On Tuesday, Eastern’s top administrators met with the Faculty Senate to discuss plans, explain goals and answer questions concerning the new school year.

Interim President Lou Hencken expressed his desire to receive input from the senate on the various reorganizational changes he has planned. Hencken said he had considered the changes ever since the position of president was first offered to him, and he wanted to ask for the senate’s approval as quickly as possible

Hencken also said he wanted to stay in touch with the campus and meet with as many groups as possible. He did, however, note that the lunch hour suits him well.

“I do my best thinking over lunch,” he said.

While Hencken wants to remain in touch with the campus, Jill Nilsen, vice president for external relations, has other plans for the new president.

“We’re taking him on the road,” she said, highlighting the need for Eastern’s president to enhance relationships with both legislators and donors.

Hencken praised Nilsen and her department for the new promotional guide they produced, entitled “One.”

“I think that you will agree that this is a pretty nice publication,” Hencken said, noting that he saw several other university presidents picking up extra copies at last week’s Illinois Board of Higher Education meeting.

Nilsen echoed Hencken’s remarks.

“We’re very proud of this particular print piece,” Nilsen said, calling it a different and unique publication with great photography that is attracting attention throughout the state.

Jeff Cooley, vice president for business affairs, brought the senate up to speed on the various construction projects on campus. He said the food court, which was slowed up six to eight weeks by asbestos removal, should be completed in January.

Booth Library is expected to be outfitted with furniture in October. The books should arrive in December and the library is expected to open in January.

The landscape work outside Old Main is expected to be completed in October and the bookstore should reopen at its old location in mid-September.

On Sept. 17, the design for the new Doudna Fine Arts Center will be unveiled at the Tarble Arts Center and the architect for the project is expected to attend the ceremony.

“It’s a very exciting design,” Cooley said.

Senate Chair Bud Fischer asked if the completions of the various projects would be causes for celebration on campus, because while the eventual completions of the projects were seen as positives, dealing with the construction has drawn negative responses from the campus.

“Yes, we’re going to have gala events because these are celebrations,” Hencken said. He also said the library staff deserves “real credit” for working through the construction.

In other business, the senate welcomed Les Hyder, journalism department chair, to speak about issues currently being considered by the IBHE. Hyder is a member of the IBHE’s faculty advisory committee.

“I want to speak with your voice,” Hyder said, explaining the importance of communicating the needs and concerns of Eastern’s faculty. He also said the board seems to be in tune with Eastern’s needs.

“I perceive that the IBHE staff, and especially Keith Sanders, are very aware of Eastern’s special needs.”