A feasibility study for existing married student housing was one of the main topics discussed at the Board of Trustees meeting Thursday.

The married student housing development, located on Annie Glidden Road, consists of 80 apartments – each 350 square feet per unit, said Melanie Magara, assistant vice president for Public Affairs and BOT spokeswoman. The university was granted approval for a contract to do the study to update the development, she said.

Also discussed at the meeting was President Peters’ annual report for external funding for research and service projects, most of which is generated from research grants, government funding and private corporations.

“When President Peters came here in 2000, his goal was to see external funding double,” Magara said.

In Fiscal Year 2001, external funding totaled about $38 million, she said. At the end of the current fiscal year, external funding will total about $61 million.

The Family Health, Wellness and Literacy Center budget was discussed, with a goal to begin design and reservation of that property, Magara said. A first installment of federal grants, totalling $6 million, was received this year, she said.

Peters spoke at length on the idea of increasing the number of tenure track faculty, Magara said. This, along with many other topics, are waiting for committee approval at the Full Board meeting at 1 p.m. Sept. 15 in Altgeld Hall. Some of these topics include the FY07 Budget, Illinois Commitment and proposals to buy a student information system.