It’s days like Saturday — when thousands of tassels will be turned before beaming family members at Memorial Stadium — that Illinois’ outgoing chancellor will miss the most.
After eight years, seven months and 21 days on the job, there are “so many” proud moments that come to mind, “and so many people to credit with those successes,” says the campus’ first African American chancellor. But for Robert Jones, the one that tops them “has to be the 116,211 undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees we’ve awarded to Illinois students since September 2016 — that’s a generation of inspiring, innovative students who make an impact on our state and the world every day.”
Before the university’s 10th chancellor heads to Seattle for his next Big Ten post — president of the University of Washington — Jones has been booked for one last speaking gig.
Ahead of his commencement address to the Class of 2025, Editor Jeff D’Alessio asked Jones what he’d say to departing seniors, incoming freshmen and those interested in his take on a number of higher ed issues.
To the UI Class of 2025, I say … you found success, together, while confronting immense challenges, and your Illinois journey doesn’t end at graduation. Our shared experiences will bond each of us to the Illinois family for a lifetime.
To the thousands of future Illini who’ve received acceptance letters for the fall of 2025 … congratulations. You are holding a ticket to one of the most profound experiences you could ever have at one of the greatest public universities on Earth.
To those who say college has become unaffordable … I share your concern, and I have spent the majority of my career trying to develop approaches and strategies that address this question.
Since I’ve been at Illinois, we have more than doubled the investment of our own institutional funds to need-based financial aid programs that serve our students with high need. More than half of our Illinois resident students pay less than $3,000 per semester, and more than half of our undergraduates will leave with no debt.
To those who say diversity, equity and inclusion shouldn’t be a part of what we do … it’s more important than ever for us to explore what those words really mean. In an educational context, they mean that a person’s opportunity to achieve a college education should not be dictated by factors like their ZIP code or the color of their skin.
To those who worry about the future of higher education at universities like Illinois due to federal funding cuts … I hope you’ll join us in amplifying stories about our positive impact on your lives and families.
To those who aren’t convinced university research should be reliant on federal grants … public research addresses societal needs that benefit everyone, like health, national security and our social and economic well-being.
Public funding for research has also been shown to have a positive return on investment — local businesses in Champaign-Urbana, for example, employ more people and benefit every day because of Illinois’ research spending.
To those who fear that college sports is headed down a path where student-athletes are less amateurs and more highly-paid employees … this is a historic moment for college sports, and I have full confidence in our Division of Intercollegiate Athletics to continue promoting the development and education of our student-athletes while maintaining the storied tradition of Fighting Illini athletics.
To alumni on the fence about donating to the DIA’s name, image, likeness cause … we appreciate and respect the decision you make, and if you choose to support our student-athletes, we thank you for being an important part of our shared success.
To those who wonder what an education at a Big Ten university will look like 10 years from now … the modalities may evolve. Illinois is offering more online opportunities and professional certificates than ever, and we expect that trajectory to continue.
We have been a leader in developing more collaborative approaches to innovation across disciplines, industries and borders. We may be bigger. We may be bolder. But the core of what we do — learning, discovery, innovation and public engagement to benefit all — hasn’t changed in 158 years and won’t change in the next 10.
To my successor as chancellor … at first, you can’t realize just how fortunate you are to be a part of this university.
In time, you will.
