Reasonable Proportion of Administrators
Drafted by Mary Durkin Wohlrabe, Eastern Illinois University

WHEREAS the 1992 General Assembly in SJR 141 called for reductions on administrative waste and increased emphasis on classroom instruction; and

WHEREAS between FY 1993 and 2003, the seven public universities in Illinois have increased administrative positions at the alarming rate of 34 percent; and

WHEREAS between 1993 and 2003, the administrators-to-student ratio rose by 37% while the teachers-to-student ratio rose by just 6.5%; and

WHEREAS between FY 1993 and 2003, Administrative positions have increased at nearly 10 times the rate that teaching positions have; and

WHEREAS between FY 1993 and 2003, after adjusting for inflation, the budget for administrative costs increased by nearly 49% while the budget for teaching costs increased by 27%;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University Professionals of Illinois call on the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the State Legislature to renew the spirit of SJR 141 and call on all public universities to reduce administrative waste and emphasize classroom instruction; and

SPECIFICALLY BE IT RESOLVED that the UPI work with the State Legislature and the IBHE to establish a reasonable faculty-to-administrators ratio to guide universities in controlling administrative expenses.

REFERRED TO EXECUTIVE BOARD Oct. 19, 2002