University of Illinois

The process to date:   2007     2008

September 4, 2007 – On the occasion of a search for a new chancellor at UIC and in fulfillment of its responsibilities described in the University of Illinois Statutes, the UIC Senate Executive Committee proposes the composition and the process for the selection of a search advisory committee.

September 10, 2007 – Utilizing online balloting, the UIC Senate approves the proposed composition and the process for the selection of a search advisory committee.

September 11-17, 2007 – Implementing the open and democratic process adopted by the Senate, the Senate Office, working with all campus constituencies, solicits nominees for the search advisory committee.

September 18, 2007 –The Senate Executive Committee, attempting to reflect the diverse academic disciplines that comprise UIC, creates a slate of faculty nominees from all those nominated. Other nominees, provided by the various campus constituencies, are also slated. The Senate Executive Committee nominates the chair of the search advisory committee, at the request of President White.

September 27, 2007 – At a meeting of the full UIC Senate, faculty members are elected to the search advisory committee and all other nominees are ratified.

October 19, 2007 – President White accepts the results of the Senate process and announces the members of the search advisory committee to the UIC community. He has appointed additional faculty members to those elected to provide the broadest academic representation that an open election could not guarantee.

October 24, 2007 – The first meeting of the UIC Chancellor Search Advisory Committee is held to discuss the search process. President White charges the Committee to help him recruit an extraordinary leader to head UIC and build on Chancellor Manning’s work of the last eight years. The Committee will conduct a national search utilizing a professional search firm. The Committee will identify four excellent candidates to present to the Board of Trustees, with commentary and recommendations, for consideration and final selection. The goal is to have the new Chancellor selected and on the job by mid-2008.

October 31, 2007 – The Committee meets to review proposals submitted by seven professional search firms and selects four firms to be interviewed.

November 13 & 15, 2007 – The Committee hears presentations from four professional search firms and selects the firm of Heidrick & Struggles as the one that will best meet the needs of the search.

December 3, 2007 – The Committee meets, with Heidrick & Struggles consultants in attendance, and creates a search timeline that will allow us to meet the President’s search parameters. The Committee discusses drafts of the position announcement and the “white paper.” The white paper, which will draw heavily from the 2010 Strategic Thinking Report and the UIC Strategic Plan, will be a document that describes who UIC is, who we aspire to be, and the qualities and abilities of the leader we seek to help us achieve these aspirations.

December 6, 2007 – The language for the position announcement is finalized and the process of submission to various higher education media outlets is undertaken. The planning and design of a search website is undertaken.

December 20, 2007 – The Committee accepts the final version the white paper, although minor improvements continue to be made.

January 4, 2008 – The UIC Chancellor Search website goes live.

January 22, 2008 – The Committee meets and receives a search progress report from the consultants. The mechanics of a secure website for the review of candidate materials is presented. Dates for future Committee meetings and interviews are proposed and discussed.

February 4, 2008 – Secure website for the review of candidate materials goes live.

February 15, 2008 – Date by which candidate materials should be received for fullest consideration.

March 3, 2008 – The Committee meets and discusses all current candidates. A "long list" of candidates to be invited to interview is created.

March 15 - April 12, 2008 – The Committee met on five different dates to interview 17 highly qualified candidates. The outcome was a "short list" of 5 finalists to be interviewed by the Board of Trustees.

May 7, 2008 – The University of Illinois Board of Trustees and University President B. Joseph White interviewed the 5 finalists and in the following days identified the next Chancellor of UIC.

June 17, 2008 – The University of Illinois Board of Trustees and University President B. Joseph White announce the new permanent Chancellor of the University of Illinois at Chicago, pending final approval by the Board.