The Illinois State University Board of Trustees met July 22 to elect officers.
Here are the meeting's minutes, as provided by the board:
The Board of Trustees operates, controls, and maintains University in accordance with powers and duties now or hereafter vested by law in that board.
MINUTES
Board of Trustees of Illinois State University
July 22, 2016
Donahue: Good morning. Before we start the meeting I would like to turn the meeting over to President Dietz who has an announcement he would like to make.
Dietz: Thank you very much Trustee Donahue and good morning everyone. I have scripted this purposefully because the topic I am going to talk about is a sensitive topic. As all of you have probably read or heard a terrible incident occurred on our campus this week when a participant in our Preview Orientation Program was a victim of a viscous act of criminal violence. The alleged assailant was also a Preview participant and worse yet, a parent of the assailant was allegedly criminally involved in events that precipitated the incident. Preview is an acclaimed and award winning program that for 50 years has prepared students and their families for Illinois State University. Never in those five decades has a situation like this occurred. While the circumstance leaves us troubled and angry and offended on so many levels, we can find some closure in the facts that the victim courageously reported this incident and reported it quickly and the ISU Police Department investigated the crime and made an arrest very quickly. As further details emerged through the investigation Illinois State University will continue to serve our students and their families with safety and security at the forefront of our efforts. Indeed we welcome hundreds of students who are here today and their families and we will continue to serve those families and those students in the utmost in our service efforts. With that I will turn the meeting back to you.
Donahue: Thank you President Dietz. At this time Secretary Davis would you please call the roll?
The following members were present:
Trustee Bergman
Trustee Churney
Trustee Davis
Trustee Dobski
Trustee Donahue
Trustee Kinser
Trustee Louderback
Trustee Powers
Absent:
A quorum was declared. Also present for the public session were:
President Larry Dietz
Vice President and Provost Janet Krejci
Vice President for Student Affairs Levester Johnson
Vice President for Finance & Planning Greg Alt
Vice President for University Advancement Pat Vickerman
Board Legal Counsel Jane Denes
Chief of Staff Jay Groves
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Trustees, you have before you today’s meeting agenda. Do I have a motion to approve the agenda? Trustee Louderback so moved and seconded by Trustee Dobski. Motion made, seconded and vote recorded as all members present voting aye.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
You also have before you the Minutes of the May 6, 2016, as well as Special Meeting Minutes of April 2, 2016, and April 30, 2016. May I have a motion and a second to approve those minutes? Trustee Churney so moved and was seconded by Trustee Dobski. Motion made, seconded and vote recorded as all members present voting aye.
RELEASE OF EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES
In accordance with the provisions of the Open Meetings Act, the Illinois State University Board of Trustees is required to periodically review the Minutes of its Executive Sessions to determine the necessity of retaining the confidentiality of those minutes. The Board has received a recommendation from its legal counsel to release the following Minutes.
October 23, 2015 Release all
February 19, 2016 Release all
Copies of these Minutes are in your meeting folders. May I have a motion and second to release as public the above Minutes of the Executive Session held by the Illinois State University Board of Trustees? Trustee Davis so moved and was seconded by Trustee Churney. Motion made, seconded and vote recorded as all members present voting aye.
OATH OF OFFICE
Good morning everyone. It is a great pleasure to welcome our newest member of the Board of Trustees of Illinois State University. Our new student trustee is Ryan Powers. Ryan is from Mundelein, Illinois, and is a senior, majoring in Accounting and Finance. Ryan has previously served in student leadership as Student Body President and President of the SGA Assembly.
And so, as our first order of business today, I would ask Ryan to join me here and receive the oath of office.
Please repeat after me:
I do solemnly swear
that I will uphold the Constitution of the United States
and of the State of Illinois,
and that I will faithfully discharge the duties
of the office of member of the Board of Trustees
of Illinois State University
to the best of my ability.
Congratulations Ryan.
Ryan, we are all looking forward to working with you during the coming year. Would you like to say just a few words?
Powers: I want to first thank the student who elected me into this position. It’s been an honor to serve for the past three years in student leaders positions and I am humbled to serve in one of the highest positions in my senior. I really could not think of a better way to end my college career than in serving this position. I also want to thank my parents for everything they have done since freshman year until now helping me through some tough times and also eventually through some good times. I am looking forward to getting to know the rest of this Board and hopefully working on some good initiatives and I am looking forward to a fantastic year, and let’s go Redbirds!
Donahue: Mom and Dad, can you stand up so we can recognize you as well.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a busy and full agenda for you this morning—but as it is with each first Board meeting of the fiscal year, we begin with the election of officers.
As is written in the Board by-laws—during the first meeting of a new fiscal year the Chairperson and Secretary of the Board will stand for election, and voting will be by secret ballot. I will ask Secretary Davis to proceed with first election.
Davis: Thank you. Are there nominations for the Office of Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Illinois State University?
Churney: Secretary Davis I would like to nominate Trustee Rocky Donahue.
Dobski: I would like to second that.
Davis: If there are no other nominations I will move for nominations to be closed.
Churney: I move to close nominations.
Dobski: I second that motion.
Davis: Rocky Donahue has been nominated as Chair of the Board of Trustees. I will now ask the Trustees to vote by secret ballot. On a sheet of paper from the pad provided, please write the last name of the candidate you wish to vote for, fold the paper and pass them to Board Counsel Jane Denes, who will tabulate the votes and read the result.
Donahue: Secretary Davis, I would like to note for the record that I will abstain from this vote.
