The culmination of several major campus projects, the budget, recruitment and retention of students and off-campus relations were the focus of interim President Lou Hencken during the annual State of the University address, held Tuesday in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

About 200 faculty, students, staff and administrators were on hand for the address, including all four vice presidents and Faculty Senate Chair Bud Fischer, who introduced Hencken.

He reminded the audience of the newly finished baseball stadium, indoor and outdoor track, newly renovated Union bookstore, restrooms in the Student Recreation Center, new Food Court and the newly renovated Booth Library which Hencken called “truly the campus centerpiece.”

“This past year, I worried that we would run out of ribbon because of all the ribbon cuttings that we were having on campus,” Hencken said.

Hencken thanked several groups that were involved in the changes made on campus and applauded their efforts.

The events of Sept. 11 have had a profound impact on the budget at Eastern, and across the state, Hencken said. It is because of the economic downturn the nation took that states and the universities they fund are having to look harder for funding.

Hencken said he will propose a 3.5 percent tuition increase to be added onto the already approved 5 percent tuition increase for next year, which will bring the total increase, if approved by Eastern’s Board of Trustees, to 8.5 percent.

“I have stated many times publicly that a tuition increase should be a last resort,” he said. “If we are to maintain the academic quality of this institution, I believe we have no other choice, no other alternative but to recommend an additional 3.5 percent tuition increase.”

Increasing applications and a high retention rate will also help alleviate budget problems, Hencken said. As of April 1, the university had received 8,414 applications, compared to 6,959 at the same time last year. Hencken said of those received this year, 6,082 have been accepted, compared to 4,586 last year.

“We must all continue working together when we see prospective students to insure that they enroll,” he said.

Eastern’s retention rate between freshman and sophomore years is at 81 percent, which is one of the highest rates at public universities across the country, Hencken said.

Housing applications also are up for the fall, which also should provide additional revenue. Hencken said housing has received almost twice as many applications as they had at this time last year.

“Carman Hall is completely full already for next year,” he said.

Hencken said the university needs to continue working on relations with its alumni and with community colleges.

“We look forward to continuing improving our relationship that we have developed over the years with the (EIU) Foundation, and we congratulate them on the gift they received for their new Welcome Center,” Hencken said.

Relations between the university and government have improved in both Springfield and Washington, Hencken said. Eastern is currently following over 100 bills in this legislative session, he said.

Outreach to community colleges and transfer students is also improving, but not as dramatically. Hencken said the number of applications for incoming freshmen has risen 37.5 percent, while the transfer student application rate has risen only 4.25 percent.

Hencken also urged the university community to work with the new president that will be named in the coming weeks.

“A new president will be announced soon to lead you to even greater heights,” he said. “I would ask that you support this president the way you have supported me this past year.”