As senators approved a measure Sept. 21 outlining the committee selection process for a permanent chancellor, U. of I. President Timothy L. Killeen told them this search could be less conventional than those in the past.
Killeen was asked by Gay Miller, Senate Executive Committee chair and a professor of pathobiology, to share his expectations of the chancellor’s search process with senators.
“We don’t just want somebody who walks on water, but someone who walks above it,” he said. “We want someone who understands the substance and presence of this campus, someone who will propel this campus into the future.”
Killeen said the selection would be made through a “very consultative process,” and would produce a candidate who understands the land-grant mission of the U. of I. and adheres to the shared governance process.
“I’m seeking to work closely with you and the committee,” he told senators.
He said the search process would be driven by campus constituents, not a consulting firm. But he said the right search firm could improve the process.
“I’m a little bit antsy about executive search firms,” he said. “We need the right fit, and we have to take it upon ourselves as well to recruit.”
He said the university would soon be requesting search firm proposals and determining if those proposals would add value to the campus search process.
“That right fit is very important,” he said, noting the need to “tailor the process to this campus.”
Killeen also said he was open to a suggested change in the process made by Prasanta Kalita, a senator and a professor of agricultural engineering, concerning how final candidates are presented to campus.
Kalita suggested the final two or three candidates conduct public interviews so that everyone can learn about their approach and principles.
Erik McDuffie, a senator and a professor of African American Studies, suggested the new chancellor promise to adhere to a statement of principles sent to Killeen by McDuffie and other senators.
The principles address labor rights and social justice issues, and tout the importance of shared governance and freedom of speech. They also speak to the importance of being removed from the American Association of University Professors’ censure list and improving the “health” of the campus’s humanities programs.
“We need to establish a clear set of expectations for the new chancellor,” McDuffie said.
Killeen said he shared those same aspirations and that the campus continues to be a place where everyone’s views are considered.
“We stand for all of these values,” he said, “and we have an atmosphere that can deal with these types of problems in the open.”
The senate approved a committee structure designed to meet process and legal requirements designed to ensure diverse membership.
Under it, the first step would be the selection of a faculty member as chair, with two nominations each given to the Committee on Committees and the SEC. Senators would elect two, with the president selecting the chair and the remaining candidate will serve as one of the eight faculty members on the search committee.
Committee members would be selected from a group of 12 to 14 faculty member candidates picked by the Committee on Committees, with senators electing seven. No more than two candidates from a college may serve, and if those elected do not meet the diversity requirements, then the female faculty member and minority member receiving the most votes would be placed on the committee first. The next five to receive the most votes would finalize the membership structure.
The committee makeup also will include three students, one dean or director, an academic professional and a civil service staff member, all elected by their respective governing bodies.
The senate’s election will be conducted electronically and involves a five-day nomination period, followed by a three-day voting period. Ties will be settled through a two-day runoff vote.
A provision was added prior to the senate vote allowing candidate information to be disseminated to voters simultaneously to ensure fairness.
