UI president remains confident students will return in fall
President Timothy L. Killeen takes notes during the board of trustees meeting at the Illini Union on March 12, 2015. Killeen announced recently that he is confident the University will return to face-to-face instruction in the fall.
May 1, 2020
President Killeen announced in an interview with Illinois Public Media that he is confident the University will return to face-to-face instruction in the fall.
“We are playing close attention to the evolution of the pandemic,” Killeen said in the interview.
The University is looking into a range of options and scenarios regarding the pandemic. Unlike the University of Michigan administrators, Killeen said he does not foresee cuts such as reducing hours, pay, nonessential expenses or salary freezes to be announced soon.
“We are also working closely with the federal government and with the state government,” Killeen said. “So, you will see announcements when we are ready to make them.”
This decision has come in shortly after Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker extended the stay-at-home order until the end of May. A formal announcement of what the fall term will entail is being developed.
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“We firmly believe that the residential experience is an important part of the growth and development of our students and it is our goal to return to that model in the safest and most prudent way as soon as it is possible to do so,” said Robin Kaler, associate chancellor. “We anticipate a formal decision and announcement on fall instruction by the middle of June.”
A campus committee has been convened by the Office of the Provost with broad representation, including from faculty, to ensure that the University can offer both “excellent services in the fall and protect the safety and health of our community,” according to UI Senate Head Robert Kar.
“From the Senate side, we have offered to provide input to ensure a strong voice for shared governance as needed and appropriate,” Kar said in an email.
The University is in its planning stage for the fall term and is currently exploring various options for the resume of classes.
“Chancellor Jones is leading our planning with a directive that we explore multiple scenarios where instruction could resume this fall in a hybrid model face-to-face with remote options as well,” Kaler said.
