NIU’s governing body is poised to defend a newly-created job that is slated for a former Regency president whose term was marred with scandal.

Durward Long, former Sangamon State University president, was selected as the Board of Regents vice chancellor for Strategic Planning and Development at the Regents’ December meeting at NIU. Long approached the board for the position. The board governs NIU, SSU in Springfield and Illinois State University in Bloomington.

Long’s position is up for approval at the Regents’ Jan. 23 and 24 meeting at ISU. If approved, Long will assume the position Feb. 1.

“This is considered to be a reassignment of Dr. Long and is also a temporary position,” said Cherly Peck, an assistant to Regents’ Chancellor Roderick Groves.

Long has said he considers the job a promotion.

Long will retain his $84,000 salary, plus $6,000 auto allowance he received from SSU. His pay while at the Regents will still come from SSU and is likely to be discussed at Long’s confirmation.

Peck said the Regents did not conduct a national search for the position because it is a reassignment to a temporary position. She said Long approached the Regents for the job.

Long will serve until June when his term as SSU president would have expired. Then, Peck said, the Regents will consider renewing his contract another year. At the end of that year the Regents will decide if the position should be renewed and will conduct a national search if needed, Peck said.

Strategic planning will be the position’s primary focus. This will include curriculum changes to better serve students and off-campus extensions, she said.

That confirmation will likely be a hotbed of debate for a number of reasons.

One includes the time of the actual decision. The Regents met in executive session to discuss Long’s reassignment. Under the Illinois Open Meetings Act, no decision is allowed in executive session because the public is excluded.

Peck said an outright decision was not made, even though a news conference the following day announced Long’s reassignment.

“The Regents felt there was a very strong possibility there would be misinformation leaking out that would turn into rumors,” Peck said, explaining why the press conference was held. She said the Regents did not make a decision on Long’s reassignment, and therefore did not break the law.

Although the Regents can be questioned for bending or breaking the law, most of the debate is likely to focus on Long’s record at SSU. Allegations flew from different sources that Long sexually harassed students and faculty.

Then-SSU student Joanna Lynn Harner filed sexual assault charges against Long in February 1986. The charges were dismissed in January 1988.

At an August 1989 pig roast, Long allegedly made physical advances at a woman. No charges were filed.

But the biggest blow came in November 1988, when seven of Long’s own faculty members filed charges against him alleging Long was responsible for a “hostile, offensive, intimidating working environment.”

Long’s control problems didn’t end. In 1988, the steely-haired president admitted to a drinking problem. He left for 60 days to dry out.