Western’s Board of Trustees adopted a resolution commending President Al Goldfarb for his outstanding leadership at the conclusion of his annual evaluation and established a $25,000 scholarship fund in his honor with the proceeds to be used to award Goldfarb scholarships to incoming freshman beginning in Fall 2004.

The Board’s action Nov. 14 was based on the input received from campus groups and the evaluation of institutional goals outlined by Goldfarb when the Board hired him in 2002. The evaluation resolution also revised Goldfarb’s contract to require he give one year notice to the Board if he wishes to leave as president, rather than six months, and that if the Board chooses to replace the President, the Board will provide one year notice (rather than six months) or payment in lieu unless the president chooses to join the faculty.

At his request and with the Board’s concurrence, Goldfarb’s annual salary will remain at $210,000 per year.  Trustees Carolyn Ehlert and J. Michael Houston served as the two-member subcommittee that met with campus constituencies.

The Board heard first reading on an intellectual property policy. The policy includes a formula for revenue distribution, copyright and patent determination and creation of an oversight committee. The Board also participated in an open forum discussion on the University’s strategic plan. President Goldfarb initiated a strategic planning effort which has resulted in the first draft of a plan under review by University constituencies.

The Board approved a collective bargaining agreement with University Professionals of Illinois Local 4100 (Civil Service Unit B) which authorized a 2.5 percent base wage increase for the current fiscal year. The agreement covers 44 employees in technical positions. The Board also approved the extension of student health insurance premium options for Feb. 1 through July 31, 2004 at the rate of $6.69 per week for 26 weeks.

A recommendation to award an honorary doctorate of humane letters to Gary Comer, founder and former chair of Land’s End Inc, was approved by the Board. Comer turned a hobby of competitive sailing into a mail-order operation that grew to employ more than 6,000 people. He has been a philanthropist for a new children’s hospital in Chicago and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the world’s largest independent ocean-research center. He will be honored at the May 8, 2004 WIU Commencement Ceremony.

The next meeting of the Board of Trustees will be March 5, 2004 on the Macomb campus.