NORMAL—The Board of Regents approved Durward Long’s reassignment to the Regents’ staff, saying the idea for the newly-created position came up as early as last summer.

Regents Chancellor Roderick Groves said Thursday the Regents considered creating the vice chancellor for strategic planning post as early as last summer. Filling such a position with an existing president is commonplace, he added.

Groves said he “would categorically deny” that Long moved to the Chancellor’s Office because Long is holding something over the Regents’ head, calling the idea “preposterous.”

Long, who announced he would step down from the presidency at Sangamon State University at the end of the semester, will assume the job Feb. 1. SSU will continue to pay Long’s salary and support staff expenses, totalling $112,000.

Long and the Regents came under fire when a December press conference announced Long would be given the job upon confirmation a day after the Regents held an executive session meeting. Because the public is excluded from executive session meetings, the Illinois Open Meetings Act prohibits any action to be taken at that time.

Long himself was criticized for his turbulent time at SSU. As president, Long was accused of drinking too much and harassing women. He has tenure.

“Without giving away too much discussed in executive session, all aspects of this were thoroughly discussed,” Groves said of Long’s public perception.

Long was officially approved for the position during the Regents’ meeting at Illinois State University in Normal. The Regents govern NIU, ISU and SSU.

The vote was unanimous. NIU Student Regent James Mertes voted no, but his vote is only token. Regents Clara Fitzpatrick and Carol Burns were absent.

Long will work in Springfield, Groves said. He will be responsible for coordinating the three schools’ efforts in long-range planning, university development and community outreach. “It’s a full plate,” Groves said.