URBANA – As widely expected, former University of Illinois President Stanley Ikenberry has been named the interim president of the UI.

Trustees formally approved the decision Saturday at a special meeting in the Illini Union. Ikenberry is expected to begin his duties immediately as an interim president designate, and he'll be the interim president beginning in January. B. Joseph White's resignation as the university's president takes effect at the end of this year.

After making the announcement, board members stood and applauded Ikenberry, who moved around the table shaking the hands of some board members and blowing kisses to others. After the appointment he took a seat next to White.

White announced his resignation last week, after a summerlong admissions controversy in which it was revealed that some university applicants who had connections to trustees, politicians and donors were admitted over more qualified applicants.

A state admissions review commission, established by Gov. Pat Quinn, called for all the trustees to resign. All but two did so, and Quinn appointed seven new members last month. Also last month the Urbana campus senate of faculty and students approved a resolution that called for White and Urbana campus Chancellor Richard Herman to step down from their positions.

On Saturday, the board accepted White's resignation and approved a revised employment agreement with him. After he steps down in January, he will join the faculty and help raise money for Brilliant Futures, the university's largest fundraising campaign to date. White is not expected to begin teaching until 2011.

The board also approved the composition of the search committee for the next permanent president and hired the firm Isaacson, Miller to help with the search for a permanent president. Board chairman Christopher Kennedy said he hoped the next president would be chosen by May 2010.