The previous Eastern Illinois University Board of Trustees meeting ended with faculty, staff and students voicing their disapproval of the university’s October labor cuts. Just over two months later, Chairman of the Board Chris Hicks opened the board’s January meeting with a statement:
“I want to acknowledge that this past year, 2025, has not been easy,” said Hicks. “We faced our share of challenges, and there were moments that pushed us, tested us and demanded more from us than we all expected.”
Thursday’s Board of Trustees meeting contained a financial update, a vote for a new degree and one public comment. Here are the highlights:
New degree
The board unanimously approved a new associates degree, dubbed the associate of arts in general studies.
The degree, pitched by the college of liberal arts and sciences, is designed for a “sizable and growing population of students who have some college and no degree,” according to the Board of Trustees agenda.
Trustee Julie Everett was a vocal supporter of the new degree.
“I so often see people who have the student loan debt; they have monthly payments, and they’re holding up buying a house. They’re holding up supporting their family the way they want to,” said Everett. “They don’t have the degree to open up the doors to the jobs that would help make all of that more feasible.”
The degree still needs approval from the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Higher Learning Commission, but Eastern’s academic affairs office hopes the degree will go into effect by the fall 2026 semester.
Housing and Dining update
Eastern Director of Housing and Dining Mark Hudson announced his retirement last semester. Hudson has held the director title since July 2001.
His replacement, Jeremy Alexander, was announced at the Board of Trustees meeting and will begin work this semester overseeing renovations to Thomas Hall.
Financial update
The Board of Trustees looked at a $1.1 million payment that covered the design portion of Thomas Hall’s renovations.
Vice President for Business Affairs Matt Bierman said the purchase didn’t have to be approved, but he still wanted the board to offer input due to the size of the project and the capital investment that the university is making.
The board also unanimously approved an $801,583 cooling tower replacement for Lawson Hall. Bierman said the current system is old and rusted.
The board gave an update on its $31 million tunnel rehabilitation project, which is expected to break ground in April. The project, funded partially from the state, aims to renovate the underground maintenance tunnels beneath campus.
Bierman said there will be large swaths of campus under construction.
“There is going to be dramatic closures,” said Bierman. “Dramatic work that you will see. There’ll be lots of construction fence.”
Public comment
Booth Library librarian Michele McDaniel was the only member of the public to comment at the meeting.
“Behind all these cuts are good, faithful employees and their families who have been all in for EIU and their students,” said McDaniel. “On Tuesday, Oct. 14, I was notified my contract would not be renewed after June 30 of 2027.”
Enrollment update
The Board of Trustees offered a behind-the-scenes peak at the enrollment numbers for the 2026 spring semester.
Enrollment is projected to decline by about 2%, and the international student population has fallen sharply to just over 240 students. The undergraduate population has remained stable.
A board report credits the stability to incoming spring transfers and domestic first-year students.
For the fall 2026 semester, international applications remain below 2024 levels, but FASFA submissions are 16% higher than last year.
“Right now, we got a lot of students who are interested in Eastern, but it all comes down to cost,” said Vice President for Enrollment Management Josh Norman. “I’m feeling good about first-years. I think the hardest thing is that international undergraduate population.”
New lawyer
Laura McLaughlin, Eastern’s general counsel from 2018 to 2023, will be returning to her post after current General Counsel Austin Hill leaves campus on Jan. 31.
The university’s general counsel operates as its chief legal officer, which has been Hill’s role since April 2023.
Aidan Cusack can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].
