UI BOT Chair Responds to Calls for UI President to Resign

The chair of the University of Illinois' Board of Trustees is defending University President Michael Hogan, who has been asked to resign by 130 professors on the Urbana campus.

In a letter, Chairman Chris Kennedy addresses the points raised by faculty who called on President Hogan to step down.

Regarding allegations that Hogan interfered with discussions by the Faculty Senates Conference concerning his enrollment management plan, Kennedy says information Hogan received from those deliberations was obtained in a lawful manner.

Faculty also criticize the President for allowing his former chief of staff to stay with the U of I as a full-time tenured professor, after she resigned amid an investigation into emails sent to the Senates Conference concerning Hogan's enrollment policy. Kennedy said details about the employment agreement were hashed out a year and a half ago.

Professors also accuse Hogan of bullying Urbana's chancellor to quell faculty opposition to the enrollment policy.

While Kennedy doesn't address that allegation directly, he does say there is a need for mutual respect and dialogue regarding shared governance.

Meanwhile, University spokesman Tom Hardy said President Hogan will likely accept an invitation from faculty leaders to address their concerns.

The Board of Trustees is slated to meet on the Urbana campus on March 15.