Denes: I have counted the ballots and Rocky Donahue has been elected Chair of the Board of Trustees of Illinois State University—congratulations Trustee Donahue.
Davis: Rocky…my congratulations as well. I would like to thank you for your dedication and commitment that you have given to this Board, and to truly being a team player among us.
Donahue: Thank you Secretary Davis—and I want to thank everyone on the Board for your support, encouragement and good advice as I move into my third year as Board Chairperson. I also want to thank President Dietz for his outstanding leadership—not only with me, but with the entire Board of Trustees—we have a great relationship of respect and collaboration—and I am proud we will be moving forward together.
I also thank the President’s staff—those who works closely with the Board—Jay Groves, Jackie Snelling, Dave Bentlin, Julie Barnhill and Jonathan Lackland—as well as the campus community—the faculty, staff, students, alumni, retirees and friends of Illinois State for your continuing engagement with the University and your desire to make this great institution even better—and I am honored to be part of this wonderful University family.
The floor is now open for nominations for Secretary of the Board of Trustees of Illinois State University.
Louderback: I would like to nominate Trustee Anne Davis for Secretary of the Board of Trustees.
Kinser: I second that motion.
If there are no other nominations I will move for nominations to be closed.
Louderback: I move that the nominations be closed.
Kinser: I second that motion.
Anne Davis has been nominated as Secretary of the Illinois State University Board of Trustees. I will now ask the Trustees to vote by secret ballot. On a sheet of paper from the pad provided, please write the last name of the candidate you wish to vote for, fold the paper and pass them to Board Counsel Jane Denes, who will tabulate the votes and read the result.
Davis: Trustee Donahue, I would like to note for the record that I will abstain from this vote.
Denes: I have counted the ballots and Anne Davis has been elected Secretary of the Board of Trustees of Illinois State University—congratulations Trustee Davis.
Donahue: Anne—would you like to say a few words?
Davis: I would like to thank the Board for your vote of confidence as well as the support that you have given me over the past year. I do look forward for continuing with my responsibilities.
Donahue: Thank you. Two other important notes: It is the duty of the Board to select from the University's staff an employee to serve as Treasurer but not as a member. The Treasurer serves in an ex-officio capacity and receives and disburses all monies and reports to the Board of Trustees on the financial status and fiscal affairs of the University. At Illinois State, that person has traditionally been the Vice President of Finance and Planning, and Greg Alt will continue to fill that role.
In addition, it is a duty of the Board Chair to designate a University representative to serve as an ex-officio member of the Municipal Clerks Training Institute committee. The committee serves in an advisory capacity and helps develop curriculum for Municipal Clerks training courses. I have designated University Audit Director Rob Blemler for that task.
CHAIRPERSON’S REMARKS
Finally, I want to thank the Campus Communications Committee for organizing this morning’s discussion hour. Each July, our city leaders attend the discussion hour to give us an update on activities in their cities. The dialogue is just one of many examples that reflect the excellent town and gown relationship in our communities. At this time I would like to recognize Trustee Bergman who I believe has an announcement.
Bergman: This year is the 50th year anniversary of the current higher education system in Illinois. Going back to the early 60’s the legislature realized that the baby boomers were coming on line and getting to be college age. They looked at the university system as it was and realized there was nowhere near the capacity for the number of students that would be coming up. At some point they directed ISU and many of the other normal universities in Illinois to expand their offerings and become more of a full service university. You might not be aware of it, but the vast majority of the public universities in Illinois started as normal teacher schools, but in any event that was fine. But that still didn’t take care of the problem of the number of students coming on board. There was also the situation that if all you had as an option was a university – you either went for a four year degree or you went for nothing. At the time there were some what they called junior colleges, primarily in the Chicago area that were run by high school boards. But the biggest part of the geographic area of Illinois was not covered by a junior college. So 50 years ago this year the legislature passed legislation creating what was at the time a three-tier system. It created 38 community college districts in Illinois that still exist – there are 48 community colleges. Also it envisioned at the time a second tier which would be senior level institutions, which would be basically institutions that were community colleges that would act as feeder schools that would be for juniors and seniors and maybe some masters programs. That was Governor State University and what was then called Sangamon State University. And then the third tier was the university system itself. But anyway the three-tier system was passed by legislature 50 years ago this year – and so much for the history lesion for today.
Donahue: Thank you Trustee Bergman. Before turning the meeting over to President Dietz there is somebody here that I want to recognize and I think that our entire university owes a big thank you to and that is State Representative Dan Brady. Can you please stand up – we want to thank you for your leadership in getting the stop-gap budget. I know you fought hard for the University. I have had the opportunity to go to Springfield once in a while and I can honestly tell you that Dan’s heart is always with Illinois State University. He is consistently trying to do what is right for this University and I thank you for your leadership on those important issues. So, now I will now turn the meeting over to President Dietz for his remarks.
Kinser: Can you introduce the young man who is an intern for Representative Brady?
Brady – This is Michael Wombacher who is interning this summer.
PRESIDENT’S REMARKS
Thank you Trustee Donahue. I want to begin by congratulating both you and Trustee Davis on your re-election to leadership positions on the Board. As we celebrate 20 years of a strong and collegial independent governing board, I know I speak for the entire University community when I say how deeply we value your engagement, your leadership and your appreciation of the shared governance process that is the heart of the Illinois State University experience. Rocky and Anne—you continue to provide integral leadership for that process—so congratulations and thank you.
