By AP/KWMU
Carbondale, Ill. – Former Illinois Congressman Glenn Poshard assumed the presidency of Southern Illinois University on Sunday.
He says one main goal is to keep education affordable, despite pressure to raise tuition. State funding has been flat for years, which has forced universities and colleges to make up extra costs locally.
SIUs Carbondale campus also faces a possible lawsuit by the Justice Department if it doesn't halt three fellowships the government considers discriminatory.
And Poshard also hopes to stave off any future calls from lawmakers to spin the system's Edwardsville campus off into its own, independent school.
SIU is a 35,000-student, two-campus university system. Poshard says he's ready and expects to soon lobby for more money from Springfield and and maintain the university's focus on diversity.
Poshard is also a three-time alumnus of SIU, as well as a former adjunct professor, vice chancellor, and president of the SIU Board of Trustees.
He replaces James Walker, who had previously announced his retirement and who had been on medical leave.