University of Illinois Restricts Use of Search Firms

University of Illinois trustees have approved a new policy that limits how often the school can hire outside search firms to help fill open jobs.

Trustees voted Wednesday to only allow search firms to help hire a new president or someone for a senior position or coaching job. The practice will also be allowed in several other limited cases.

The new policy was drawn up in response to legislation signed into law by Gov. Pat Quinn calling for such restrictions at public universities.

The university in the past has spent several hundred thousand dollars a year on search firms for any number of positions. In some cases those searches ended when candidates already working at the university were hired.