HR1260

LRB093 24068 CSA 54224 r






1

HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
2
    WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives wish 
3
to recognize the achievements of retiring University of 
4
Illinois President James J. Stukel; and

 
5
    WHEREAS, President Stukel has served as the University of 
6
Illinois' President since 1995; he has been involved with the 
7
University since he received a master's degree in 1963; 
8
President Stukel received his Ph.D. in 1968 from the 
9
University, and has been working with the University ever 
10
since; he has taught at the University and served in various 
11
administrative roles, including vice chancellor for research, 
12
dean in the Graduate College, executive vice chancellor, and 
13
vice chancellor for academic affairs, interim chancellor and 
14
chancellor; and

 
15
    WHEREAS, President Stukel's vision during his ten-year 
16
tenure was to enrich undergraduate education, enhance quality 
17
throughout the University, strengthen the University's ties to 
18
the citizens of Illinois, and to free more dollars for academic 
19
purposes by streamlining government; he stressed the 
20
importance of providing a quality education to all students on 
21
the University's three campuses in Chicago, Springfield, and 
22
Urbana-Champaign; and

 
23
    WHEREAS, Through his vision, President Stukel has been able 
24
to accomplish a great deal for the University; he ensured that 
25
the contribution of the University to the economic development 
26
of the State of Illinois was formally recognized and realized 
27
through the Venture Tech program; during his tenure, federal 
28
money more than doubled, bringing total federal grant and 
29
contract support to the University to over $500 million; he 
30
helped ensure major state capital and programmatic support 
31
during his tenure in the fields of high performance computing, 
32
post genomics, medical research, agriculture, engineering, and 
 


 






HR1260
- 2 -
LRB093 24068 CSA 54224 r




1
the arts and sciences; under his leadership, the University 
2
became the first public university to raise more than $1 
3
billion in private donations; during his term, the University 
4
has instituted or expanded programs that foster greater 
5
personal and academic success among students; during his term, 
6
the University's commitment to public service on its three 
7
campuses has grown significantly; he initiated a process to 
8
completely overhaul the University's administrative computing 
9
facilities to a fully integrated system which will save the 
10
University millions of dollars a year; and

 
11
    WHEREAS, Without President Stukel's strength, vision, 
12
imagination, and passion for the University, none of these 
13
accomplishments would have been possible; the University of 
14
Illinois, the students who attend the University, the people 
15
who work at the University, and the citizens of the State of 
16
Illinois owe President Stukel a great deal of gratitude for 
17
dedicating his career to improving their lives; therefore, be 
18
it

 
19
    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
20
NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
21
congratulate and thank President Stukel for his tenure as 
22
President of the flagship university of the state, the 
23
University of Illinois; and be it further

 
24
    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
25
presented to President Stukel as an expression of our respect 
26
and esteem and with our best wishes for his retirement.