Vol. 18, No. 33	May 27, 1999

Trustees elect new chairman at semiannual spring meeting

In addition, Robert A. Fischer Jr. of Lewes, who currently serves as secretary-treasurer, and Robert W. Gore of Newark were elected vice chairmen, and Joan Thompson Mobley of Wilmington was elected secretary-treasurer. The terms of all three officers are effective June 1.

In other board business, Cosgrove was elected to a six-year term, and Philip J. Torina Jr. of New Rochelle, N.Y., was elected to a one-year term as the recent graduate trustee, replacing Katherine Lee of Newark, who has served in that capacity since 1997. The board also passed a special resolution in honor of Lee, expressing "deep gratitude and appreciation" for her service to the board and to the University.

Torina, who will receive his bachelor's degree at Commencement on Saturday, is the recipient of this year's Alexander J. Taylor Sr. Award as the outstanding senior man. (See story on page 5.)

In other action, the Board of Trustees voted to memorialize Dr. Dana J. Johnson, the late dean of the University of Delaware College of Business and Economics, with an endowed professorship bearing her name.

The resolution honoring Dr. Johnson read, in part, "Dean Johnson contributed greatly to the University and the College of Business and Economics through her unique combination of knowledge, professionalism and enthusiasm." Her "commitment to education brought recognition to the college and the University, from many friends and supporters and increased the visibility of both in professional circles."

The professorship is endowed through an anonymous gift of $250,000. It is anticipated that there will be additional contributions from Dr. Johnson's colleagues and friends.

Trustees also approved the creation of the Louis L. Redding Chair for the Study of Law and Public Policy in the College of Human Resources, Education and Public Policy's School of Public Policy, in honor of the distinguished career of Mr. Redding and "in appreciation of the interest of the people of Delaware and the legal community."

At the May 25 meeting, the board also granted permanent status to several programs, including the bachelor of science in athletic training; the Baccalaureate for Registered Nurses program; the Biomechanics and Movement Science Program leading to master of science and doctor of philosophy degrees; the program in wildlife conservation; and the undergraduate program in environmental soil sciences.

In other activity, the board authorized:

• an average increase of 3.1 percent in dining plan rates and an average increase of 4.0 percent in rates for University residence hall rooms, both effective in September;

• increases in Student Health Service fees of $3 per semester (to $141), $1 for Winter Session (to $39) and $1 for summer sessions (to $52);

• naming Room 056 in the Hugh M. Morris Library the Prof. Marvin B. Sussman Room, in honor of the Unidel Professor Emeritus of Human Behavior, who has been a generous supporter of the University Library and has served on the Board of Directors of the University of Delaware Library Associates;

• income from the Morris Special Projects Endowment for 1998-99 be used to support on-line access to the Web of Science, the premier search technology and database in the world, which indexes, links and delivers footnote information from the world's leading science, social science and arts and humanities journals;

• the administration to proceed with several renovation projects, including Kent Hall, the Smith/Purnell plaza and Smyth Hall; and

• the president to confer degrees at Commencement on May 29.

-John Brennan
Photo by Duane Perry