University of Illinois President Robert Easter has recommended that university trustees approve a plan to open a new engineering-based medical school in Urbana-Champaign.
Easter said at a trustees committee meeting Wednesday that he believes building the new medical school would boost teaching and research. He also predicted the public-private plan to finance the school might serve as a model for public higher education as government support dwindles.
University trustees are scheduled to vote on the medical school plan at their meeting Thursday in Urbana.
The school's startup costs are estimated at $100 million. The university would partner with the Urbana-based Carle Foundation hospital, which has pledged $100 million over 10 years.
The existing College of Medicine in Chicago had a competing proposal to open a new biomedical research institute.
