The Eastern Illinois University Board of Trustees approved a plan to consolidate the university’s academic structure at its meeting Thursday.
The plan drops the total number of Eastern’s departments and schools from 27 to 20 and consolidates the school’s four colleges into three, according to a board report.
Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Holly Farley said she was both excited and overwhelmed about the restructuring.
“There’s a lot of work to do to make it all work,” Farley said.
The changes to the university’s academic structure will go into effect July 1.
Farley said the university still has to update signage and its website, while Vice President for Business Affairs Matt Bierman sorts out budgeting for the new academic layout.
“This is just the beginning,” said Farley.
The Board of Trustees also approved an increase to housing and dining rates at the meeting. The rates will be effective for the 2026-27 school year.
An increase in tuition for incoming students in the 2026-27 school year was also approved at the board meeting.
New undergraduates who are Illinois residents will pay $356.34 per credit hour, $8.69 more than a student who enrolled in the 2025-26 school year.
Bierman said the tuition changes will only affect new undergraduates. Existing students will continue to be charged the rate that was offered in the year when they first enrolled.
“We never get all we need,” said Bierman. “But we also need to balance that with what the right sticker price is for students to say, ‘I want to go to Eastern.’”
The board approved a $13 million spending limit to fund renovations at Thomas Hall, which was closed alongside Weller Hall before the fall 2024 semester.
The funds to renovate Thomas Hall come from a loan with a maximum interest of 5%, though Bierman expects it to be lower.
The board approved a $438,145.95 spending limit for parking lot work over the summer.
The Andrews Hall parking lot and the Buzzard Hall staff lot will be redone, according to Bierman.
Additionally, Bierman said Ne-Co Asphalt Co. Inc. is resealing and applying a protective coating to the joints in the University Court parking lots.
The board approved a $393,800 spending limit for structural repairs to the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.
Bierman said there are cracks in the building’s foundation and a beam in the building’s loading dock in need of repairs.
The board approved a contract with Follett Higher Education Group LLC to outsource the operation of Eastern’s bookstore in the union. The university currently self-operates the bookstore, according to Bierman.
Bierman said the university will get a percentage of all sales, but how much is unknown because the university is still in negotiations with Follett.
Aidan Cusack can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].
