After serving a short time as Eastern’s president, Carol Surles was forced to leave the position to pursue treatment for breast cancer, and as a result, the legacy she leaves behind is unfinished and still unsure.

During her tenure of two and a half years, Eastern has enjoyed a boost in image as well as income, fulfilling two of several goals Surles promised to pursue.

But other initiatives, including campus rebuilding and

technology course enhancement, were still in the early stages of completion as she left campus this summer.

In addition, a questionable relationship with union faculty and a discrimination suit filled by a former Eastern vice president may threatened the way Eastern remembers Carol Surles.

Eastern administration officials, as well as Illinois representatives, describe Surles as a person who knew how to navigate the halls of Springfield, interact with the people involved and bring needed funding home.

“I think it was because others saw her as a real person. She was well liked in Springfield,” said interim President Lou Hencken.

In fact, Hencken recalled last year when Surles accompanied Gov. George Ryan a staff of 12 on a trip to South Africa to promote Illinois commerce.

Rep. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, also said Surles had a “good relationship” with Gov. Ryan.

“I think the funding increase and $43 million fine arts center are good evidence of that,” Righter said. “The main thing though, is she would take the time to be in Springfield.”

For fiscal year 2002, Eastern received the highest annual increase in state funding for public universities – 7 percent.

Jill Nilsen, vice president for external relations, took many trips to Springfield with Surles to lobby the legislature and governor for additional funding.

Nilsen said that on those trips, Surles would go further than other university presidents normally would to promote Eastern.

“She had a one-to-one interaction with almost every representative,” Nilsen said. “It is not usual for a university president to do that.”

Rep. Judy Erwin, D-Chicago, chair of the Higher Education Committee, said Surles was very “dynamic and responsive.”

“There was not much more that a representative could ask for. She was great,” Erwin said. “A credit to your university.”

An increase in Eastern’s image came hand-in-hand with the increase in funding, Nilsen said.

“While she was out there promoting Eastern for funding to the legislature and donors, she was also promoting Eastern itself.

“The increases in funding are a sign that our image has also increased.”

Surles’ “personal interaction” approach to promoting Eastern also worked well in the acquisition of private contributions. In her tenure, she oversaw a 240 percent increase in private donations.

Hencken said one of the first donations that comes to his mind is the Tarble family contribution of $2 million for the expansion of the Tarble Arts Center.

The expansion of the art center is one of several campus improvements that Surles oversaw, but will not be able to participate in the completion of.

Funding for the new food court, Doudna Fine Arts Building, Clinical Services Building, Coaches’ Stadium, Old Main landscaping and several campus utility upgrades were also funded during her leadership.

“I think she would have really liked to see the completion

of those projects,” Hencken said.

The integration of technology into Eastern’s education was another initiative of Surles’ that she will not be able to see come to light.

Robert Augustine, graduate school dean, said Surles was “definitely” responsible for Eastern’s planned expansion of online course, degree and certificate offerings.

“She knew technology was going to impact education, and she didn’t want to see Eastern miss out on that,” Augustine said.

He said Surles made the planning possible by “setting aside resources” that were used to fund the creation of online courses and degree programs.

Grants to develop online courses were distributed in the spring with the funds, Augustine said.

The rest of the funds were used to create the Center for Academic Technology Support this summer.

“I think she left feeling positive her initiative will achieve its outcome,” Augustine said.

He expects four degree and certificate programs to be available online by next year.

David Radavich, chapter president of Eastern’s faculty union, the University Professionals of Illinois, said people will remember technology initiatives when they think of Surles.

But, he said they will probably remember the campus improvements more. “I really believe she made a push for the new fine arts center.”

However, Surles’ personal interaction approach, which helped bring Eastern increased funding, fell short at home, Radavich said.

“The contract negotiations we had last year were horrible.”

He said the negotiations and lack of communication caused “tensions” between Eastern’s administration and faculty.

“I’m not sure if that was because of Surles or not. It is hard to be completely sure.”

Radavich said there are two kinds of presidents, “the C.E.O. and the more academic minded.”

“Surles was good at the C.E.O side of it, like increasing funding,” Radavich said. “A lot of faculty here felt that there was too much emphasis on building and decorations and not enough on academics.

“At certain times though, universities have different needs, and we did need an increase in funding.”

In addition to rough contract negotiating, a lawsuit also will follow Surles as she leaves Eastern.

In November of 2000, Teshome Abebe, former vice president for academic affairs and current economics professor, filed a lawsuit against the university and Surles based on alleged sexual, ethnic and racial discrimination.

Surles had previously said in a press release that there was not a “scintilla” of truth to the allegations.

But university officials are unsure whether the issue will affect the image of Surles and the university in the future.

Hencken said the university “will have to wait and see what the results are.”

“I have been with presidents who had lawsuits before, and in most cases, (the presidents) have been victorious.”

Radavich said the affect of the lawsuit is “hard to tell.”

“I really have no idea.”

Following the diagnosis of breast cancer in early September of 2000, Surles underwent surgery on Sept. 18, 2000.

She then took sick leave for further treatment on Dec. 1, 2000 and was scheduled to return Feb. 28; however, her leave was extended until March 26.

She announced her resignation from Eastern’s presidency on July 24 at a special session of the Board of Trustees to pursue a treatment plan for breast cancer.

Surles, 54, was Eastern’s eighth president and Eastern’s African American and first woman president. She served since 1999.

“I’m sorry that her health did not allow her to continue to achieve her goals here at Eastern,” Nilsen. “She was professional in everything she did.

“She had a vision.”