I also want to congratulate Student Trustee Ryan Powers and welcome him to his first Board meeting. I’ve worked with Ryan for some time already and know he possesses great student leadership qualities and a sincere passion for Illinois State, and I know we will all enjoy his service with the Board.
I want to echo Trustee Donahue’s gratitude to the Campus Communications Committee and our Town of Normal and City of Bloomington leaders for their discussion this morning. Our relationship with the leadership of both entities continues to thrive, and last night was another example as the Town of Normal held its appreciation reception at Illinois State University’s Hancock Stadium Club room. I have lived and worked in many other communities and the relationship here between Illinois State University and the Town of Normal and the City of Bloomington is the best that I have ever experienced.
I want to take a moment to welcome several new members of the Redbird family to their first Board meeting. While his name is Dr. Levester Johnson, he will want you to call him L.J. L.J. joined us as Vice President for Student Affairs on July 5 after a distinguished career at Butler University. I’ve known L.J. for quite some time. We have shared a student affairs background for many, many year and we are thrilled to have his energy, knowledge and experience on the ISU campus, and we all look forward to working with him. L.J., could you please stand so we can welcome you?
I have several other introductions today. Interim dean Al Azinger is with us today. Al is stepping in as the interim dean of the College of Education – Perry Schoon is the new ACE Fellow and will be participating in that program all this year, so Al please stand and be recognized.
We also welcome to ISU our new dean of the College of Business, Dr. Ajay Samant. Ajay is a professor of finance and former Dean at the Coggin College of Business at the University of North Florida. Yes, we lured someone away from Florida, and we’re pleased to have Ajay on campus, Ajay can you please stand?
This morning we also welcome Dr. Judy Neubrander as our new dean of the Mennonite College of Nursing. Judy comes to Illinois State from Western Carolina University, where she served as director of the School of Nursing. Judy, can you please stand and say hello?
Also, I’m pleased to introduce Tammie Keney, our new director of the Office of Disability Concerns. Tamie replaces the retiring Ann Caldwell, and we’re happy to welcome Tammie to the new position—Tammie, can you please stand?
And last, but certainly not least, we say hello to our new Associate Vice President for Administrative Technologies and Chief Technology Officer Charley Edamala. Charley comes to ISU after serving for 20 years in various IT roles at Temple University—Charley, can you please stand?
Today, we also sadly announce a couple of good-byes. Shane McCreery, our director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access will be leaving at the end of next month for a similar position at Kansas University. Shane, we congratulate you on your new position and thank you for service and commitment to Illinois State. Can you please stand for recognition?
Also, as we announced a couple of weeks ago, Dr. Janet Krejci will be leaving ISU at the end of calendar year 2016 to become the next dean of Nursing at Marquette University. We will miss Janet’s intellect, engagement and good humor—but this is an opportunity for her to go home to where the heart is and where the family is.
We won’t say our good-byes just yet Janet, but we congratulate you on this new chapter in your life—and we also thank Dr. Jan Murphy, who is going to lead the Division of Academic Affairs in the interim effective January 1, 2017. So will both of you please stand so we can cheer you on?
Trustees, during last July’s Board meeting, I was pleased to inform you that Illinois State was the only public university in Illinois to be named a “Great College in which to Work for and Teach,” according to a survey by the leading higher education publication in the country, The Chronicle of Higher Education.
This year—it gets better—much better. For the second year in a row Illinois State has been named a "Great College to Work For" by The Chronicle, but this year, the University also earned the distinction as a 2016 Honor Roll institution because of high rankings in multiple categories.
For the second year, the ISU is recognized for excellence in teaching environment, which looks at innovative and high-quality teaching. Other distinctions this year include collaborative governance, confidence in senior leadership, respect and appreciation, tenure clarity and process, and work/life balance.
The "Great College to Work For" report for 2016 is based on a survey of 281 colleges and universities and just 42 of the surveyed institutions earned Honor Roll recognition.
The survey results are based on a two-part assessment process: an institutional audit that captures demographics and workplace policies from each institution, and a survey administered to faculty and staff members by the Chronicle – not by us. The fact that this award comes on the heels of one of the most economically and politically challenging years in our history is true testament to the quality and engagement of our faculty and staff members—so I congratulate the entire ISU community for this recognition.
Turning to budget matters, I think it’s safe to say that almost every week of FY2016 included news headlines about the lack of a state budget, and the budget impasse in Illinois. I can almost guarantee you that we will be spared those kind of headlines—at least for the next several months.
Saying that the Governor and Legislature waited until the 12th hour would be the understatement of the year—but they did finally reach that important second bipartisan compromise. Along with the first stop-gap funding bill passed in late April, Illinois State received just over $59.2 million, plus all of its FY2016 MAP reimbursement.
If you look at the funding from an FY2016 perspective, ISU received about 82 percent of the appropriation the University received from the state in FY2015. That represents about an 18 percent cut—which is more than the 8.6 percent cut the General Assembly originally approved, and was vetoed—but much less than the 31.5 percent reduction that was originally proposed by Governor Rauner. It actually turned out to be very close to the cuts ISU had planned for in the first place—so with our careful spending, targeted cuts, low debt and solid enrollment, we begin FY2017 strong and stable.
