The Board of Trustees of Illinois State University approved a number of resolutions at its quarterly meeting on July 28, 2023. 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 FY2024 for an annual premium not to exceed $1.45 million. 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 FY2024 includes a cost not to exceed $655,493. 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.
M.S. in physics
Trustees approved an M.S. in the physics program. The Illinois State University physics department currently offers a B.S. in five separate degree sequences within the major. The program is one of the largest bachelor’s-only physics departments nationwide. The proposed M.S. program will build on the success of the department and its mentorship of undergraduates by offering opportunities for education and research to graduate students.
Campus-wide wireless upgrade
Trustees authorized the first phase of a multi-year campus-wide upgrade of the University’s wireless network. Trustees approved phase one at a cost not to exceed $650,000, which should be completed by June 2024. The requested upgrades will provide the ISU community with increased reliability, efficiency, security, and network speeds that will provide scalability. This first phase project will focus on a dozen academic, administrative, and service buildings on campus.
Raab Road renovation and staff relocation
Trustees authorized expenditures, not to exceed $5,520,000 for all necessary Raab Road renovation and relocation costs in support of the new College of Engineering project. Costs include project design, construction, and moving costs to the Raab Road facility to facilitate the staff relocation from both the John Green Food Service and Carter Harris Administration Buildings. All construction work and moves are planned to be complete by June 30, 2024, to facilitate the planned construction start of the future home of the College of Engineering on July 1, 2024.
Authorization of warehouse move
Trustees authorized expenditures not to exceed $3.45 million for all necessary design, construction, inventory storage, equipment, furnishings, supplies, and related moving costs to facilitate the vacating of 100% of the John Green Food Service Building contents and stores operations into other ISU owned and leased warehouse space in order to begin construction of the new ISU Engineering building complex by the desired date on July 1, 2024.
Surplus Real Estate
Trustees approved a resolution declaring the University’s Art Studio Building at 208, 210, and 212 Douglas Street as surplus real estate and allowing University staff to begin the process of selling the property. The subject property, officially named the Art Studio Building, contained the former MFA Graduate Studios located on a lot having an area of approximately 0.35 acres on Douglas Street, between North Prairie and Main Streets in Bloomington, Illinois. This complex is comprised of three (3) separate buildings that served as the Moran Automotive, Inc. garage prior to the University purchasing the property in December 1992. The building served as studios for the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts graduate students. The Art Studio Building was fully decommissioned in the summer of 2023 and alternative student programming space was identified. The building is subject to flooding during rainstorms, thereby causing significant and costly damage to the building’s interior and the students’ art projects. The State Property Control Act allows Illinois State to keep the proceeds from such a sale but requires that the money be kept in a separate account for the purpose of deferred maintenance and emergency repair of University property.
Certificates of participation
Trustees authorized the issuance of certificates of participation Series 2023 to finance the previously approved project to acquire property, plan, design, and construct a new Mennonite College of Nursing Simulation Center to be connected to the existing modular nursing simulation laboratory. The certificates are not to exceed an aggregate principal amount of $14 million and will have a final maturity of no later than 10 years from their date of issuance.
Foundation support agreement
The University was authorized to extend a contract with the Illinois State University Foundation for development and fundraising services for FY2024. The contract stipulates those services will be provided for in-kind consideration not to exceed $2,978,000. The Foundation, a private corporation, works to solicit, secure, and manage private gifts and other resources to support Illinois State’s educational and research mission.
Contracts
• Authorization for TechZone and Student Technologies to provide Apple products and services to University departments, faculty, staff, and students for FY2024 through FY2028 for an annual amount not to exceed $1.9 million. Funding comes from local agency funds and institutional funds.
• Authorization of a three-year contract with Adobe Creative Cloud Suite software with a cost not to exceed $1,026,000 which includes a 3.5% contingency for any additional service counts needed due to growth in enrollment or usage. The contract, will be paid for with general revenue funds and student academic enhancement fees.
Namings
• Approval was given for naming the Mennonite College of Nursing locker room for standardized patients in the newly constructed Nursing Simulation Center, as the Senator John and Joanne Maitland Preparatory Room for Standardized Patients. This naming reflects and recognizes the generous financial commitment by John and Joanne Maitland for the new nursing building.
• Approval was given for naming the Mennonite College of Nursing conference room across from the multipurpose area in the newly constructed Nursing Simulation Center, as the Brock Family Conference Room. This naming reflects and recognizes the generous financial commitment by Anita Brock for the new nursing building.
