The search is on for a new dean of the Honor’s College, and it’s an internal one.

Blair Lord, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said he decided to go with a three-year appointment after considering a one-year interim appointment.

Lord said a national search would have to begin in the fall, and so was not an option for this year.

“I believe that a one-year interim would basically be a placeholder position,” Lord said. “That you haven’t really authorized somebody with the kind of authority to start doing some programmatic initiatives if they only a single year. There are a number of things in that external review (by the National Collegiate Honors Council) that I would like the next honor’s dean to work on, and I think it would be more likely to have a person have some success in that if they have some time.”

The position will be open July 1 when Bonnie Irwin, current dean, moves to her new role as dean of the College of Arts and Humanities.

Irwin is also the president-elect of the national council that reviewed the college last month.

The reviewers noted that Eastern’s program had strong faculty, staff and administrative support, but the college also faced some challenges, Irwin said. The gap between departmental and university honors programs, a lack of upper division courses and a capstone experience and a lack of financial resources for honors faculty are some of the challenges the reviewers mentioned.

The reviewers, Irwin said, did recognize that Illinois’ budget climate made the financial situation a particularly difficult challenge.

Lord said he hoped having a three-year appointment, as opposed to a one-year, would provide the college with some stability.

“We’re entering an uncertain time in the next few years as an institution financially because of our problems with the state,” Lord said. “I thought having a little stability would be advantageous.”

Review of applicants began this week, but interested faculty can send letters of interest and resumes to Karen Johnson until the interview process begins.

Patty Poulter, associate dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, is chair of the search committee. Poulter said they expect to begin interviewing on April 26.

Lord said he hopes to have an appointment made before commencement May 8.

“Because it is an internal search, I believe the timeline can be fairly expeditious,” Lord said.

Sarah Ruholl can be reached at 581-7942 or [email protected].