List of presidents of the University of Illinois System

President of the
University of Illinois System
Seal of the University of Illinois
Incumbent
Timothy L. Killeen
since May 18, 2015[1]
AppointerBoard of Trustees
Term lengthNo term limit
Inaugural holderJohn Milton Gregory
FormationMarch 12, 1867
(157 years ago) (1867-03-12)
SalaryUS$851,700 as of August 2022[2]
Websitewww.uillinois.edu/president/

The president of the University of Illinois System, a system of public universities in Illinois, is the chief executive officer and a member of the faculty of each of its colleges, schools, institutes, and divisions.[3] The president is elected by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees and is responsible to them for the operation of the system. The president prepares budgets for presentation to the board, recommends persons to the board for appointment to university positions, and is responsible for the enforcement of the rules and regulations of the universities. On recommendation of each university and by authority of the trustees, the president issues diplomas conferring degrees.[3] Following the establishment of the office in 1867, John Milton Gregory served as the first president, and there have been 20 presidents in total.[4] The current president is Timothy L. Killeen, who has held the position since May 18, 2015.[1]

On March 12, 1867, during the first meeting of the Board of Trustees of Illinois Industrial University, the trustees established the office of the president.[5] The original charter designated the chief executive officer of the university as "Regent" but this title was changed to "President" in 1894 following the end of Thomas Jonathan Burrill's term.[6][7]

Up until 1967, the president also served as the principal administrator of the original Urbana-Champaign campus. In June 1966, at the recommendation of president David D. Henry, the board switched to a chancellorship system of administration.[8] The change established a new administrative office, the "Chancellor of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign", and renamed the two administrators of the Chicago campuses, vice president of the University of Illinois at the Medical Center and vice president of the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle, to chancellor. The two Chicago campuses were later consolidated in 1982 to form the University of Illinois Chicago.[9] The chancellors of each campus are appointed by the board following nomination by the president and perform duties that are assigned by the president.[3]

  1. ^ a b "Killeen 2015–Present". President's Office. University of Illinois System. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  2. ^ Board of Trustees - University of Illinois System: Academic Personnel Supplement 2022-2023 (Report). University of Illinois System. August 22, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Board of Trustees (November 12, 2020). University of Illinois Statutes (PDF) (Report). University of Illinois System. pp. 1–2. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  4. ^ "University of Illinois Presidential History". President's Office. University of Illinois System. Archived from the original on May 12, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  5. ^ Reports of the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois (PDF) (Report). Vol. 1. Baker, Bailhache & Co., Printers. March 12, 1867. pp. 12–18. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  6. ^ Pillsbury, William L., ed. (August 1, 1894). Reports of the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois (PDF) (Report). Vol. 17. Ed. F. Hartmann, State Printer. p. 269. Retrieved December 29, 2020. The following preamble and resolution were adopted: Whereas, Our original charter designated the chief executive officer of the University as the 'regent,' but since that time the duties of that office have been materially changed, and the title of 'president' has come to be recognized in the law and seems more appropriate, and the present time seems opportune for making the change, therefore, be it Resolved, That hereafter the title of the office be that of 'president,' and that the legislature be asked at the next session to confirm this action by a formal enactment.
  7. ^ "Draper 1894-1904". University of Illinois System. Archived from the original on May 12, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  8. ^ Janata, Anthony J., ed. (June 15, 1966). Reports of the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, 1964–66 (PDF) (Report). Vol. 53. University of Illinois Press. pp. 1193–94. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  9. ^ "University of Illinois at Chicago: History". UIC Archives. UIC Library. 2016. Archived from the original on September 17, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.