Assembly Hall Renamed State Farm Center Epresentatives from the U
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May 2, 2013 Vol. 32, No. 20 For Faculty and Staff, University of IIllinoisllinois at Urbana-Champaign • http://news.illinois.edu/ii InsideAssembly Hall renamed State Farm Center epresentatives from the U. of I. and State Farm announced April 29 that Assembly Hall would Rbe renamed State Farm Center, in accordance with a 30-year Farm, one of the most respected $60 million agreement. The iconic corporate brands in the world,” campus building is set to undergo said Mike Thomas, the Illinois di- major renovations with comple- rector of athletics. “State Farm has tion of the project scheduled for been an outstanding partner for the fall 2016. University of Illinois for more than “We are extremely proud to an- two decades, and this agreement nounce this relationship with State will carry that partnership forward for at least three more. The Assembly Hall is one of the Campus icon kept most recognizable structures working name for in the nation and, at 50 years of age, has served the U. of I. 50 years campus, community and image courtesy U. of I. Division of Intercollegiate Athletics By Mike Helenthal Central Illinois very well. This agreement will ensure Braggin’ rights An artist’s rendering of planned renovations of the newly named State Farm Center Assistant Editor shows expanded student seating and premium suites. The $157 million modernization project also he road to stardom is littered State Farm Center will serve those same constituents, and includes new locker rooms, training facilities, and meeting areas for athletes and fans, air conditioning, with less-than-stellar ideas. club spaces and exhibit areas. And while Assembly Hall even more, for many years T to come.” is a world-class institution and it executive vice president and the is arguably the most famous archi- ON THE WEB tectural icon on campus, naming it The longtime relation- deserves world-class facilities. chief agency, sales and marketing go.illinois.edu/ before it was constructed in 1963 ship between State Farm The renovated and renamed State officer for State Farm Insurance wasn’t an easy task. and U. of I. – which includes Farm Center will provide a gather- Companies. IL_Renaissance A campus committee in 1959 the State Farm Research and ing, performance and competition The name State Farm Center is suggested a total of nine names, Development Center – along space to serve our students, fac- effective immediately and will be for the 2016-17 basketball season. the final one on the list, “Assem- with the fact that the corpo- ulty, staff and neighbors.” incorporated into the building as “From the very early stages bly Hall,” representing the work- rate headquarters are just 50 “We are proud to be a part soon as possible as the renovation of this project, it was clearly ap- ing title on the construction plans. miles from campus, made of the renovation of this classic project moves forward. Some util- parent that naming rights for the According to the committee’s for a natural partnership on Illinois venue and further expand ity work on the building and sur- building would play a major part report, names were being sought the project. our longstanding relationship with rounding grounds could begin this in the funding model,” Thomas to represent the building’s expect- “We are thrilled with this the University of Illinois and the summer, with the first major phase said. “This agreement comple- ed versatility of use and its unique announcement,” said Urbana state where our company has been of the project expected to begin in ments support from campus and Chancellor Phyllis M. Wise. headquartered for more than 90 March 2014. State Farm Center is our students while supplementing SEE HISTORY, PAGE 2 “The University of Illinois years,” said Randall Harbert, the scheduled to be completed in time support from the community.” u Commencement ceremonies Health insurance premiums, to take place May 12 copays to increase he 142nd commencement of the U. and Fine and Applied Arts will receive de- of I. will be held in two ceremonies grees at the afternoon ceremony. Doors will Employees urged to review benefit options carefully; May 12 at State open at 9:30 a.m. for the make changes online by May 31 Farm Center (for- ON THE WEB morning ceremony and at Tmerly Assembly Hall). 