Eastern Illinois University’s Board of Trustees will meet today to discuss issues surrounding Interim President Lou Hencken’s contract renewal and the operating and capital budget requests for the next fiscal year.

The meeting starts at 8:30 a.m. in the University Ballroom of Eastern’s Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

Hencken may see a contract renewal after several failed attempts to hire a permanent president.

“The school has been negotiating with Lou Hencken to continue on as president after his contract runs out this summer,” said Woodard. “It could be decided at the meeting whether or not his contract will be extended.”

Hencken has served as interim president since the summer of 2001 after then president Carol Surles resigned because of medical circumstances.

In other business, the BOT will discuss the fiscal year 2004 budget and has yet to resolve issues surrounding the fiscal year 2003 budget.

“The 2003 budget isn’t even finalized in the Legislature,” said Vicki Woodard, Office of Media Relations.

This is the first step in proposing what the school would like to get from the Illinois Board of Higher Education. The Illinois Board of Higher Education will make their recommendations to the governor in December 2002.

“The Governor will then make his recommendations to the General Assembly in February. At that time, they could match the request or make changes,” said Woodard.

If the trustees approve the proposals as presented. Eastern will request over $60 million alone in order to take care of the many maintenance needs awaiting attention.

From the $60 million request $28 million would be used to upgrade the utilities infrastructure, including the replacement of all outside underground sewer lines, water lines, storm sewers and steam lines connecting campus buildings.

A second request to be considered involves $7.1 million for the planning of a new science building which would house the department of biological sciences, chemistry, communication disorders, science and psychology.

The new budget is a 13.6 percent increase from last year for the operating budget. The request includes a recommended 6 percent increase for salaries and a 9 percent increase for Social Security payments, and a 15 percent increase for library acquisitions.

Other employment issues to be considered include the the positions of dean, College of Education and Professional Studies, and assistant vice president of technology.