The Board of Trustees of Illinois State University approved a number of resolutions at its quarterly meeting on August 15, 2022. Full text of those resolutions can be found on the Board of Trustees website.
Property insurance
The Board of Trustees authorized the University to purchase property insurance for FY2023 for an annual premium not to exceed $1.2 million. Illinois State owns and maintains property and business interruption insurance valued at approximately $2 billion. Through its membership in the Midwestern Higher Education Compact and the Illinois Public Higher Education Cooperative (IPHEC), the University is able to purchase coverage from a collection of well-respected and financially sound insurance companies through the insurance broker Alliant Insurance Services, Inc. Funding comes from general revenue and auxiliary facilities system operating revenues.
Fire services agreement
Trustees authorized the yearly intergovernmental agreement between the Town of Normal and Illinois State for fire protection services for the University. The agreement for FY2023 includes a cost not to exceed $628,348. The agreement is modified each year to require a new reimbursement rate that reflects the higher municipal costs associated with providing fire protection services. The Town of Normal uses a price index to calculate the new reimbursement rate that is determined by the Illinois Municipal League and used in other university communities across the state. Funding comes from general revenue and auxiliary facilities system operating revenues.
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
Trustees authorized a contract with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards to support teacher candidates. The agreement includes a cost of $707,525 to provide the tools necessary to confirm the certifications of teachers from around the State of Illinois who choose to participate in this initiative.
Auxiliary facilities system revenue bonds
Trustees gave Illinois State authorization to refund revenue bonds to pay for renovations to Hancock Stadium. The new bonds will be issued in an amount not to exceed $14,000,000 with a true interest cost of borrowing not to exceed 4 percent. The debt service savings are estimated to exceed $200,000 over the life of the new debt. The renovations were the first seen at Hancock Stadium since it was built in 1961.
Learning management software
Trustees authorized a five-year contract with Instructure for a new learning management system (LMS) cost not to exceed $2,350,000. The new system, called Canvas, will replace the current learning management system, ReggieNet, that has been in place for nearly 10 years. The recommendation for Canvas from the LMS Review Leadership Team comes with input from University deans, academic department heads, the president’s cabinet, the Student Government Association, and the Academic Senate.
Capital project, WGLT
Trustees authorized a capital project to plan, design, and renovate the space on 500 W. Locust St. in Normal that will integrate the offices of WGLT radio operations with the student newspaper The Vidette. The renovation, not to exceed $650,000, will integrate business and operational functions as well as educational opportunities for students.
Sublease for Mennonite College of Nursing
Trustees authorized the University to enter into a lease agreement with Memorial Health System to increase capacity for nursing education through Mennonite College of Nursing. The University will sublease 9,990 feet of space in Springfield, Illinois, for classrooms, skills labs, office, and laboratory use. The cost of renovations to the space and the annual sublease payments, at $286,685, are anticipated to be covered by a grant from Memorial Health System.
Raab Road property
The Board of Trustees authorized the University to enter into agreements to acquire the property located at 715 and 755 Raab Road, the former location of Lincoln College offices in Normal with a price not to exceed $4.1 million. The property, which follows the University’s plan for acquiring strategic properties near the campus, is located adjacent to the University’s Horticulture Center.
Recognition of former Trustee Rocky Donahue
Trustees recognized the contributions of former Trustee Rocky Donahue. Originally appointed to the Board in 2011, Donahue formerly served as chair of the Board, and is a current member of the Illinois Public Transportation Association Board of Directors, Good Shepherd Board of Directors, a member of the APTA Legislative Committee, and a member of the ARC of Illinois.
