The president of Western Illinois University will keep his job for at least one more year. The board of trustees unanimously agreed to extend Dr. Jack Thomas' contract through the 2016-17 fiscal year. Reading from a prepared statement during the board's quarterly meeting... chairperson Roger Clawson said trustees enthusiastically commend Thomas for the leadership he's shown during difficult times, and trustees support his strategic vision for Western. After the meeting, Clawson said Thomas is steering the University through uncharted waters.
“He's collaborated with his leadership team and did all of this. And we feel, as a board, right now he's doing a good job. Could he be doing better? Yes. Could be doing worse. For now you'd say he's doing what's expected of him.”
Clawson said the state's year-long budget impasse is unprecedented. But declining financial support for public higher education in Illinois is nothing new. Western's state appropriation has been cut for 14 straight years.
“He inherited a lot of problems from previous administrations that weren't addressed and now it's coming to roost. So he's solving the problem -- or working toward solving the problem, I should say.”
Clawson said the board would like the administration to be prepared for any curveball the state might throw at public universities in the coming year. He said Western needs to be proactive rather than reactive. Clawson said Thomas declined a pay raise so he'll continue to be paid around $270,000.