1 p.m. for the afternoon ased on current information commencement.illinois.edu ON THE WEB U. of I. alumnus Shahid ceremony. After all stu- from the state department of n go.illinois.edu/BenefitChoice14 Khan, an entrepreneur who dents and their guests are Central Management Services, n benefitschoice.il.gov got his start at Urbana’s Flex-N-Gate auto- seated, the remaining seats will be available U. of I. employees will pay motive supply company, will speak at both to the public. Bmore in employee and dependent health nificant increases. ceremonies. Shuttle buses also will stop at various insurance premiums, out-of-pocket Changes to health care and other ben- Fred Robert Volkmar, M.D., and James campus locations, including State Farm maximums, copayments, deductibles, efits – including medical care and de- A. Thomson will receive honorary degrees Center, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. co-insurance and other health care costs, pendent care assistance (flexible spend- at the morning ceremony. Volkmar is being All students who have earned bach- beginning July. The deductible for the ing) plans – can only be made during honored for his role as a world leader in un- elor’s, master’s, doctoral and professional dental plan and copays for the vision the Benefit Choice period, which runs derstanding and treating autistic spectrum degrees and advanced certificates during plan also have increased. through May 31. All changes will be ef- disorders. Thomson is being honored for the preceding year are honored at the an- A flier with more fective July 1. his international leadership in biomedical nual commencement. detailed information on Benefit Choice infor- research. All graduating students and their changes and deadlines BENEFIT mation is available on- At the morning ceremony, candidates in guests are invited to a reception from was mailed to the home line, including detailed the colleges of Applied Health Sciences; 8 to 9:30 a.m. May 12 in the gardens of the address of all benefits- CHOICE ’14 information about the Law; Liberal Arts and Sciences; Media; president’s house. Academic attire is en- eligible employees. It benefit changes; online Veterinary Medicine; the Institute of Avia- couraged. includes a list of changes in copays and enrollment information (do not use the tion; the School of Labor and Employment The first floor of the main library will be other expenses for the managed-care forms on the CMS website); flexible Relations; the School of Social Work; and open from 1 to 4 p.m. May 11 and 12 for health plans and the Quality Care Health spending forms, instructions and refer- the Graduate School of Library and Infor- visitors and students to view the University Plan. Employees are being encouraged ence guide; and the Benefit Choice Op- mation Science will receive degrees. Honors Bronze Tablets. Many individual to carefully review this information be- tions booklet. Candidates in the colleges of Agricul- U. of I. units have scheduled additional fore making any decisions regarding Note that claims processing for FSA tural, Consumer and Environmental Sci- commencement ceremonies. More infor- health care choices since there are sig- SEE BENEFIT CHOICE, PAGE 2 ences; Business; Education; Engineering; mation is available online. u The future is bright Excellence honored INDEX At the April 22 town hall The campuswide awards ACHIEVEMENTS 19 meeting, U. of I. leaders for excellence in teaching A MINUTE WITH … ™ 7, 15 discussed their vision for the and advising were BOOK CORNER 20 campus’s future. presented April 23. PAGE 6 PAGE 10-11 BRIEF NOTES 17 This Issue This DEATHS 16 In ON THE JOB 3 InsIde IllInoIs onlIne: news.illinois.edu/ii/ • To subscrIbe: go.illinois.edu/iisubscribe PAGE 2 InsideIllinois May 2, 2013 Chancellor reports on campus efforts to retain faculty By Mike Helenthal Other business Q Approved revisions to the “academic “We haven’t changed our views on those Assistant Editor The senate: integrity” portions of the student code to ad- differences, but today we stand together, ately a lot of attention has been paid Q Accepted the establishment of the In- dress technology-aided cheating. and we ask our colleagues to stand with us to campus efforts to revolutionize stitute for Universal Biology, a five-year Charles L. Tucker, the vice provost for un- in addressing some of the basic challenges undergraduate education and recruit program funded by the NASA Astrobiology dergraduate education and innovation, said facing our campus,” the statement said. and attract faculty members from Institute. the text outlines “explicit standards of proof” The two said they wanted the issued to Loutside the university. The institute was reviewed by two senate for making allegations of cheating or plagia- move beyond “divisive debate to a prob- At the April 22 town hall meeting, cam- committees and includes $1.6 million in an- rism, or for students to appeal a decision. lem-solving orientation” and called for pus leaders announced a new initiative to nual funding, as well as a five-year renewal “The overall strength of our process … senate leadership to define a process for hire 500 faculty members in the next five option. The institute will be located within has been retained,” he said. doing so. The statement offered 10 discus- to seven years to bring numbers up to the the Institute for Genomic Biology.