Organizational changes planned for university administration UI President B. Joseph White recently announced several organizational changes within university administration, including the creation of a vice president and chief financial officer position in order to strengthen the university’s financial management. “This person will be responsible for all financial functions and will oversee the university’s revenues, costs, capital expenditures, investments and debt,” White said in the Feb. 7 announcement. “The CFO, in cooperation with other vice presidents, will be responsible for facilitating the university’s budget process. Substantive budget decisions will be made by the president and chancellors with a clear focus on building and maintaining academic excellence and fulfilling our core missions of teaching, research, service and economic development.” The CFO will be comptroller of the board of trustees as well as treasurer of the UI Foundation. Additional information about the CFO position and the search will be forthcoming. White said he asked Stephen K. Rugg, vice president for administration, to assume the role of vice president for planning and administration at the time the CFO joins the university. “Steve has agreed and I am grateful. I appreciate the knowledge and dedication Steve will continue to bring to the university leadership team,” White said. In addition, White announced that Chester S. Gardner, vice president for academic affairs, will return to faculty work effective July 1. “I have agreed to his request,” White said. “I thank Chet for his distinguished and valuable service to the university, and I am personally grateful for his support and help during my first year as president.” Gardner has held several senior administrative roles during the past decade. He has been a faculty member of the department of electrical and computer engineering at the Urbana campus since 1973 and was appointed a faculty affiliate in the department of atmospheric sciences in 1995. White said that David Chicoine, vice president for technology and economic development, has agreed to add academic affairs to his responsibilities on an interim basis effective July 1. “Over the next several months and during the interim period, I plan to confer extensively with the chancellors, representatives of the faculty and others about our approach to academic affairs,” White said. “A guiding principle for me is that academic excellence is built by the departments, schools and colleges with guidance and support from the president, chancellors and provosts.”
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