UpDate - Vol. 14, No. 33, Page 1
May 25, 1995
Trustees grant permanent status to five programs

     The University of Delaware Board of Trustees approved changes in
several academic departments, authorized increases in room, board and
health service fees and granted permanent status to five degree
programs at its regular semiannual meeting May 23 in Clayton Hall.
     President David P. Roselle reviewed the strides made by the
University over the last five years in the areas of faculty and staff
compensation, tuition, scholarships, grant support and the physical
plant.
     Looking ahead, the president said he saw an increased need for
private support; further privatization of business functions on the
campus; zero growth in the size of the undergraduate population;
curricular changes and enhancements, including an evaluation of a core
curriculum; growth in graduate programs; additional enhancements to
the physical plant; and continued technology leadership.
     His goal is for the University to become the insittuion of choice
in the mid-Atlantic region, Roselle said.
     Roselle told the trustees about the incoming freshman class,
which, at this point, includes 49 National Merit Scholars, more than
half of whom listed UD as their first choice. The class also includes
79 valedictorians and salutatorians. Volunteerism, followed by music
performance, top the new students' list of most popular
extracurricular activity, he said, and the list of sports they
participated in during high school is headed by soccer, followed by
basketball, tennis and football.
     Calling the University Honors Program a "strong card in
recruitment," he said that program's incoming class now stands at 405,
an increase of nearly 100 over last year, making it the largest
entering honors class in the program's history. He also noted that
this honors class has the highest average Scholastic Aptitude Test
(SAT) score in the University's history.
     Andrew B. Kirkpatrick Jr., chairman of the board, said the
president's report was evidence of the "fine job" being done at the
University. "President Roselle certainly deserves a large share of the
credit for the job that is being done," Kirkpatrick said. "We're quite
grateful to have him at the helm."
     At the meeting, trustees approved a resolution reorganizing the
School of Life and Health Sciences in the College of Arts and Science
into two new departments: the Department of Biology, staying in the
same college, and the Department of Medical Technology, which will
transfer to the College of Nursing. Also, two departments in the
College of Agricultural Sciences (the Department of Food Science and
the Department of Animal Science and Agricultural Biochemistry) will
be merged into a single Department of Anmial and Food Sciences. Both
changes will be effective July 1.
     Trustees also approved a new name for the Department of Civil
Engineering, which will become the Department of Civil and
Environmental Engineering on Sept. 1.
     In other action, the trustees approved increases in room and
board rates and other incidental fees. Housing rates were raised an
average of 4.5 percent, and contract meal plans for the academic year
will increase an average of 4.1 percent.
     The student health service fee was raised by $6 to $123 per
semester, and the Winter Session health fee was increased by $2 to
$35. The summer session health service fee of $50 was not changed.
     Also at the meeting, the board voted to establish the master of
science and doctoral degrees in applied mathematics and granted
permanent status to the bachelor of arts degree in history, with a
concentration in journalism; the bachelor of science degree in
biochemistry; the nursing administration concentration for the master
of science in nursing degree; the major in apparel design leading to
the bachelor of science in human resources; and the bachelor of arts
degree in earth science education.

     In other action, the trustees
        * thanked Sidney S. Craven and Helen L. Eliason for their
          leadership roles and the Friends of Goodstay Gardens for
          their generosity and support of a major project that will
          rejuvenate Goodstay Gardens-one of the oldest gardens in
          Delaware-and connect it with Arsht Hall on the University's
          Wilmington Campus;
        * authorized the president to confer degrees at Commencement
          on May 27;
        * affirmed the appointment of Roland M. Smith as vice
          president for student life;
        * established the Rita M. Fillos Memorial Fund as an
          endowment, with the income to be used to support the College
          of Education;
        * established the Sara M. MacNair Rare Book Fund as an
          endowment, with the income to be used for the purchase of
          rare books;
        * authorized the administration to proceed with several
          construction projects around the campus, subject to
          available funds;
        * authorized the administration to proceed with the
          Agricultural Biotechnology Building, with a modified
          schedule that will permit the construction of an enclosed
          building within a budget of $5.2 million, in the event
          federal funds are not forthcoming; and
        * authorized the administration to enter into a long-term
          lease agreement with the state for approximately 1/4 acre of
          land adjacent to the trash transfer station on the
          University Farm, which will be used by the state to erect
          and maintain a communications antenna in support of its
          emergency communications network.

     The trustees also re-elected Maria V. Barriocanal to a one-year
term as the recent graduate trustee and re-elected its officers:
Kirkpatrick, chairman; Howard E. Cosgrove, vice chairman; and John E.
Burris, treasurer.