Eastern managed to meet many of its goals last fiscal year despite a large callback in state funds, said a Results Report that Blair Lord, vice president for academic affairs, delivered to the Board of Trustees Monday.

The university’s highest priorities last academic year were increasing enrollment and continuing to increase faculty salaries at a reasonable level.

Lord told the Board that these goals had been accomplished, as Eastern’s enrollment grew by more than 600 students this fall, exceeding interim President Lou Hencken’s goal of 250 students.

The report states that the faculty salary base grew by nearly $2.5 million, which is an average salary increase of roughly 8.5 percent.

Another high priority for Eastern during the past school year was improving the education program. Eastern graduated 567 new teachers during the 2001-2002 school year. Lord told the Board that Eastern currently has more than 2,500 students “in the pipeline” on their way to becoming certified to teach. In addition, 128 students completed educational administration certification during the same school year, a program that readies graduates for work as a principal or superintendent. These numbers, Lord said, make Eastern one of the state’s top producers of teachers and school administrators.

Expanding Eastern technologically to improve not only access but quality of learning was another objective addressed in the report. Lord said the Center for Academic Technology Support is in its third year of operation and has recently acquired a director in Michael Hoadley, the first assistant vice president for academic affairs for technology.

CATS exists to assist faculty in developing Web-based or technology-enhanced courses.

Eastern also worked to improve minority student enrollment, retention, graduation and academic success. The Gateway Program, which serves minority students, grew from 117 to 148 students. Another goal addressed in the report was college affordability. Lord said Eastern implemented a new program this school year called EIU4, which guarantees incoming freshmen in the program a degree in four years. Lord said Eastern has also secured more prime vendor contracts, which involves contracting for certain supplies with one company, rather than calling for bids.