Technically, Beggs is an interim chancellor because he has a set term of two years. However, instead of being an acting chancellor who bides time while a search is conducted for a permanent chancellor, he will have all the authority of that chancellor. He will have the ability to set into motion policies that can address SIUC’s immediate problems. An interim chancellor may not have had the authority to tackle the problems, which would, of course, have prevented addressing them. SIUC will not be left hanging, awaiting a new chancellor to set policy.

SIUC’s enrollment is one of the Problems

Chancellor Beggs will face. SIUC’s freshmen enrollment began to decrease in the spring of 1990. The drop in overall student enrollment has continued to decline since then, causing budget problems and higher tuition and fees. Allowing an interim chancellor without policy authority to serve while a national search is conducted to find a permanent chancellor would have been problematic for SIUC. Matters may have been left unattended. Instead Beggs’ and SIU President Ted Sanders’ ideas for the University can help combat problems the University faces and cannot afford to ignore. The changes will go through the same route of approval as other decisions so representative bodies in the SIUC community can address them. However, that will begin in the fall semester instead of being put on hold until the next chancellor is found through a search committee.

Beggs has the experience to help SIUC move forward and address problems. He co-chaired the campuswide assessment committee which analyzed SIUC’s academic programs to meet the mandate for a national accreditation group. He is aware of the problems and the strengths of the school. His ideas are assisted by the knowledge he has of the institution.

In his own college, the teacher program has consistently received accreditation that only 525 institutions received out of 1,300 with teacher education programs. The program has been a success, despite recent budget cut backs which forced the college to cut courses and enlarge classes.

He also served on the panel of Illinois Goals 2000, a branch of a federal program in which states can apply for the reform of public schools. The group identifies programs in Illinois universities that are intended to elevate student achievement and boost university improvement.

Beggs will not be considered as a candidate for the permanent chancellor position. This way he can concentrate on attending to SIUC’s problems instead of trying to be the permanent chancellor two years from now. This is another step that ensures he will make policy decisions that help the University and not worry about making himself a viable candidate in the chancellor search. Policy changes and new programs need to be implemented as soon as possible along with a quality search for a permanent chancellor with the help of the SIUC community. The appointment of Beggs accomplishes both.