Illinois university president to resign

URBANA, Ill., Sept. 23 (UPI) -- B. Joseph White is resigning as president of the University of Illinois, the school announced Wednesday.

The resignation -- which comes amid allegations that politically connected applicants received favorable treatment in the school's admissions process -- is effective Dec. 31.

The faculty-student senate last week approved a resolution supporting removing White and Richard Herman, chancellor of the Urbana-Champaign campus. Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn said White's resignation will help clear the air over the scandal.

University of Illinois Board of Trustees Chair Christopher G. Kennedy said White's resignation would allow the university to "move forward."

"My colleagues on the Board and I appreciate that your resignation is motivated by serving the University's best interests and is not intended to create any presumption of wrong-doing by you concerning the subjects investigated by the Governor's Admissions Review Commission," Kennedy said in a letter to White, who has led the university since 2005.

White, 62, will remain at the school as a teacher and fundraiser, the university said in a news release.

Former President Stanley Ikenberry said he was approached about serving as interim president, the (Urbana-Champaign, Ill.) News-Gazette reported. Ikenberry said two trustees spoke to him about taking over, but no formal offer was made.