One of the reasons I specifically thanked representative Dan Brady in my July 1st letter to the campus community—is that while the “budgeteers” as I called them were working behind the scenes to craft the final stop-gap measure, Representative Brady was working to make sure Illinois State University received an appropriate share of funding—so we are thankful for that—and we are grateful to the scores of faculty, staff, students, alumni and university friends who helped carry our messages of urgency to Springfield. I want to also give a special thanks to the vice presidents, to members of the Cabinet, to the deans, to Jay Groves, Jonathan Lackland and many others, but also especially to Vice President Greg Alt for developing a variety of scenarios that continue to change almost on a daily basis and providing a lot of help to Representative Brady in that process.
The issue now becomes FY2017—there is no budget in place for FY2017, and it doesn’t look as though any real discussions on that will begin until after the general election in November. Therefore, at ISU, we will continue our cost-containment measures—we will add to the more than 100 non-faculty positions that have been eliminated or left vacant through resignation or retirement, we will continue to hold the line on construction and maintenance projects, large equipment purchases and professional travel, and we will continue to spend carefully.
I do not currently foresee a circumstance this fiscal year that would lead to layoffs or furloughs—and we will also provide up front MAP funding for our students with the greatest financial need.
I have said it many times—we are grateful for state investment in public higher education—but this piecemeal approach continues to have a negative impact on Illinois State University, while creating havoc for many of our sister institutions in Illinois. The stop-gap budget has NOT healed them, and they will quickly face the same problems they faced last year. Illinois needs to plan for predictable and stable state participation in its public higher education system, and those conversations should start even before the November election. I am delighted to report they started this week with representatives from public and private institutions, community colleges and the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
Illinois State will begin FY2017 financially stable—and that is following a year in which we achieved our second best private fundraising year in history. Surpassing the $21 million target, the 2016 fiscal year total gift support came in at more than $21.6 million. The totals include Outright Gifts ($7.7M), Gifts-In-Kind ($880,000), Pledge Commitments ($7.9M), Revocable Deferred Gifts ($5M) and Irrevocable Deferred Gifts ($120,000). All of this is made possible thanks to our generous and loyal support from alumni and friends. Congratulations go out to Vice President for University Advancement Pat Vickerman, his staff, and our entire campus for fostering an environment worthy of private gift support.
While we may not be setting another record for freshman enrollment, we do expect to have another excellent freshman class and strong overall enrollment this fall. Right now, enrollment deposits are running neck-and-neck with the last couple of years, and with quality retention numbers, we will once again be over the 20-thousand mark for overall enrollment at ISU.
I know I’ve said it before, but congratulations and thank you to our Enrollment Management, Admissions, Housing, Financial Aid and Preview staffs for a job expertly accomplished during a very challenging recruiting year for higher education in Illinois.
I want to give a special thank you today to Trustees Anne Davis and Ryan Powers for agreeing to serve on the Task Force to Address ISU’s Climate Assessment. The Task Force convened its first meeting yesterday, and Anne, Ryan and I met with the approximately 20 members of the Task Force to provide introductions and talk about goals. The Climate Assessment was completed in April, and for those of you who haven’t yet read it, a PDF file of the Assessment can be found at the Office of the President website.
The Task Force will spend the rest of summer and most of the coming academic year addressing the Assessment’s findings and recommendations. Anne, Ryan, Vice Presidents Krejci and Johnson, and I will serve as the task force’s sponsoring leadership to ensure the group receives the resources and advocacy they need to do their work.
Illinois State student-athletes had a record-breaking semester in the classroom to end the 2015-16 athletic and academic year, as the Redbirds shattered the departmental grade-point average record with a 3.23 mark last spring. The 3.23 GPA topped the old mark of 3.16, set in the fall of 2014.
Redbird female student-athletes posted a 3.45 cumulative GPA, setting another record. The ISU men turned in a 3.02 mark, tying their record set in the fall of 2014. A record 89 student-athletes earned perfect 4.0 GPAs, and 295 total student-athletes were named to the AFNI Honor Roll, with GPAs of 3.0 or higher.
Former Redbird pitcher Brock Stewart made his Major League Baseball debut as the Los Angeles Dodgers' starting pitcher in a game at Milwaukee in late June. He had a strong start and should get more opportunities at the big league level later in the season.
As the Olympics also approach, former ISU distance runner and alum Aisha Praught will represent Jamaica and her alma mater at the Rio 2016 Olympics in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. The latest summertime news came with the announcement of the 2016 ISU Athletics Percy Family Hall of Fame class. Krystle Featherston (diving), Jared Dufault (baseball) and Lori Vogel (softball) will be officially inducted on Oct. 8 as part of Homecoming festivities and Neal MacDonald will join the class as this year’s Campbell “Stretch” Miller Award recipient.
That concludes my initial remarks. I would now like to call to the podium Amanda Smith from the Campus Communications Committee.
CAMPUS COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
Good morning. The Campus Communications Committee would like to thank the representatives from the Town of Normal and City of Bloomington for their presentation at this morning’s coffee hour. We continue to appreciate the ever-expanding town and gown efforts, as well as achieving such a high ranking in the American Institute for Economic Research’s best places to work and live, in order to recruit and retain quality students, faculty, and staff for the University.
We would like to extend a warm welcome to our newest member of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Ryan Powers. As well as congratulate Rocky Donahue and Anne Davis on their reelections as Chair and Secretary.
We are also excited to see new leadership in many important roles across campus. Welcome to the new Vice President for Student Affairs Levester Johnson, Mennonite College of Nursing Dean Judy Neubrander, College of Business Dean Ajay Samant, and Associate Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Charley Edamala.
