Spring Break
First finalist interviews for vice president position
Weber takes streamline approach to business affairs
Krystal Moya / Administration Editor
Issue date: 2/11/09 Section: News
When asked to create a motto, a single, simple phrase that encompasses William Weber's goals for the vice president of business affairs position, Weber finds himself too full of words.
"I guess - if I would have to make one - it would be, 'I want to learn, I want to teach, and through that I hope I can make Eastern's dream a little bit bigger," he said. "I can't make it any simpler because I have never thought of my candidacy like a campaign."
However, contrary to his overflow of words when describing his goals, Weber said he is taking a very streamlined, efficient approach to running the Office of Business Affairs.
After 21 years at Eastern, eight years in academic affairs - as the associate vice president - and holding the title of director of summer sessions, he is ready to take hold of his "next step," he said.
The professor of economics, among his many titles, is all business when it comes to his goals. His most important project is the development of the Renewable Energy Center, which has been delayed because of budget issues in deferred maintenance.
"I think the steam plant is at the top of my mind when it comes to this position," Weber said. "It is a critical facility to this campus and we cannot take the risk of not starting the project even before a (vice president for business affairs) is chosen."
Weber believes that the efficiency of the plant will allow Eastern's campus to grow and aid a struggling economy that "already has a drastically high unemployment rate."
By providing jobs, energy and revenue on Eastern's campus, Weber maintains that the steam plant should be any candidate's top priority.
Weber, who holds the interim position of budget director, also has plans to streamline the organizational chart of business affairs. After budget problems have left many positions in the office as interim positions, he sees a need to reorganize the office to manage more efficiently.
"We have to go through the office, through the business office, through the employee relations area, and find where these open positions exist," he said. "Then, we need to find out where we have three positions that can be done by two people and let it go."
Other issues that have been drawing attention are also outlined in Weber's goals. He wants to focus on the fiscal year of 2010's budget, an unclear financial picture in Eastern's future. He also wants to explore the Banner Enterprise software system unlocking the "power it is capable of."
Many other issues are prevalent, though, Weber explains, in an office that has the responsibilities over the Budget Office, Business Services, Information Technology Services, Human Resources, Facilities, Planning and Management, Environmental Health and Safety and Records management, just to name a few. However, it all comes down to one idea:
"I am reflecting a lot on the business affairs area and what changes we need to see in that area to achieve President (Bill) Perry's goal of making EIU the best university in the nation at integrating the personal and professional develop of students," he said.
Over the course of tomorrow, Weber has a full schedule of interviews ranging from questions from Perry to open sessions with the entire campus invited.
But, he remains undaunted, never the nervous speaker, and looks forward to "learning more from the constituents about what their perception is in the current office of business affairs."
Weber has open sessions tomorrow for campus and community in Booth Library, Room 4440, from 4 to 4:50 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m. Students, faculty and community members are invited to attend their appropriate sessions.
The other two finalists are followed by his interview.
Patrick Kirby, associate vice president for financial affairs at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas, will be on campus Monday and Tuesday. Donald Chrusciel, Facilities Planning and Management at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa is scheduled for Feb. 23 and 24.
Weber said he has not looked at the other candidates' records.
"But I am aware that I am not the only candidate for the position," he said. "After spending eight years in academic affairs, I am ready to take the next step for something new. If it's not this position, then it will be another."
Krystal Moya can be reached at 581-7942 or at ksmoya@eiu.edu.
"I guess - if I would have to make one - it would be, 'I want to learn, I want to teach, and through that I hope I can make Eastern's dream a little bit bigger," he said. "I can't make it any simpler because I have never thought of my candidacy like a campaign."
However, contrary to his overflow of words when describing his goals, Weber said he is taking a very streamlined, efficient approach to running the Office of Business Affairs.
After 21 years at Eastern, eight years in academic affairs - as the associate vice president - and holding the title of director of summer sessions, he is ready to take hold of his "next step," he said.
The professor of economics, among his many titles, is all business when it comes to his goals. His most important project is the development of the Renewable Energy Center, which has been delayed because of budget issues in deferred maintenance.
"I think the steam plant is at the top of my mind when it comes to this position," Weber said. "It is a critical facility to this campus and we cannot take the risk of not starting the project even before a (vice president for business affairs) is chosen."
Weber believes that the efficiency of the plant will allow Eastern's campus to grow and aid a struggling economy that "already has a drastically high unemployment rate."
By providing jobs, energy and revenue on Eastern's campus, Weber maintains that the steam plant should be any candidate's top priority.
Weber, who holds the interim position of budget director, also has plans to streamline the organizational chart of business affairs. After budget problems have left many positions in the office as interim positions, he sees a need to reorganize the office to manage more efficiently.
"We have to go through the office, through the business office, through the employee relations area, and find where these open positions exist," he said. "Then, we need to find out where we have three positions that can be done by two people and let it go."
Other issues that have been drawing attention are also outlined in Weber's goals. He wants to focus on the fiscal year of 2010's budget, an unclear financial picture in Eastern's future. He also wants to explore the Banner Enterprise software system unlocking the "power it is capable of."
Many other issues are prevalent, though, Weber explains, in an office that has the responsibilities over the Budget Office, Business Services, Information Technology Services, Human Resources, Facilities, Planning and Management, Environmental Health and Safety and Records management, just to name a few. However, it all comes down to one idea:
"I am reflecting a lot on the business affairs area and what changes we need to see in that area to achieve President (Bill) Perry's goal of making EIU the best university in the nation at integrating the personal and professional develop of students," he said.
Over the course of tomorrow, Weber has a full schedule of interviews ranging from questions from Perry to open sessions with the entire campus invited.
But, he remains undaunted, never the nervous speaker, and looks forward to "learning more from the constituents about what their perception is in the current office of business affairs."
Weber has open sessions tomorrow for campus and community in Booth Library, Room 4440, from 4 to 4:50 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m. Students, faculty and community members are invited to attend their appropriate sessions.
The other two finalists are followed by his interview.
Patrick Kirby, associate vice president for financial affairs at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas, will be on campus Monday and Tuesday. Donald Chrusciel, Facilities Planning and Management at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa is scheduled for Feb. 23 and 24.
Weber said he has not looked at the other candidates' records.
"But I am aware that I am not the only candidate for the position," he said. "After spending eight years in academic affairs, I am ready to take the next step for something new. If it's not this position, then it will be another."
Krystal Moya can be reached at 581-7942 or at ksmoya@eiu.edu.
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