Dear colleagues:
Our institution is incredibly fortunate to have a history of extraordinary leadership serving at the helms of all three of our great universities. Robert Jones, chancellor for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and vice president of the University of Illinois System, is certainly no exception.
As you may be aware, Robert began his tenure as chancellor in September 2016. Following our established practice, earlier this academic year I requested a comprehensive “five-year” review of his time as chancellor. Dr. Terrence McTaggart of the Association of Governing Boards coordinated the review. Dr. McTaggart, former chancellor of Minnesota State University System and the University of Maine System, is a recognized expert in higher education leadership and has conducted evaluations of leadership performance for a wide range of institutions. Dr. McTaggart gathered feedback from many people across different stakeholder groups to conduct a thorough assessment of Chancellor Jones’ performance as a leader and chancellor of UIUC.
I’m pleased to share with you that results of this comprehensive review found Chancellor Jones to be an exemplary leader and a strong advocate for the university across myriad measures, winning him high praise all around.
Under his leadership, UIUC has continued to advance and make great strides, even while encountering a state budget crisis and a devastating pandemic. Colleagues at UIUC appreciate his willingness to listen to diverse voices, his commitment to shared governance, as well as the land grant mission, and the openness and transparency of his communication even during periods of crises. He is equally admired by his peers across the nation for his advocacy for public higher education, especially on behalf of research-intensive institutions. The full report on Chancellor Jones’ review can be found here.
On a personal level, I have enjoyed working with Robert over the last few years and have valued his counsel and advice on a wide variety of matters affecting the University of Illinois System. I am especially grateful for his focus on student success and the health and safety of our campus and the Champaign-Urbana community throughout the pandemic.
I am proud to call him a friend and look forward to our continued collaboration in advancing UIUC and the University of Illinois System.
Tim