While the committee remains troubled that the state legislature has once again entered a fiscal year without a full budget, we do sincerely thank the state-wide push by the public and the media that helped to convince our elected officials to partially fund higher education in Illinois. We also thank the trustees for continuing to demonstrate the need for a full FY2017 budget with state lawmakers, by communicating how the University continues to leave positions un-filled, maintenance projects deferred, and capital projects on hold.
Despite the indecision by the state lawmakers this past fiscal year, our supporters have once again recognized the outstanding work being done by the University faculty, staff, and students. Congratulations to University Advancement and our campus community for proudly telling the Illinois State story, engaging alumni, and securing the second-best fundraising total in history with more than $21.6 million in private gift support. This is an exciting accomplishment that truly is the result of the culture of philanthropy and substantiates the value of the Illinois State experience.
We would like to recognize the achievements of our accomplished faculty beginning with Dr. David Loomis making the news regionally for presenting on wind policy at the Illinois Renewable Energy Conference, hosted by Illinois State, just yesterday. Faculty members are also being recognized nationally, with Dr. Robert Lee appearing on PBS NewsHour regarding Illinois State’s Summer Teacher Education Partnership for Urban Preparation program in the Chicago Public School system.
Illinois State’s national exposure also grows because of University Police Chief Aaron Woodruff, who is attending a 21st Century Policing briefing today at the White House. Chief Woodruff was chosen—along with law enforcement officials from across the nation—to learn more about policing best practices.
Academically, our programs continue to be recognized as some of the best in the world. The actuarial program was recently bestowed the honor of the 2016 Casualty Actuarial Society University Award. Illinois State is only one of four institutions in the world to receive this award, an amazing achievement for all faculty and staff in the program.
We were also again named a Top Sales University by the Sales Education Foundation—one of only 125 schools in the world to earn that recognition.
Redbird student-athletes elevated our standings in the Missouri Valley Conference once again by bringing home the third place MVC All-Sport trophy. We would like to congratulate all the athletes of the 2015-16 season for their success, and we’re excited for the start of fall sports.
We’d also like to acknowledge our summer freshman orientation program, Preview, which wrapped up its 50th year just yesterday. We appreciate all the work University College and the University community put into welcoming another sizable freshman class to Illinois State.
We are delighted that Illinois State remains strong and steady going into a new academic year and look forward to further achievements by our students, faculty, and staff.
Dietz: Thank you Amanda.
Now, I would like to call to the podium, Jonathan Lackland for a legislative update.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Lackland: Good morning. On June 30 the Governor enacted Public Act 99:524, which offered about a billion dollars to higher education, which also included $151 million dollars for the Monetary Award Program. Specifically for ISU, that offered $38, 291,000 and that was actually a result of the June stop-gap budget. When you combine the April stop-gap at roughly $20.9 million, that brought ISUs total amount to $59.2 million. Also I would like to add there was a budget implementation bill that offered authority to the Illinois Board of Higher Education to provide roughly $20 million for emergency assistance for essential operational support for public universities and community colleges. Our hope is when the legislature returns for veto session in November and December, that there will be further discussion or at least additional appropriation for public universities and community colleges in this state.
I would also like to answer my thanks as well for Representative Brady, President Dietz, Board of Trustees, the Cabinet, but also faculty and staff. I can tell you that we would not have made it through if we hadn’t worked together, and just from my role, I just want to say thank you. That actually concludes my report and I am open for questions.
Donahue: There was an article in a local paper last week about a bill the Governor signed about allowing alcohol sales at university events. Do you have background on what that means and what we may have to do or not do?
Lackland: It is my understanding there won’t be any additional impact on ISU. That bill actually manifested as a result of Southern Illinois University who wanted the authority on their respective campus and they wanted to make it state-wide, if you will. As we went through that process on that bill, there seemed to be no additional on ISU or the way we operate.
Dietz: Thank you Jonathan.
REPORTS
I have one report for you this morning. With your approval Trustee Donahue I will move to the report.
Report 2016.07/1100.01: Educating Illinois Progress Report
Among your materials today is an update of Educating Illinois 2013-2018: Individualized Attention, Shared Aspirations. Today’s report highlights the University’s progress in the implementation of our strategic plan.
While it’s not an exhaustive list, the report provides an overview of initiatives from the third year of the plan’s implementation—our positive gains—and a look to the coming years. Highlights from 2015-2016 are as follows:
Earned full reaccreditation from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Increased the graduation rate to a historic high of 73.4 percent—in the top 10 percent of all colleges nationally
Received high ranking in numerous national publications,
Developed many partnerships relating to teaching, research and public service
And, modernized technology through further development of the new student information system, mobile technologies, and expansion of wireless availability
As we look forward, we expect to:
Continue development of the Center for Civic Engagement
Continue the expansion of activities to enhance the globalization of the University
Strengthen our commitment to inclusion in response to findings in the Campus Climate Assessment
And, increase the culture of philanthropy throughout the University community
I want to thank members of the Educating Illinois Steering Team, including Deb Smitley, Angela Engel, Brian Beam, Sam Catanzaro and Cheryl Fogler for all of their great work.
ACTION ITEMS
There are 11 resolutions this morning. With your approval, Trustee Donahue, I will move to them now.
Resolution 2016.07/12: Approval of Academic Plan 2016-2021
The Academic Plan, 2016-2021, was included in your Board materials. It includes three sections—Institutional Priorities, Academic Programs and Priorities, and Academic Program Reviews. This plan was submitted to the Academic Senate on May 4 of this year, and is now submitted for Trustee approval. I ask your approval of this resolution and I want to thank all of those involved in preparing this plan.
Donahue: Is there a motion to approve? Trustee Davis so moved and was seconded by Trustee Kinser.
Kinser: I wanted to reflect the acknowledgement of how much work and how really great this full report looks.
Bergman: I didn’t have a chance to read this word for word, but I did have a chance to skim it and try to get the high points and I echo what Betty said. A whole lot of work has been put into this and you are not going to achieve something without planning for it. We have a good plan here.
Donahue: Motion made, seconded and vote recorded as all members present voting aye.
Resolution 2016.07/13: Town of Normal Fire Services Agreement
Although Illinois State University has its own police department, fire services are contracted though the Town of Normal. The FY2017 contract for fire protection services is at a cost not to exceed $558,955. That represents roughly a 1.7 percent increase in those services and I ask your approval of this resolution.
Donahue: Is there a motion to approve? Trustee Louderback so moved and was seconded by Trustee Dobski.
Kinser: What impact will the new Normal fire station have on this resolution and cost?
Alt: Trustee Kinser, I think you question is related to the new relocation of their headquarters on the land south of here?
Kinser: Yes.
Alt: This will not have any impact because they only up this each year by the municipal index. It will help though in responsiveness. Approximately 50% of the calls they respond to from that site are for ISU students. So, if anything it will increase the response rate, but won’t change the agreement or the amount that we pay.
Donahue: Motion made, seconded and vote recorded as all members present voting aye.
Resolution 2016.07/14: Foundation Support Agreement
As you know, The Illinois State University Foundation is the private organization whose purpose is to solicit, secure and manage private gifts to the University. The Illinois Legislative Audit Commission authorizes the University to contract with the Foundation to provide services, and this Board signed a memorandum of understanding with the Foundation in 2008, which outlines the relationship and responsibilities for both the University and foundation.
This resolution asks for authorization to contract with the Foundation for development and fund raising services for FY2017 for annual cash and in-kind consideration not to exceed $2,518,000. I ask your approval of this resolution.
Donahue: Is there a motion to approve? Trustee Dobski so moved and was seconded by Trustee Churney. Motion made, seconded and vote recorded as all members present voting aye.
Resolution 2016.07/15: Milner Library Renovation
In December of 2013, the Board of Trustees authorized the University to issue Certificates of Participation to finance capital improvements of academic facilities, including Milner Library. The University issued those certificated in 2014, making available $5 million for the improvements.
Improvements made so far include upgrades at the University Farm, the Culinary Arts Laboratory, Honors and other areas. This resolution requests authority to use the remaining $3.48 million to improve Milner Library—including replacing the Plaza deck roof, repairing interior first floor areas damaged by water, repairing the exterior brick façade and remodeling bathrooms. This is a time sensitive project—and again, this does not represent issuing new debt, but using the remainder of the Certificates of Deposit issued in 2014. I ask your approval of this resolution.
Donahue: Is there a motion to approve? Trustee Davis so moved and was seconded by Trustee Louderback. Again, I would like to repeat, we are not issuing any new debt. Is it a fair statement that it can only be used on this project?
Alt: It is a fair statement within academic facilities and this was one of those projects identified. We had several projects in that initial identification of projects and we saved some money from those and reallocated to this and this is permitted. You are exactly right – there is nothing beyond that we can use the debt for.
Donahue: And if we didn’t do the project we would still have to pay the money back – so that is the time sensitivity?
Alt: Yes, tax-free debt so there is a five-year clock that we have to have expended the money. So we issued this in the spring 2014, so we have three years remaining to get those proceeds spent.
Bergman: I am familiar with the situation over there, the leakage on the first floor and I know we have tried to fix that before several times. When this project is done if I look at the Library from this building, what am I going to be seeing?
Alt: The current tent, the roof overhead will be removed. That was a solution that was put into place probably over 10 years ago to try to channel he water away but it didn’t really solve the problem. So this solution will take that roof away, it will completely replace the existing concrete down to the structural level and what you will see is an open plaza – the way it was before the roof was put in place.
Davis: When the repair work is done the print material that I believe is being stored at the warehouse now, will it be returned to Milner?
Alt: I don’t know that there has been a determination on that yet. I know they are going to recover the space downstairs that is still being used but to some extent it is just moist and causing problems. But as far as those materials that have been released I don’t know if dean Ward is here?
Ward: That is a great question. The collections at Milner Library are continuing to be reviewed. The basement of Milner Library has about 400,000 books in storage just in the basement. There are about 140,000 volumes at what is called the north storage facility. Most of those books in both locations are not well used. The librarians in consultation with the faculty are currently reviewing the collections in the basement to make this entire work smoothly. Our goal is eventually to have all the materials in one place – it may take some time. The materials in north storage were removed from Williams Hall, so that has been quite a while ago – probably 16-17 years ago now. Hopefully eventually we will reunite our entire collection.
Davis: So for the most part the materials that are being stored outside of Milner, they are not used very much?
Ward: Yes, they are not well used. The entire context of libraries in this state has changed a whole lot in the last 10-15 years. Within a day or two faculty, staff and students can request books from a collection of 20-30 million volumes around the state and they can be retrieved within a day to two thru a joint catalog. So it’s an entirely different context. I often talk about the library that we should be thinking about is not Milner Library itself, but really the entire state of academic libraries where everything is readily available.
Davis: Thank you.
Louderback: What about the access to the library during construction?
