Dr. Elizabeth Hoffman, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs,
requested that I forward the following message to you.

Dear Professor:

I write to request that you serve as a member on the newly created
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Task Force.  Professor John Shuler has
graciously agreed to serve as Chair.  The intent of the Task Force is to
advance the use and mastery of this technology on our campus to:

(1) identify the needs of different campus units for resources for the
teaching, utilization and research in GIS and related technology;

(2) identify those campus needs for GIS which can be met by centralized
resources and recommend a strategy and budget for same;

(3) identify those campus needs for GIS which can be best met by decentralized resources and
recommend a strategy and budget for same;

(4) recommend a campus strategy and budget for obtaining UIC membership in the University Consortium of
Geographic Information Science; and

(5) recommend campus leadership for the implementation of the above.

We would like to get the task force up and running in the very near future.
To that end, would you please let my office know if you are willing to serve on this vital
task force as soon as possible, but no later than May 22, 2000.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Hoffman
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs