ILLINOIS - The University of Illinois Board of Trustees

19781 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 79
pared myself through graduate work and to which I have devoted only about three
years since joining the faculty at Ohio State in 1955.
I believe that under our policies I would be eligible for administrative or sabbatical
leave which I would quest for the academic year 1979-80. It is then my
intention to accept a faculty position at Urbana-Champaign in August 1980. My
resignation as president of the University of Illinois would be effective on August
31, 1979.
One of the difficult tasks facing a university president who is confident in and
who enjoys the confidence of those with whom he works is to decide when the time
has come that new leadership, new vigor, new ideas, and even a new personality
will benefit the university. There is a strong tendency to develop a sense of wellbeing
and of indispensability which persuades one to overlook clear signs that the
time has come for a change of positions for the president and for a change of
leadership for the institution. It is also clear that many will seek hidden motives
or causes for such a decision because of their inability and unwillingness to understand
the demands of such a position and the limits upon an individual’s ability to
meet those demands with the constant peak effort they require and deserve.
I want to assure you and my other colleagues on the Board of Trustees and my
friends and colleaves within the University that there are no hidden motives for
my decision. The Board of Trustees has been, is, and I am sure will continue to be
supportive of me as an administrator and as a person. I sense a great deal of support
from the faculty, staff, and students of our three campuses. I simply find myself
in need of and ready for a change. In justice to what I consider to be the best position
available in the administration of higher education - the presidency of the
University of Illinois-I believe that the time for that change will be here on
August 31, 1979. I intend to pursue my duties vigorously during 1978-79 and look
forward to another excellent year for our University of Illinois.
With warm regards and with appreciation.
Sincerely,
(5) Jack
John E. Corbally
Mr. Howard said: “There will be many opportunities in the coming
months for us to express to Jack and Betty our personal feelings. We have
been and will continue to be not just colleagues but also good friends.
“The board now has before it the one duty and obligation, which it
cannot delegate - the selection of Jack’s successor, NOT replacement.
“Because this matter has just come to the board, there is a need to
consult further within the University upon our procedures. The proce-
dures followed in 1970 which resulted in Jack’s selection, worked well but
will undoubtedly require some modification. The board will undoubtedly
wish to have advice in its search from the constituent elements within the
University and a Consultative Committee to Assist in the Selection of a
President will need to be established.
“Accordinsly, I will ask Earl Porter to provide this board with back-
ground materials and we will promptly suggest to the full board (1) pro-
cedures, including procedures for a Consultative Committee; (2) a sug-