Saint Xavier University’s President Christine M. Wiseman was appointed by Governor Pat Quinn to the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE). As part of the board, Wiseman will be representing the private institutions of Illinois. She became an active member of the IBHE on August 7,2013.
According to the IBHE website, the Board of Higher Education was created as a way to organize and plan Illinois’s system of universities and colleges.
Founded in 1961 by the Illinois General Assembly and Governor Otto Kerner, the board was meant to consist of individuals who would bring their “expertise, credibility, and statewide perspective,” to help plan a competent and orderly course for the dramatic increase in students pursuing a higher education.
The IBHE consists of 16 members with each of them bringing a different perspective to the committee; President Wiseman will be bringing the private institution perspective. Wiseman remarked on her role in representing Illinois’s private colleges and universities.
“This will be an interesting and important experience for me; it will bring the voice of private higher education to the Illinois Board of Higher Education. It’s also to my understanding that there has not been a sitting president from the private institutions on the board for a long time,” Wiseman said.
Being a part of the Illinois Board of Higher Education certainly comes with a hefty list of responsibilities.
As stated in the IBHE website, a few of the IBHE’s main responsibilities include evaluating the goals, needs, and necessities of the state’s higher education; reorganizing the master plan that guides the development of Illinois’s public and private universities and colleges; and proposing budgets for operations, grants, and capital improvements for higher learning institutions.
Besides commenting on her board duties, Wiseman also commented on what she hopes to bring to the IBHE.
“I will be attentive to not only our educational issues, but all the educational issues that are facing institutions in the state of Illinois,” Wiseman said. “This board really has a policy and planning responsibility. This agency is expected to bring sufficient perspectives to be able to map an orderly course for the growth of education in the state of Illinois.”
Through her position on the IBHE, Wiseman not only hopes to help Illinois’s colleges and universities, but also specifically Saint Xavier University.
“As part of our new strategic plan, we talked about raising the profile and visibility of this institution and this is an opportunity the president needs to take in order to do that. It’s all about Saint Xavier University – it’s really not about me. It is important for private institutions and particularly important for this private institution,” said Wiseman.
According to Wiseman, former State Senator Ed Maloney – who serves on the advisory board of SXU’s School of Education – and Patrick Sheahan – who serves on the university’s board of trustees – suggested that she become a nominee for the IBHE.
After submitting the nomination forms and after a few months of waiting, Wiseman received a letter and a phone call from the governor’s office. She had to complete several forms and even had to be interviewed by an attorney from the governor’s office before being appointed to the board.
Wiseman’s appointment as a sitting president of a private university is not only significant towards the state’s private institutions, but it could even be seen as significant towards SXU’s School of Education.
“It’s quite interesting, but I think that it is also a significant tribute to the Saint Xavier University School of Education, which is the oldest baccalaureate degree granting program in the state. I think it is the culmination of a lot of effort, especially over the last few years. We have a very active faculty and we have a very active administration in the School of Education,” Wiseman said.
Wiseman also commented on the university’s School of Education’s role in influencing her to become a nominee for the IBHE.
“I saw the work that the School of Education was doing with the Board of Higher Education and I thought that by becoming a member of that board, I could also make more visible the important work that they’re doing. So, it all comes together,” said Wiseman.
Having already served on 20 different boards – and now the IBHE – Wiseman reflected on her successful career in higher education thus far.
“It’s been an interesting journey – not one I would have expected. I thought I would go on from the law school to a position in law as a judge, but it wasn’t to be. It’s a great story. I don’t know how often stories like this happen these days.”
Macy Zamudio
Senior Viewpoints Editor