The University of Illinois System has launched a three-year, $60 million initiative to recruit top faculty to its universities in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield.
University President Tim Killeen announced the effort Thursday, the News-Gazette reports. Killeen says the objective is to bring in tenured, high-achieving faculty in a broad range of academic disciplines.
The plan is dubbed the President's Distinguished Faculty Recruitment Program.
Under the program, $10 million would be committed from the university system to recruitment efforts each year, matched by each of the three campuses.
The goal is to hire 10 to 15 new faculty members each year, or 45 over three years.
The university has become a popular recruiting ground for colleges hoping to hire top faculty amid pension uncertainties, a state budget crisis and minimal raises.