U of I Trustees Name Easter as Interim Chancellor as Well as Provost

As it searches for new leadership ... the University of Illinois Board of Trustees will let one man handle two top posts at the Urbana campus.

Trustees voted Thursday to make Robert Easter interim Chancellor. He takes over for Richard Herman, who resigned in the wake of the scandal admissions scandal, which student applicants with political clout received favored treatment. Easter is already UIUC's interim provost. He'll keep that job as well.

The changes at the Urbana campus accompany a shift in the university system's top administrative post. In January ... former U of I President Stan Ikenberry will temporarily resume his old post, replacing B. Joseph White, who is resigning, effective January 1st, in the wake of the admissions scandal.

Trustee Edward McMillan says working with Ikenberry will help Easter manage the dual roles.

McMillan says assigning Easter to double duty is a necessity caused by timing.

"We need to have someone filling those positions right away", says McMillan, "and having the experience of Bob and the experience of Stan allows us to fill those needs very quickly. There's lot of confidence in both of those individuals ... and their experience."

McMillan also says he has confidence both Easter and Ikenberry will make responsible decisions because neither of them are candidates for permanent positions.

A University of Illinois spokesman says the search for a new Urbana Champaign campus Chancellor and Provost will begin only after the school system has a new President.