Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1980 [PAGE 88]

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78

BOARD O F TRUSTEES

[September 20

"President Corbally has submitted to m e a letter which is one of the most carefully written a n d effective letters I have read. " I n it Jack advised this board of his resignation as president of the University of Illinois effective one year hence — September 1, 1979. "If there were any persuasion this board could employ to change this decision, we would adopt it. J a c k came to us in 1970. These years have been perhaps the most challenging a n d trying times higher education has known. Jack has led us through these years with great skill, determination, and wit. W e have endured a n d even prospered in very large part because of his abilities. H e has been the best person possible to lead this University in these times. "However, as m u c h as we would selfishly like to keep Jack as long as possible, he has persuaded m e that his decision is based on sound reasons a n d the future happiness of Jack a n d Betty. Therefore, we have to p u t aside our own wishes a n d be glad we kept you this long. " I think Jack would now like to describe to you the background for his decision, a n d his future plans." At this point, President Corbally spoke to the subject of his resignation a n d distributed copies of his letter to President H o w a r d dated September 1, 1978. T h e text of the letter is as follows: Honorable G. W. Howard I I I Howard Building — Box U Mount Vernon, Illinois 62864 Dear Bill, I have been contemplating my personal career plans for some time, particularly because of my belief that one's tenure in a chief executive's position in a major and comprehensive organization should not exceed six to eight years. By August 3 1 , 1979, I will have served a total of ten years in university presidencies — two years at Syracuse University and eight years at the University of Illinois. While such a position always will contain more unfinished than finished business, there are a number of accomplishments at Illinois in which I take some pride. I do feel, however, an increasing sense of repetitiousness in the tasks of my position. It is, then clearly time for me to develop new career opportunities which I can undertake with renewed enthusiasm. I have great respect and affection for the University of Illinois and I have explored with appropriate individuals the possibility that I might join the faculty at Urbana-Champaign. I am pleased to know that that possibility is available to me. The University of Illinois Foundation is about to undertake a major capital funds campaign. While the leadership of that campaign will need to come from the Foundation staff and especially from the president of the University, I believe that with the concurrence of the president and of the Foundation staff I can be of assistance in that effort. I could and would explore other ways in which I might be of assistance to the University, but my primary goal is to return to teaching, research, and outreach activities in the academic fields of educational administration, higher education, and educational policy. It was this work for which I pre-