Western Illinois University President Guiyou Huang’s current contract expires at the end of this month.
The Board of Trustees agreed to extend it until the end of September while they negotiate a new contract with him.
Trustee Polly Radosh said people shouldn’t read anything into the delay.
“It’s not that we have hesitation, and the rumor that the board’s going to fire him in September – none of it’s true,” she said.
Instead, Radosh said that as part of the board ‘s review of the president’s performance, it solicited evaluations from the campus community this spring. She said the evaluations dribbled in, with the final one arriving just a few weeks ago.
She said it takes a while to compile the input. Rather than rushing through the process, trustees agreed to negotiate a new contract with Dr. Huang this summer and then vote on it at their next regularly scheduled meeting, which is in September.
Radosh said there’s nothing more to it.
Huang thanked the board for extending his contract for the next few months.
He took office as WIU’s 12th president on January 1, 2021.
New leadership team for the board
Board members chose Carin Stutz to be their new chairperson. She replaces Doug Shaw, who remains on the board but stepped down as chair after two years in the position. (editor's note - term limits allow board officers to serve no more than two consecutive one-year terms)
Trustees initially voted unanimously to have Stutz serve as vice chairperson, but pivoted after several ballots that resulted in a four-to-four tie between Polly Radosh and Greg Aguilar for chairperson.
“Carin has stood and has done things that are – in my opinion – nothing less than stellar,” said Trustee Derek Wise.
“We got a unanimous vote of a vice chair. That’s the number two position. Why are we not choosing this person as our chairperson?”
Trustees then re-voted and elected Stutz to serve as chair.
“I feel privileged. I feel flattered. I’m honored. I’m shocked,” said Stutz. “I will do my darnedest to serve all of you well.”
Stutz also said you don’t need a title to lead. She said you can lead simply by stepping up and showing up.
“That’s what we’re asking our students to do. It’s what we’re asking our faculty to do. It’s what we’re asking our administration to do – to all show up and move the organization forward,” she said.
After choosing Stutz as chair, it then took more than one ballot to elect a vice chairperson. That contest was initially knotted at four apiece– also between Radosh and Aguilar -- before student trustee Cody Cornell offered to break the tie.
“Greg, I’m willing to vote for you as vice chair, but you have to make me a promise: When I text you and go to the Quad Cities, you have to text and call me back,” Cornell said.
Aguilar replied, “Sure.”
And on the next ballot, Aguilar was elected vice chairperson.
Cornell will be the board secretary.
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