U of I Clout Panel Calls for Resignations, More Oversight

A commission investigating the admissions process at the University of Illinois has released its final recommendations for Governor Pat Quinn.

Two trustees have resigned in wake of the scandal, in which politically connected applicants were given preference.

The report recommends that the seven remaining trustees on the U of I board offer their resignations to Gov. Quinn.

Then he could decide who – if any – would stay on.

But the report does not call on the U of I's President or Chancellor to step down.  However, it does recommend a “thorough and expeditious review” of their role in the scandal.

It also recommends the school create a firewall to protect the sanctity of the admissions process, and it calls on the state legislature to name a watchdog for Illinois' public universities.

After the panel voted unanimously on its recommendations Thursday, Commissioner Bernard Judge said, as far as the U of I is concerned, clout is dead.

Shortly after the commission released its report Thursday, the school released a statement saying university leaders will meet next week to begin revamping the school's admissions process. 

It says the school looks forward to working with trustees to "regain the public trust."