Daily Egyptian THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015
Board may hire outside search consultant
DAILYEGYPTIAN.COM
SINCE 1916
VOL. 99 ISSUE 65
Jamming at the jamboree
Chase Myers | @chasemyers_DE As the July 16 date for the Board of Trustees regular meeting approaches, members, alongside President Randy Dunn, will deliberate the next move in the currently suspended chancellor search. “We will have a search committee at the campus level again … but we will more than likely hire an outside consultant to assist us in this process and generate more leads,” Randall Thomas, chairman of the SIU Board of Trustees, said. The board used a similar strategy last year when electing President Dunn for his executive position, Thomas said. Both Thomas and President Dunn agree it would be more effective to hire a search firm when conducting the next search, but the idea has not been brought up to the board at this time, Thomas said. He said the new search will not take place soon because summer class sessions are underway. The initial search was halted June 8 after favored candidate Sabah Randhawa, provost and executive vice president of Oregon State University, withdrew his candidacy. Thomas said Randhawa did not accept the offer as chancellor because of the current economic situation in Illinois. Randhawa has not returned multiple phone calls requesting a comment about his withdrawal. The decision not to offer the chancellor position to Provost Susan Ford, the other finalist, was for personal issues addressed by the board, Thomas said. Ford will remain provost and in charge of academic affairs. “I am happy to continue as provost,” she said. “My heart is 100 percent in this job and in helping the university.” The suspension of the chancellor search will be one of many topics approached during the board’s regular meeting next month. Although there is no permanent chancellor, the organization and duties of the position will remain constant in the near future, President Randy Dunn said. “One of the most critical elements needed right now is stability in that position,” President Dunn said. “Their thinking hasn’t changed about the position generally going forward, but given the challenges in front of the campus … I think they just decided to pull back and take a look once again at others who may be available in trying to get the best person that we can for the position at this time.” Dunn will maintain his dual-roles as president and chancellor. He said is not a noticeable burden for the university but does slow down operating capabilities. “Over the long haul, to take on new initiatives, projects for improvement and things of that nature, it does become more challenging to get that done without a permanent person in both the presidency and the chancellorship,” he said. Dunn said he hopes that with a permanent chancellor he will be able to give as much attention to the university systems as well as campus issues he initially planned on pursuing when he was appointed president.
J ane F lynn | @JaneFlynnDE Campers are encouraged to participate at Camp Little Giant’s Musical Jamboree Wednesday morning. Camp Little Giant is Touch of Nature’s most popular summer residential program, offering specialized programs for individuals with varying physical, cognitive and developmental abilities and disabilities. Vicki Lang-Mendenhall, camp director and environmental program coordinator for Touch of Nature in Makanda, says “I enjoy watching the campers participate in activities they were told they could not participate in.” The camp offers participants a variety of opportunities, including horseback riding, art classes and swimming.
Child Development Laboratories to be suspended at summer’s end Marissa novel | @MarissaNovelDE The SIU Child Development Laboratories, which has served as a training ground for students studying early childhood education since 1953, will be suspended at summer’s end because of ongoing financial issues. Keith Wilson, dean of the College of Education and Human Services, said in a press release that for several years the college and university have not had the resources to subsidize the CDL, and fees from the families of participating children do not cover the costs of operation. “Continued budget uncertainty means that we cannot expect funding in the future in spite of
the need for significant operational support and investment in physical improvements,” he said. The declining enrollment of children in the CDL and of students studying early childhood education also contributed to the decision to suspend the labs. Wilson said although the center’s capacity is 62 children, 39 enrolled last fall, 37 this spring and 21 this summer. He said 199 students were studying early childhood education in the college’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction in 2009 compared to 115 in 2014. Wilson said this was partly because state changes in accreditation requirements. The region offers an ample number of
alternative training sites to meet the reduced demand, Wilson said. “The college can fulfill its educational and research mission far more cost-effectively by suspending operations at CDL,” Wilson said, “While this is a difficult decision given the long history of CDL serving multiple generations in the community, we believe it is the most responsible option given our current needs and environment.” He said the university might explore an alternative model for the center, but the timing and outcome are uncertain. Wilson said families with children currently enrolled and those hoping to enroll in the fall will be notified to seek alternative child care.
SIUE gets grant to fight Alzheimer’s disease sCott Wuerz | Belleville News-Democrat Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy researchers have been awarded a five-year, $2.65 million grant to battle Alzheimer’s disease. The funds come from the National Institutes of Health. SIUE’s research
team, which includes medicinal chemists, pharmacologists and pharmaceutics experts, will use the money to develop a drug for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. “The National Institutes of Health has placed a significant amount of responsibility in our hands,” said Ken Witt, principal investigator and associate
professor in the School of Pharmacy. “Now, we can truly make things happen. Securing the funding is merely putting needed fuel in the tank and getting those tires moving faster.” Gireesh Gupchup, dean of the SIUE School of Pharmacy, is confident the investment will be put to good use.