The University of Illinois’ new Carle Illinois College of Medicine has taken a big step forward by passing a major accreditation hurdle. 

University of Illinois trustees have approved a contract with football coach Lovie Smith that will pay him at least $21 million over six years. At their meeting Thursday, trustees also signed off on a $100,000 performance bonus for President Tim Killeen. Under his contract, the bonus was the maximum Killeen could have received for reaching performance goals.

The University of Illinois has hired King Li, an administrator at Wake Forest University, as its inaugural dean of the Carle Illinois College of Medicine. His tenure will start October 1, pending approval by the U of I Board of Trustees at its September 8 meeting.