July 19, 2009
The role of trustee
I am appalled and dismayed by the alleged behavior of certain University of Illinois trustees. The roles and responsibilities of trustees of institutions of higher learning are clear and unmistakable. Trustees, who are, in effect, the “board of directors” of a college or university, are charged with forming policy for that institution and ensuring that the college or university has the necessary resources to carry out that policy.
The college or university’s president and staff are charged with executing that policy. The line of demarcation is bright and clear. Trustees should never meddle in the operations of the school — and certainly not in its admission procedures. The board of trustees hires the president. And the president and his or her cabinet run the school. The trustees of a great public institution like the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are the representatives of the people of this state to the school. They have no business interfering in the operations of the university.
— Paul A. Dillon, trustee, the Chicago School of Professional Psychology
My original submission is as follows:
I am appalled and dismayed by the alleged behavior of certain University of Illinois trustees, as detailed in the recent “Clout Goes to College” series in the Chicago Tribune. The roles and responsibilities of trustees of institutions of higher learning are clear and unmistakable. Trustees, who are, in effect, the “board of directors” of a college or university, are charged with forming policy for that institution, and insuring that the college or university has the necessary resources to carry out that policy. The college or university’s president and staff are charged with executing that policy. The line of demarcation is bright and clear. Trustee’s should never meddle in the operations of the school–and, certainly not in its admission procedures.
It’s simple, really. The board of trustee’s hires the president. And, the president, and his or her cabinet, run the school. The trustees of a great public institution like the University of Illinois are the representatives of the people of this state to the school. They have no business interfering in the operations of the university.
Organizations like the Association of Governing Boards, which represents the presidents and trustees of institutions of higher learning in the United States, conduct numerous training programs, and publish voluminous materials, on the roles and responsibilities of college and university trustees. Governor Quinn, and the Illinois Admissions Review Commission, should insure that any future trustees appointed to the University of Illinois board avail themselves of the excellent training material provided by this and other similar organizations on the roles and responsibilities of a college or university trustee.
Paul A. Dillon, Trustee
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
August 01, 2009 
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