海角社区

EIU Board of Trustees meeting results: Thursday, April 16

(Charleston, IL) – The 海角社区 Board of Trustees held its regular April meeting today, April 16, in the Dvorak Concert Hall of the Doudna Fina Arts Center, located on campus at 600 Lincoln Avenue in Charleston.

Immediately following the 11:30 a.m. Call to Order and Roll Call, the Board entered into executive session. The open session of the meeting began at 1 p.m. The results of the regular April meeting included:

• A welcome and executive summary report from Board Chair C. Christopher Hicks and associated committee reports from representative Trustees.
• Approval of the minutes of the regular January 2026 Board of Trustees meeting.
• The adoption of an Amended and Restated Auxiliary Facilities System (AFS) Bond Resolution, updating the University’s 1985 bond resolution to reflect current auxiliary facility financing and market practices. The action revises provisions, updates auxiliary facilities processes, and modernizes the list of facilities in the system. The resolution also authorizes Board officers to execute all necessary documents to support future issuance of Auxiliary Facilities System Revenue Bonds, if needed.
• Purchase approvals for parking lot maintenance; structural repairs at the MLK Jr. University Union; the renewal of a five-year contract for the University’s current financial underwriters through June 2031; renovations to Thomas Hall; and resale inventory for the expanded Chick-fil-A campus location.
• Contract extensions for head basketball coach Marty Simmons and head soccer coach Dirk Bennett through March 2029 and December 2029, respectively.
• Approval of FY27 tuition adjustments, including a 2.5% per-credit-hour increase for new undergraduate students, a 2.9% increase for continuing non-guaranteed students, and a 2.9% per-credit-hour increase for graduate students, with non-resident graduate rates continuing to be set as a multiple of the resident tuition rate and with State-mandated tuition policies maintained; approval of FY27 housing and dining rate adjustments across residence halls, apartments, and summer housing, with varying adjustments based on housing type, meal plan, and occupancy options.
• Approval to adopt a three-college academic organizational model to enhance departmental collaboration, maximize resources, and enhance operational efficiency.
• Approval of tenure recommendations for 12 assistant professors in various academic areas across campus.
• Approval of the EIU Bookstore to enter into a concessionaire agreement for apparel and other products in its Union retail space. The agreement does not include EIU’s textbook rental program. 
• Approval of the annual election of officers to include the appointment of Julie Everett to board chair, Dr. Bernie Ranchero to vice chair, Joyce Madigan to secretary, and Barb Baurer to member pro tem. 
• Informational items from EIU President Jay Gatrell, including:
  • An update on the IBHE: ESHI (End Student Housing Insecurity) Grant for The EIU Project by Dr. Suzie Park
  • Faculty and Student Senate update from campus constituencies
  • A summary of purchases $100,000 to $249,999 and exempt purchases
  • The Deposits and Investments Performance Report for fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2026
  • Other University highlights

EIU's list of 2026 regular meeting dates is publicly available at eiu.edu/trustees. Agendas, tables of contents and board reports are available in advance of upcoming meetings on the University's website at eiu.edu/trustees/documents.php.