Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1992 [PAGE 556]

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544

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[June 10

next year. He said that it is a responsibility of the board and that it will be the means by which the board will make a defining contribution to the University. He urged the board to consider the following points: (1) What is the presidency? (2) What is the University of Illinois today? (3) What does the board need in a president and what does the University need? (4) What can we realistically expect to get and how will the board know when they have found this person? Discussion followed about the manner in which previous searches for a president were carried out, what resources the board needed in the near future to plan for their search, and a review of the definition of the position of president of the University contained in the University of Illinois Statutes. President Ikenberry reminded the board that the organizational model followed by the University to date is that of a strong president. He also stressed the need for a strong chair for the consultative committee, a group which he advised the board to utilize, as prior searches had. Following that he observed that he thought all interviews with candidates should be conducted by the board. In this way, the consultative committee would serve to do research and gather background on potential candidates for the board, but the final stages of formal interviews would be the board's responsibility. President Ikenberry cautioned the board to guard their responsibility and not permit pressures from any quarter to compromise this duty. Finally, he urged the board to avoid endangering candidates by abridging confidentiality. He suggested that they build a strong pool of candidates and protect all prospects for this position. He then noted that other institutions were seeking presidents too and that prudent alacrity would be advised. He then suggested to the board that they ask the secretary to prepare a timetable for the search. Ms. Reese commended President Ikenberry for strengthening the national position in higher education for the presidency of the University of Illinois, noting that this redounds to the benefit of the entire University. Dr. Gindorf told President Ikenberry that he was the only University of Illinois president he had ever known, for the president had signed both his undergraduate and doctoral diplomas. He concluded that this long tenure is testimony to Dr. Ikenberry's personal strength. Dr. Bazzani then briefly spoke to the trustees. He referred to an earlier directive from the board to him as comptroller to increase the president's salary to $189,000 and asked the board when they wished this to commence. The board directed Dr. Bazzani to change the president's salary effective July 1, 1994.