Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1980 [PAGE 89]

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1978]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

79

pared myself through graduate work and to which I have devoted only about three years since joining the faculty at Ohio State in 1955. I believe that under our policies I would be eligible for administrative or sabbatical leave which I would request for the academic year 1979-80. It is then my intention to accept a faculty position at Urbana-Champaign in August 1980. My resignation as president of the University of Illinois would be effective on August 31, 1979. One of the difficult tasks facing a university president who is confident in and who enjoys the confidence of those with whom he works is to decide when the time has come that new leadership, new vigor, new ideas, and even a new personality will benefit the university. There is a strong tendency to develop a sense of wellbeing and of indispensability which persuades one to overlook clear signs that the time has come for a change of positions for the president and for a change of leadership for the institution. I t is also clear that many will seek hidden motives or causes for such a decision because of their inability and unwillingness to understand the demands of such a position and the limits upon an individual's ability to meet those demands with the constant peak effort they require and deserve. I want to assure you and my other colleagues on the Board of Trustees and my friends and colleagues within the University that there are no hidden motives for my decision. T h e Board of Trustees has been, is, and I am sure will continue to be supportive of me as an administrator and as a person. I sense a great deal of support from the faculty, staff, and students of our three campuses. I simply find myself in need of and ready for a change. In justice to what I consider to be the best position available in the administration of higher education — the presidency of the University of Illinois — I believe that the time for that change will be here on August 3 1 , 1979. I intend to pursue my duties vigorously during 1978-79 and look forward to another excellent year for our University of Illinois. With warm regards and with appreciation. Sincerely, (s) Jack John E. Corbally

M r . H o w a r d said: " T h e r e will be many opportunities in the coming months for us to express to Jack and Betty our personal feelings. We have been and will continue to be not just colleagues but also good friends. " T h e board now has before it the one duty and obligation, which it cannot delegate — the selection of Jack's successor, N O T replacement. "Because this matter has just come to the board, there is a need to consult further within the University upon our procedures. T h e procedures followed in 1970 which resulted in Jack's selection, worked well but will undoubtedly require some modification. T h e board will undoubtedly wish to have advice in its search from the constituent elements within the University and a Consultative Committee to Assist in the Selection of a President will need to be established. "Accordingly, I will ask Earl Porter to provide this board with background materials and we will promptly suggest to the full board (1) procedures, including procedures for a Consultative Committee; (2) a sug-