Listen live to Lovie Smith's introductory press conference on WDWS 1400-AM.
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Illinois received a waiver of equal-opportunity rules to fast-track its hire of Lovie Smith, the first African-American head coach for the football program, spokeswoman Robin Kaler said this morning.
UI equal-opportunity and affirmative-action policies, based on federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination, require departments to conduct broad and public searches to ensure a diverse group of candidates.
The "Guidelines and Procedures for Academic Appointments" require four-week searches for tenure-track faculty vacancies and for most senior level academic positions, but allow two- or three-week searches for other appointments.