Rauner Withdraws Nomination Of Bambanek To IBHE
John Bambenek was appointed to the Illinois Board of Higher Education in April 2016. Gov. Rauner withdrew his nomination on Wednesday. John Bambenek
Governor Bruce Rauner has withdrawn the appointment of John Bambenek to the Illinois Board of Higher Education. Rauner had appointed him to the board in April 2016.
University of Illinois faculty protested Bambenek's appointment to the one position on the sixteen-member board designated for a faculty member at an Illinois public university.
Members of the Faculty Advisory Council to the Illinois Board of Higher Education sent a letter to the Rauner administration in May 2016 protesting Bambenek’s nomination. They said he wasn't qualified for the post and that the governor ignored the council’s recommendations.
Bambenek has taught a cybersecurity course at University of Illinois Urbana campus since 2013, and his appointment as a lecturer increased from half time to 70-percent time for the spring 2016 semester.
He argued that as the number of part-time and adjunct faculty increases at public universities, they should also have a voice on the IBHE.
The Illinois State Senate never voted to confirm Bambenek's nomination to the board.