Trustees asked no formal question recorded in the public portion that changed those timelines.

Provenance

Chancellor Janet Gooch presentation – transcript excerpt: “These are areas if strengthened that will serve as the first domino in a series of steps that must occur to help us remain student centered and be market relevant and fiscally healthy… North Star will serve as our guide as we strive to reshape the University for operational efficiency and academic excellence to ensure long term sustainability and relevance.” (transcript s=1784.55 to e=1831.48 and s=1831.48 to e=1893.84)","University of Illinois Springfield Chancellor Janet Gooch presented a three‑part 'North Star' initiative aimed at program prioritization, eliminating a projected deficit by 2029 and improving student retention; she described timelines, a program dashboard review and staffing and budget actions already underway.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Trustees approve committee‑recommended items, construction projects and academic program actions in unanimous votes

Board hears update on Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park; delegates predevelopment authority for National Quantum Facility

Three public commenters urge paid parental leave, budget transparency at UIS and fossil fuel divestment

UIS chancellor outlines 'North Star' plan to address academic portfolio, deficit and retention