The News-Gazette.com: University of Illinois statement on admissions probe

University of Illinois statement on admissions probe

By The News-Gazette

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 1:21 PM CDT

President B. Joseph White released the following message to the
University of Illinois community in response to Gov. Pat Quinn's
announcement of an Admissions Review Commission.

Today, Governor Pat Quinn announced the formation of an Admissions
Review Commission, an independent, fact-finding group that the governor
has named to investigate claims of special treatment
for some applicants to the University of Illinois.

On behalf of our University community, I thank the Governor for this
initiative and express our appreciation to retired federal Judge Abner
Mikva, who will chair the Commission, and all those who have agreed to
serve.

I am mandating complete and full cooperation with the Commission from
every member of the University community. The Commission will have
access to everybody and everything it needs to conduct its work. Any
request or directive from the Commission is to be treated as the highest
priority and responses are to be timely.

I have instructed University Counsel Thomas R. Bearrows to manage the
University's working relationship with the Commission. Please respond to
any requests from the Commission through Mr. Bearrows.

With regard to the previously announced University task force on
admissions, we will not pursue this initiative at this time in order to
focus on cooperation with the independent Commission. However, each
campus, academic unit and admissions office should prepare for the
upcoming admissions cycle for the 2010-2011 academic year with a renewed
focus on the vital importance of objectivity and fairness in the
admissions process.

When the Commission has completed and reported its work, we will come
together as a University community to ensure that our admissions
practices are exemplary.

I again thank Governor Quinn and Judge Mikva and his colleagues for this
important service to the University of Illinois.