Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1994 [PAGE 149]

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1994]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

137

had declined consideration. There were seven internal nominees. Two had accepted the nominations, while the others declined, save one who did not respond. Professor Bahr then presented information about several prospects that the committee might recommend for the board's consideration. Next, she described the process the committee planned to follow in order to discover if these individuals did meet the qualifications desired by the board. This was to involve preliminary interviews with each prospect, after which the committee would forward to the board a list of the qualified individuals. Professor Bahr noted that this process would occur in January and that the committee would strive to present a list of qualified persons to the board by the beginning of February. She said that she hoped that this would be a list of six to eight persons. The board members then made suggestions of specific qualities they desired in prospects for the presidency. Professor Bahr also presented several suggestions for questions that the committee would ask prospects and asked the board members for more ideas. Several board members stated that they wanted to be certain the committee discovered how the individuals worked with others, internal and external to the University setting. Mr. Boyle asked the trustees if they were satisfied with the work of the committee to date and if they had any suggestions for Professor Bahr to relate to the committee. (Mr. Didato-Castillo joined the meeting at this time.) Some discussion followed on the distinction between the preliminary interviews and the board's interviews and why two sets of interviews were needed. The response was that the preliminary interviews were needed to discover more about the prospects and recommend to the board only those who were really qualified for this position. Mr. Lamont asked for assurance that there would not be factions on the committee and for reassurance that confidentiality was uppermost in the minds of the committee members. Professor Bahr indicated that she reinforces the crucial need for confidentiality with the committee each time they meet. Further, she noted that there seemed little likelihood that any factions would develop on the committee, as relations were very good among the members and no one seemed to be an advocate for any prospect. Mrs. Calder then asked for a thorough discussion of each of the prospects identified by the committee and asked Professors Bahr and Johnson and Mr. Funk and Ms. Condit to provide as much information as they could at this time. Such a discussion followed. President Ikenberry then stressed that this was the time for the trustees to tell the committee what they wanted in the next president and what they thought would not be desirable. Dr. Bacon expressed some concern about the winnowing process and asked that the committee forward as many prospects as possible to