The EIU board of trustees approved a proposal removing out-of-state tuition charges for US residents, raised tuition and room and board and approved several new majors in its meeting Friday.
This proposal asked for new undergraduate students attending Eastern in fall 2024 who are a legal permanent resident within the United States to receive in-state tuition regardless of state.
This means only international students would be paying out-of-state tuition– 1.25 times the in-state tuition rate.
In-state tuition for incoming undergraduate students increased by $8.25 to $338.35 per credit hour. This change does not affect currently enrolled students.
The board unanimously voted to increase the housing and dining costs in all five dining plans:
– Seven Meal Plan Option: $250 increase to a cost of $5,260 per semester (Rm $3,682/Bd $1,578),
– Ten Meal Plan Option: $261 increase to a cost of $5,494 per semester (Rm $3,682/Bd $1,812),
– Twelve Meal Plan Option: $271 increase to a cost of $5,702 per semester (Rm $3,682/Bd $2,020),
– Fifteen Meal Plan Option: $282 increase to a cost of $5,931 per semester (Rm $3,682/Bd $2,249),
– Unlimited Meal Plan Option: $298 increase to a cost of $6,260 per semester (Rm $3,682/Bd $2,578),
There will now be a $50 increase to the cost of a double room as a single per semester. The new total is $950.
There is also a $25 increase to the cost of a deluxe double per semester, as the new total is $475, and there is a $25 increase to the cost of a triple as a double in Lawson Hall and Andrews Hall. The new total is $725.
University Court apartments will have an estimated 1.4% increase in cost per student and per semester based on double occupancy starting on Aug. 1, 2024:
– Two Bedroom, One Bath, No Balcony: $39 increase to a total of $2,835,
– Two Bedroom, One Bath, Balcony: $42 increase to a total of $3,007,
– Two Bedroom, One 1/2 Bath, No Balcony: $42 increase to a total of $3,051,
– Two Bedroom, One 1/2 Bath, Balcony: $44 increase to a total of $3,160,
– One Bedroom, One Bath, No Balcony: $45 increase to a total of $3,276,
– Studio: $37 increase to a total of $2,685,
– Three Bedroom, One Bath: $50 increase to a total of $3,592.
The board of trustees also unanimously voted on purchase approvals throughout the campus.
Because Eastern athletics has made a switch to Nike through the BSN apparel company, the board of trustees had to approve a revised contract from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2029, with an annual cost of $100,000 to move forward with the switch from Adidas to Nike.
Additionally, the board voted on a $400,000 purchase to replace the roof in Lantz Arena.
Along with these purchase approvals, the board unanimously approved of the following purchase approvals: no more than $275,000 on telephone services for a one-year period, a four-and-a-half-year total of $394,940 for StarRez housing management software and maintenance, and a not to exceed of $542,145.18 for the maintenance of parking lots and construction throughout the campus.
Four new academic programs were unanimously approved during the board of trustees meeting.
Provost Ryan Hendrickson announced the commitment of the four new academic programs:
- Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in health practice
Starting in fall 2024, the program will be held in the department of public health and nutrition. The program that will require 45 credit hours and “includes courses primarily from the area of public health and also includes internship requirements that allow for working professionals to maintain professional responsibilities while completing undergraduate requirements,” according to the EIU board of trustees report.
- Bachelor of Applied Arts in cyber security
Starting in fall 2024, the program will be held in the Lumpkin College of Business and Technology, and it will be housed in the school of technology. The program will require 30 credit hours and “prepares professionals for data and information security, hardware and software security and systems and network security,” according to the EIU board of trustees’ report.
- Bachelor of Science in computer engineering
Starting in spring 2025 or earlier pending state approval, this program will be held in the college of liberal arts and sciences and will be housed in the physics department. The program will require 88 credit hours and “prepares graduates for work in computer hardware engineering, software development, quality assurance analysis and testing, as well as web development and digital designers,” according to the report.
- Master of Arts in teaching in elementary education
Starting in summer 2025 or earlier pending state approval, the program will be held in the college of education, and it will be housed in the department of teaching, learning and foundations. The program will require 36 credit hours and has a mission “to provide an accessible, efficient route to teacher licensure for candidates,” according to the report.
All four programs had an 8-0 vote to approve the programs on Eastern’s campus.
Athletic Director Tom Michael was approved of an extending contract renewal for two additional years.
Michael’s contract was set to expire on Aug. 10, 2026, but the board of trustees unanimously voted to renew his contract to Aug. 10, 2028. Michael’s annual salary would be $205,000, and this will be effective July 1, 2024.
Men’s head basketball coach Marty Simmons was approved of an extended contract renewal for two additional years.
Simmons’ contract was set to expire on March 31, 2025, but the board unanimously voted to renew his contract to March 31, 2027.
The board of trustees also elected new officers for the next school year. Christopher Hicks was named the chairperson, Julie Everett was named the vice chairperson, Audrey Edwards was named the secretary and Barb Baurer was named the member pro tempore.
Hicks, Everett, Edwards and Baurer were all unanimously chosen for their new and/or same positions.
The board of trustees will meet again on Thursday, June 20, 2024.
Zaria Flippin can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].