Alt: I will ask David Gill of Facilities Planning to address that specific question.
Gill: One of the things that we have to do if we are going to do this project is we have to clear enough space so that the contractor can do the work. We have started some discussions with the library – we haven’t yet selected a methodology for how we will do that. But once we remove that roof that first floor will be exposed to the elements so we need to protect those books. So we are looking for a method to store those materials temporarily during construction.
Louderback: Physically walking into the library while construction.
Gill: There is going to be some construction barriers during the construction process so some of the access will be limited depending on how we phase the construction. I can’t tell you exactly how that is going to work but we will maintain access to Milner, it’s just may be more circuitous than it is today.
Donahue: I have one last question. With the recent downgrades of the state of Illinois and to the University, does it impact the interest rate on this at all?
Alt: Not on the money that we did borrow in 2014. But we did have a downgrade so when we issue debt again it would be more expensive.
Louderback: Of the downgrade what percentage does that make difference on a bond?
Alt: It’s hard to quantify, but I would say it is not a huge amount since its just one step of the downgrade and we still have a very high credit rating – second highest of all public universities in the state – but over time it would be in the hundreds of thousands I would say.
Donahue: Motion made, seconded and vote recorded as all members present voting aye.
Resolution 2016.07/16: Beverage Contract Agreement
Apparently things go better with Coke—at least for ISU’s Campus Dining Services. The Coca-Cola Company responded to a University request for proposals with the most favorable proposal for a five-year beverage contract with an option for an additional five years. The cost is expected at $1.2 million for the first five years and $2.6 million over the entire ten-year period, with the funds coming from Campus Dining. I have been assured this is not a knock-off Coca-Cola product—it’s the real thing. I ask your approval of this resolution.
Donahue: Is there a motion to approve? Trustee Churney so moved and was seconded by Trustee Louderback. Motion made, seconded and vote recorded as all members present voting aye.
Resolution 2016.07/17 Authorization for Sports Supply Contract with Primary Vendor
Since 2006, our Athletics Department has purchased footwear, equipment, apparel and uniforms in a contract with Nike, the company which continues to be the industry leader in sports equipment as it relates to brand identity.
Our procurement process indicates Nike will continue to be the best primary vendor, so today we ask your permission to execute a three-year contract with Nike at a cost not to exceed $1,050,000, with the funds coming from Athletics Department Operating Revenue. I ask your approval of this resolution.
Donahue: Is there a motion to approve? Trustee Davis so moved and was seconded by Trustee Louderback. Is Nike our current vendor?
Dietz: Yes.
Louderback: So this includes all the endorsements they get off of us too, or if we win the Midwestern conference do we then get a better deal from them?
Dietz: No, the contract is the contract.
Donahue: My question I guess is because I think I have other apparel that is Illinois State non-Nike apparel – does that mean it is not officially licensed apparel?
Lyons: The apparel you buy in the retail market can come from any vendor and we encourage anybody to buy licensed Redbird apparel – we don’t care what that is. For our contract our student athletes will wear Nike apparel to compete in, practice in and travel in.
Dietz: The only way we could guarantee the authenticity of your Nike apparel is if you become a student athlete.
Bergman: When Shane was here I remember him making a statement a number of years ago that we would sign an agreement to be a “Nike” school and because of that we were going to get a certain credit against purchases or a discount or something like that where it was in our financial benefit. Is that still the case?
Lyons: Yes. Essentially we are renewing that agreement where our cost is essentially wholesale as opposed to a retail cost. For the mid-major schools like Illinois State that is pretty typical – that you receive that cost break. So it’s a good price break. It’s a very good deal for us to continue this contract.
Dietz: I might mention that it really is in a price-break kind of mode though in that our procurement rules really prohibit upfront bonuses and those kinds of things. Those used to be part of a lot of contracts but aren’t anymore.
Donahue: Motion made, seconded and vote recorded as all members present voting aye.
Resolution 2016.07/18: Marian Kneer Softball Stadium Team Dugout Replacement
The Marian Kneer Softball Stadium dugout renovations are part of a larger long-term renovation plan for the stadium, but the dugout portion needs to be started now to comply with NCAA safety mandates that begin in the fall of 2017. The safety mandates include netting to be installed on the field side of the dugouts. The renovation will lower and expand the existing dugouts and add the safety netting. The project cost is about $650,000, which is why it requires Board approval, but all of the funds are from private contributions, and none of the funds are from tuition, fees or taxpayer sources. I ask your approval of this resolution.
Donahue: Is there a motion to approve? Trustee Dobski so moved and was seconded by Trustee Churney. Will this renovation improve the sit lines viewing for the spectators, because I have gone to a couple of the softball games and quite honestly you can only see 2/3 of the field at best.
Lyons: This will help improve that marginally. With this project it will be a true dugout – it will go several feet into the ground. The second phase will be as fundraising permits to rework the bleachers around those existing dugouts to improve all the site lines at that point.
Donahue: Motion made, seconded and vote recorded as all members present voting aye.
Resolution 2016.07.19: Authorization to Name Plaza
This resolution is the result of the vision and initiative of our student leaders—specifically Student Trustee Ryan Powers and Student Government Association Vice President Patrick Kelly. Both gentlemen worked closely with staff and administration to establish an iconic location for all members of the Redbird family to gather in celebration and support. The proposed location for Redbird Plaza is the former site of Rambo House and its surrounding green space.
Funding to develop this space will come from a variety of sources, and will include a likeness of Reggie Redbird as well as other amenities that speak to the pride and community of the Redbird family.
