Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs, informed the Council of University Planning and Budget on the summer programs occurring on Eastern’s campus this year at the meeting Friday.

Camps have been hosted on campus since the early 1950s, Nadler said. He added, the purpose for these camps are to provide employment to currents students and staff as well as help develop the young people that camps serve.

About 66 students on average chose Eastern after visiting campus for a camp, adding up to about $5.2 million, Nadler said.

Karla Evans, CUPB chair added these camps also play a large part in recruitment.

“The parents see that campus is safe and feel okay about sending their children here,” Evans said. “A lot (of) times this is the potential students first exposure to campus, and they often remember it because they came here for a camp.”

Nadler said over each summer more than 50 different camps are held on campus including band camps, sports camps and girls and boys Illinois High School Association state track finals.

He said Eastern’s mission in hosting these camps is to create a welcoming environment, educate the students and advance them socially, physically and intellectually.

Nadler said other benefits of the camp include a boost for the local economy because of the increase in visitors during those times.

Mark Hudson, director of housing and dining, said contrary to the misconception, this program is not designed to bring revenue into the university, but to simply help it break even.

During the meeting, President Bill Perry also informed CUPB the progress of outcomes-based funding for the university, which he feels may harm other institutions, but could have a positive effect on Eastern.

This outcomes-based funding involves appropriating state monies based on how the school performs at certain criteria, including retention rates, graduation and academics.

In 2008, Eastern had the highest student retention rate and the second highest graduate rate among the six institutions that same year. Despite this figure, the university only received $4,566 per full-time-student from the state – the lowest of state funding among the six four-year public master’s institutions. Recently, Perry testified on behalf of Eastern and other state universities to be partially funded based upon performance in front of the Senate Appropriations II Committee on March 9.

During his report, Perry also stressed his desire to “put all fears to rest” and despite Illinois financial struggles, “no university employees will be laid-off.”

Other topics discussed at the meeting were the faculty’s kickoff for the campaign for Eastern and a report on the progress of Strategic Planning committee.

The council’s next meeting will take place on Friday April 15 at 3 p.m. in the 1895 Room in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union. Samantha McDaniel also contributed to this story.

Amy Wywialowski can be reached at 581-7943 or [email protected].