Trustees to decide IU's 2006 budget

Just because it's summer doesn't mean it's going to be a light meeting for the IU Board of Trustees today and Friday at IU Northwest. \nThe board is expected to vote on several key issues including the operating budget for IU, the Revised Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct, background checks for academic appointees, approval of a new masters degree in Biotechnology and approval for the State of Indiana to use IU owned land to expand the 45/46 bypass from Dunn street to 10th street in 2009. \nAssistant Vice President for Administration Lynn Coyne said the State of Indiana is required to ask IU for permission before it can begin construction using IU land. \n"After (the state) has acquired these easements the next step is the construction of the actual road," he said. "An easement is the right for the state of Indiana to come upon the real estate of the trustees to construct the highway."\nTrustee Cora Smith Breckenridge said she has no idea how she is going to vote on any of the issues that are up for approval.\n"I am still studying all of the issues," she said. "I wait until we meet, I don't make decisions on anything till we are in the meeting because I like being open to the public, students and the faculty."\nThis is the first time the board is meeting at IU Northwest since 2003 because the board rotates campuses for each of the meetings.\nTrustee Sue Talbot said all the issues for approval have gone through many steps involving the wording of the \nproposals. \n"We went through (the Revised Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct) fairly thoroughly with everyone who is involved in writing it," she said. "I imagine that it will pass without much \ncontroversy."\nBoard President Fred Eichhorn said the Operating Budget for IU will go smoothly because the board has been over it previous to this meeting. \n"I think everybody is pretty comfortable with it," Eichhorn said.\nOther items on the agenda include the approval of an amendment to the IU Retirement Plan, a request for a design renovation to Chi Omega and an upgrade of the Bradford Woods wastewater treatment facility. \nBoth IU President Adam Herbert and IU-Bloomington Chancellor Ken Gros Louis will attend the meeting to present their recommendations for promotion to the board.