Ryan is seated with us and Patrick is in the audience—and before I ask Board approval for this naming resolution I’d like both of them to stand to receive recognition for their terrific work. And Patrick’s parents are here and would you please stand and be recognized?
Thank you, and Trustees, I ask your approval to name this space Redbird Plaza.
Donahue: Is there a motion? Trustee Powers so moved and was seconded by Trustee Louderback.
Powers: When Patrick first brought me this idea, I thought there is absolutely no way we will be able to convince the University to put a statue on the Quad or the surrounding are. But to my surprise, as always, the administration opened its arms up and was thrilled about the idea and we got the ball rolling and I am pleased to see within one year we are going to see this project to light and leave our mark on this campus. So thank you very much to the administration.
Louderback: I would just like to say that a Cary Grove graduate from where I live and my daughters go to high school – this bothers the dean of the College so point of personal privilege – we have the best.
Donahue: Motion made, seconded and vote recorded as all members present voting aye.
Resolution 2016/07.20: Athletics Insurance Renewal
This resolution seeks to renew insurance coverage for the ISU Athletics Department with Aetna, which emerged as the best option through a 2008 competitive procurement process. The cost for the 2016-2017 policy year is not to exceed $581,735, which represents a 14.1 percent increase over the previous year, due to significant increases in claims paid in 2015. I ask your approval for this resolution.
Donahue: Is there a motion to approve? Trustee Louderback so moved, and was seconded by Trustee Powers. My question is 14.1% and I understand the reason is claims, but what would be a typical increase or typical year – it seems high, but maybe not.
Lyons: It was high because they rate it on a two-year average and it’s the fiscal year claims of 2014 and 2015. Fiscal 2015 was the highest year we have had under this particular policy in terms of claims experience. So we are seeing the premium go up. What you haven’t seen for the last three or four years we have not been in front of you because the premiums have been below the $500,000 level and we have had pretty decent experience. We have had three bad years out of the nine that we are in right now and unfortunately the most recent 2015 was the most difficult year. Reasons for that we are seeing more underinsured student athletes or if you have a significant number of expensive claims it tends to build up.
Churney: It says a retrospective premium and in my world that means it could go up or down, so it could based on claims be even be higher – is there a cap?
Lyons: There is no cap. It can go up or down and we have had years where it went down three or four years. We will go out into the marketplace next year because the year you are approving is the tenth year of the contract so we will be out and see if there is a new vendor and new pricing out there.
Donahue: Motion made, seconded and vote recorded as all members present voting aye.
Resolution 2016.07/21: Approval 2017 Board Meeting Calendar
In order to provide adequate notice of future meetings in accordance with the Open Meetings Act, we ask the Board of Trustees of Illinois State University to hereby determine the dates of meetings in the year 2017 and provide public notice of the dates of those meeting.
Those dates in 2017 are February 17, May 12, July 21, October 20, and November 1, 2 and 3. I ask your approval of this resolution.
Donahue: Is there a motion to approve? Trustee Dobski so moved and was seconded by Trustee Churney. Motion made, seconded and vote recorded as all members voting aye.
Resolution 2016.07/22: Board of Trustee 20th Anniversary Resolution
Trustees, this resolution is offered to you as we continue the celebration of the 20th anniversary of our independent governing board. I have only been in this role just starting my third year so I clearly haven’t been around for all of those 20 years, but I just want to say how proud I am to work with a Board who is so passionate about this institution. With alums as members of this Board it puts us in a very different position that a lot of other universities in the state are in. So I want to say congratulations and thanks again for all your hard work. As everyone knows, Trustees serve, and have always served without compensation—but we want you to know how much we value the tremendous amount of time that you invest in the governance of Illinois State University.
Therefore, to recognize the benefit of your continued involvement with Illinois State once your terms are over, this resolution serves as an invitation to attend any program, or cultural or athletic event sponsored by Illinois State, and to participate in Homecoming, Commencement and Founders Day. I ask your approval of this resolution.
Donahue: Is there a motion to approve? Trustee Louderback so moved and was seconded by Trustee Bergman. It is my understanding there is a person in the room who has supposedly been at every Board meeting for 20 years – Mr. Groves would you know who that gentlemen or lady may be??
Groves – I have no comment.
Donahue: Motion made, seconded and vote recorded as all members present voting aye.
Dietz: Trustee Donahue, that concludes today’s business.
Donahue: Thank you President Dietz. In addition to public comments made at each quarterly meeting by the Campus Communications Committee, the Board of Trustees also invites public comment from members of the University community and greater local communities.
The process for making public comment can be found through a direct link from the Illinois State University Board of Trustees Website, which is linked to the Illinois State Homepage at www.IllinoisState.edu. There were no requests for public comment for this quarterly meeting.
I would now entertain a motion to move into Executive Session for the purpose of considering the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees pursuant to 5ILCS, Section 120/2 (c)(1); collective negotiating matters between the University and its employees, 5ILCS, Section 120/2 (c)(2); litigation which has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, as allowed in 5ILCS, Section 120/2 (c)(11); and the purchase or lease of real property as allowed in 5ILCS, Section 120/2 (c)(5). Is there a motion? Trustee Louderback so moved and was seconded by Trustee Davis. Motion made, seconded and vote recorded as all members present voting aye.
We will now move into Executive Session. At the close of Executive Session, the Board will reconvene in public session to discuss facilities. A meeting of the audit committee will follow. Thank you.
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