June 5, 2014

Dear colleagues:

We are pleased to announce that a website was launched today to share information and gather feedback that will help guide our committee’s search for a new president.

The website – at http://bot.uillinois.edu/presidentialsearch – is a two-way communication tool that will serve the needs of potential applicants as well as the university community.

It provides links to the position announcement and a just-released white paper developed by the committee that includes job duties and qualifications and a comprehensive look at the University’s three campuses, mission, challenges and opportunities.

The website also features links to keep prospective candidates and the university community informed about the search process, including background on the search committee, news releases and media coverage, the committee’s meeting schedule and the dates for a series of town hall forums that will solicit campus input on the search.

Town hall meetings are scheduled for 11 a.m. June 23 in Room 3080 of University Hall on the Springfield campus; 2 p.m. June 24 in the Michele M. Thompson rooms at Student Center West on the Chicago campus; and 3 p.m. June 25 in Beckman Auditorium on the Urbana-Champaign campus.

The website also provides opportunities for ongoing feedback from faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members, with links where users can submit nominations and post questions or comments.

Your input will help the committee identify prospective candidates and ultimately recommend finalists to the board, which intends to name a replacement by late this fall to ensure a smooth transition before President Easter leaves office.

We welcome your insights, and thank you for your service to our great university.

Sincerely,

Pamela B. Strobel, member, Board of Trustees
Douglas H. Beck, professor of physics, Urbana campus
Committee co-chairs