University President B. Joseph White resigns

B. Joseph White will resign as the 16th president of the University, effective Dec. 31 of this year.

In a press release from the University, Board of Trustees Chairman Christopher Kennedy accepted President White's official resignation to be considered by the board.

Kennedy said the board will address the appointment of an interim president at a special meeting within weeks.

He said a search committee of trustees, faculty, students and alumni will be named soon to recruit the next permanent president. According to the release, the board intends to have a new president by the 2010-11 academic year.

"I take this action to enable you as a newly constituted board to select University leadership going forward," White said, addressing trustees in his letter to Kennedy.

On the left, President B Joseph White's resignation letter addressed to Board of Trustees Chairman Christopher Kennedy. On the right, Chairman Kennedy's acceptance for consideration of President B. Joseph White's resignation.

Also See

• University statement on White's resignation
• Former University President says he would fill position again

Vote in the Poll

• The president of the University is reported to be submitting his resignation today. Do you think he should?

The trustees have their work cut out for them because they are still learning their roles, said State Representative Naomi Jakobsson. Jakobsson said she trusts that the board members will find the way to move forward.

“I have no clue how they’re going to get started," she said. “(But) they’ll bring their collective experiences with them."

White said he will remain active in the University. His current contract as president will expire in June 2011. In the release, White said he would remain involved in teaching and raising funds for the University.

He also said he will forgo a $475,000 retention bonus he earned during his years as president.

"I'm sensitive to the University's difficult financial situation and the sacrifices being made by faculty and staff," White said in his letter.

In a statement about the resignation, Gov. Pat Quinn said he is grateful for White's service to the University and the search for a new president will be conducted quickly.

"I am confident the University of Illinois is moving forward and that its best days are ahead," Quinn said.

The University is the state's flagship school and it will be able to retain that and move forward, Jakobsson said.

“I believe that the University will be able to move on, move forward," she added.

White has been at the center of the controversy over reports that the University admitted politically connected students over more qualified applicants.

"I applaud the decision, it demonstrates commitment to greater good to institution," said David Wall, Illinois Student Senate vice president-external. "(Student Body President) Bradley Tran and I have spoken about this and we believe that an orderly transition to new leadership will insure that the academic excellence of the University will not diminish."

ISS Vice President-Internal Carey Ash and ISS Press Secretary Kara Beach said they agreed, adding it is important that the selection committee confers with students before selecting a new leader.

It is time for the University to move on, Quinn said on Wednesday. He said White's resignation will help clear the air over the admissions scandal, but he adds that he didn't pressure White to resign.

"I think its something that should have happened and I'm very enthusiastic that he (White) did this. But I also at the same time think it's unfortunate that it came to this," said Matt Reschke, student trustee.

Reschke said he could not comment on the possible interim candidates to replace White.

"I'm not totally surprised by this," said Bill Maher, University archivist and member of the Urbana-Champaign Senate's executive committee. "I would be equally not surprised if he were sticking with it. Neither would surprise me."

Last week, the UC-Senate approved a resolution that supported the removal process for both White and University Chancellor Richard Herman.

Maher said he does not think the UC-Senate resolution directly caused White's resignation, but he said the resignation is more logical following the indication from the UC-Senate.

"It’s really an unprecedented event, but it’s somewhat refreshing to know our voice has been heard," said Bobby Gregg, graduate student and UC-Senate member. "From what I understand, Gov. Quinn is appointing a new president. If that's the case, we are on the path to correcting the situation."

Peter Campbell, communications officer for the Graduate Employees Organization, said White's move indicates progress.

"We are happy that the University and the administration appears to be moving forward to correct the admissions scandal," Campbell said. "The GEO looks forward to the new president implementing White's statements to prioritize the funding of undergraduate studies and the compensation of the graduate students who teach these courses."

Former Trustee David Dorris said White should have stepped down before today.

"I think it's a good thing and it should have been done earlier," Dorris said. "It was time to go in a different direction a long time ago."

Dorris submitted his resignation when Quinn asked all trustees to resign this summer, but was not reappointed to the board.

He said he was unhappy with the governor's decision to appoint an interim president, however.

"The governor is 1 of 10 people on the board that should vote on that," Dorris said. "He has no power to just appoint someone and to do that is reckless and harmful to the University."