“We have reconstituted the Statewide Capital Policies and Priorities Committee and we will share with you this morning the results of some of that work. Perhaps the centerpiece for activities in calendar year 2004 is the establishment of a strong foundation to address statewide accountability and productivity issues.
“As the Chairman reflected on this past year, he used words such as cooperation, dedication, and persistence -- I echo those. In looking at those and other accomplishments, they were clearly an effort of the Board and Board staff, and college and university leadership. As we close down this year, I want to personally acknowledge those accomplishments and to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to all those involved.
“Deb Smitley is ending a near 20-year career in various roles at the Illinois Board of Higher Education, most recently as Deputy Director for Government Relations and Administration. I took a look at Deb’s job description and contained within it are the words ‘works cooperatively’ and I thought how accurate those words are when talking about her. In my view she is the ultimate team player in that she helps others and cares for the organization. She is committed to a view that she and her colleagues will only succeed if they form and sustain a network of mutual support.
“I want to thank Deb on behalf of her staff colleagues, and I know the college and university community, for at least two things. First, for her conscientious, thoughtful mastery of the complexities of higher education, and for the help she gave many of us in really understanding the meaning of the term ‘policy drives budget.’
“Second, for her creation of many mutually respectful relationships within both the higher education community and state government. Members of the Board and others, please join me in wishing Deb well as she moves to a new role as Assistant Vice President for Financial Planning and Services at Illinois State University beginning next month.”
Those present warmly applauded Ms. Smitley.
Dr. LaVista then said, “I would also like to recognize Doug Day, who is leaving IBHE after eighteen years of service in Academic Affairs and most recently as Deputy Director for Policy Studies. His new role will be as an Associate Provost for Planning and Evaluation at Marquette University beginning next month. In that new role, he will be responsible for not only leading academic planning for the University, but integrating it more significantly with institutional planning and budgeting.
“Doug’s contributions over his lengthy tenure at IBHE are numerous. For example, his various studies that led to policy formulation by this Board such as P·Q·P, which was a huge academic planning exercise, underserved populations, the University Center of Lake County, access and diversity, non-tenured faculty, and faculty diversity. If you think on these, you will see Doug’s guiding hand in their development. The same would be true for many other contributions that there isn’t time to note today. Members of the Board and of the audience, please join me in thanking Doug Day for his many efforts to service the Illinois Board of Higher Education and wish him well on his new transition.”
Those present warmly applauded Dr. Day.
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