Business Office History, 1973

Until August 1, 1973, the vice-president and comptroller served as the general fiscal officer of the Board of Trustees and the general business officer of the university. The duties included approving expenditures for appropriated funds, reporting to the Board on financial and operational conditions, assisting the President in preparing budgets, installing business procedures and accounting systems, and maintaining financial records.¹ Although the Board changed the name of the Office of Vice-President and Comptroller to the Office of Financial Affairs on April 19, 1972, no substantive change of the Vice President's duties was involved.² On July 18, 1973 the Board approved the consolidation of the Office of Financial Affairs into the Office of Planning and Allocation.³ Offices reporting to the Vice-President of Planning and Allocation included Administration Data Processing, Auditor, Business Affairs, Capital Programs, Computer Coordination, Financial Affairs, Management Information Systems, Non-academic Personnel, Planning, the Chief Accountant, and the Illinois Education Consortium for Computer Services.⁴ On May 21, 1975 the Board changed the title of the Vice-President for Planning and Allocation to Vice-President for Administration.⁵ In order to more accurately represent the scope of the Vice President's duties as both Comptroller and general business officer, the Board of Trustees changed the title of the office from Vice President for Administration to Executive Vice President on June 21, 1980.⁶ On October 21, 1982, the Board split the responsibilities carried by the office into two administrative positions -- Vice President for Business and Finance and Vice President for Administration.⁷ At a November 18, 1982 meeting the Board recommended that the Vice President for Business and Finance continue to assume the title and duties of Comptroller as provided in the Trustees by-laws.⁸ The Vice President for Business and Finance presided over Administrative Information Systems and Services, Capital Programs, Business and Financial Affairs, Audits, Personnel Services, Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity.⁹ The Vice President for Business and Finance, oversees the business operations at university campuses, maintains the systems through which the university administers its affairs, determines how records will be kept and authorizes purchases, contracts and leases.¹⁰

1. Board of Trustees Transactions, 38th Report, March 10, 1936, p.593; Statutes & General Rules Concerning University Organization and Procedure, p. 36.

2. Board of Trustees Transactions, 56th Report, April 19, 1972, pp. 586-587.

3. Board of Trustees Transactions, 57th Report, July 18,1973, pp. 322-323.

4. Student-Staff Directory, 1973-74, p. 25.

5. Board of Trustees Transactions, 58th Report, May 21, 1975, p. 278.

6. Board of Trustees Transactions, 60th Report, June 21, 1980, pp. 636-37.

7. Board of Trustees Transactions, 62nd Report, October 21, 1982, p. 71.

8. Board of Trustees Transactions, 62nd Report, November 18, 1982, pp. 92-3.

9. Staff-Student Directory 1983-1984, p.41.

10. General Rules Concerning University Organization and Procedure, July 14, 1988, p. 2-3.