Longtime CLC employee in line to be interim president

College of Lake County plans to have an interim president while it seeks a replacement for the departing Jerry Weber.

Provost Richard Haney has been recommended to serve in the temporary post and would begin about a month before Weber's resignation is effective June 30.

Haney, an 18-year CLC employee, said he does not plan to be a candidate for the job on a permanent basis.

"I am excited about this opportunity and am looking forward to continuing to work closely with the board on a smooth transition of leadership," Haney said in a statement.

As provost, Haney has been one of CLC's top administrators.

The provost oversees the educational affairs office, duties of which include management of academic divisions and course scheduling.

Weber, who joined Grayslake-based CLC in 2009, is leaving to become president of Bellevue College in suburban Seattle. CLC is expected to seek proposals from firms that specialize in nationwide college presidential searches.

Trustee Matthew Stanton said Weber has done a good job for CLC and it'll be disappointing to see him leave.

"I think the first thing to do is open it up and put out a search," Stanton said, "and do the best that we can to keep the college growing and dynamic and diverse as it's all become."

Haney is to receive a roughly $208,000 base salary in the final leg of a three-year provost contract in the 2017-18 academic season.

He is to enter contract negotiations for the interim president's position before the CLC board is asked to formally approve his appointment at a May 23 meeting.

CLC has campuses in Grayslake, Vernon Hills and Waukegan.