Illinois State University’s new strategic plan, Excellence by Design: 2024-2029, aims to build on past successes while seizing new opportunities to best meet the needs of current and future students.
Approved by the Board of Trustees last May, Excellence by Design succeeds Educate • Connect • Elevate: Illinois State: 2018-2023. The new strategic plan emphasizes Illinois State’s commitment to excellence.
Appears In“Excellence by Design connects our strategic priorities with the work needed to expand our efforts for continuous improvement over the next five years,” said President Aondover Tarhule. “There is much to be excited about as we begin actualizing the work of 16 teams that have spent time and effort to extend the legacy of excellence for Illinois State.”
Illinois State University is in Year One of the campuswide implementation of Excellence by Design. Action teams are in the process of developing actions and metrics that will support the goals and objectives in the strategic plan’s four strategic directions: cultivate a culture of success and belonging, foster a culture of responsible stewardship, elevate institutional excellence, and expand mutually beneficial partnerships.
Development of Excellence by Design began in 2022 with formation of a task force composed of faculty, staff, students, and alumni. The task force initially consulted and sought input from campus and community stakeholders before drafting the new strategic plan. The draft was presented to those groups, and more feedback was gathered. A final draft was approved by the president’s cabinet and endorsed by Illinois State’s shared governance groups before it was presented to and approved by the Board of Trustees.
Illinois State’s strategic plan will serve as a practical guide for all units within the University for planning and resource allocation decisions, while also providing actionable tracking of stated goals.
Excellence by Design is available online by visiting StrategicPlan.IllinoisState.edu, along with additional resources, updates, and past strategic plans.
Enrollment climbs with largest incoming class ever
Illinois State University welcomed 4,285 first-time-in-college students for the 2024-25 academic year, its largest incoming class ever. The new class of students is also the most diverse in school history, with nearly 45% coming from traditionally underrepresented groups. Total enrollment is 21,546.
“Our faculty and staff work hard each year to welcome and support our students, and while many challenges exist across the higher education landscape, this large, diverse, and academically talented cohort is a testament to the contributions of our campus community’s focus on student success, our strong academic programs, and our beautiful campus,” said President Aondover Tarhule.
The University’s total student population includes 19,107 undergraduates and 2,439 graduate students. Official enrollment figures were computed after the 10th day of classes.
“This enrollment success is a product of intentional recruitment and retention activity by the entire Illinois State community,” said Executive Director of Admissions and Recruitment Marketing Jeff Mavros, M.S. ’06. “We can’t wait to see what these students will accomplish at Illinois State and beyond.”
Board of Trustees approves purchase of future home of College of Engineering
The Illinois State University Board of Trustees approved the purchase of COUNTRY Financial property at 1709 and 1711 General Electric Road in Bloomington. The west side of the property will serve as the home of the new College of Engineering. Classes will be held there beginning fall 2026. The total purchase, not to exceed $17.5 million plus closing and related costs, will create significant savings and additional space to reimagine the opportunities of the University’s eighth college and overall university operations.
A pivot from an initial plan to renovate the John Green and Carter Harris buildings to serve as the home of Engineering was prompted by rising construction costs and additional site requirements, combined with the availability of the COUNTRY property.
“Illinois State continues to invest strategically in areas that drive long-term growth and sustainability and uphold our commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive campus community,” said Illinois State President Aondover Tarhule. “This is a creative and more affordable option that will better serve our future students.”
The COUNTRY property consists of 28.32 acres of land, including 392,000 square feet of usable space and more than 1,300 parking spaces.
More than $35.4 million raised during FY24
Illinois State University donors contributed more than $35.4 million during the 2024 fiscal year, marking the third-highest fundraising year in university history.
“We are incredibly grateful for the private support we receive at Illinois State, which helps to recruit, retain, and graduate students,” said President Aondover Tarhule. “Donor support advances the University’s initiatives, enhancing the education, infrastructure, and programs that promote a strong and thriving Redbird community.”
Support from corporations and foundations surged to more than $12 million during fiscal year 2024, up from about $5 million the previous year. Corporate and foundation investments play a crucial role in students’ career development and strengthen valued town-and-gown partnerships for the University.
“The dedication of donors who support Illinois State is testament to the value of an Illinois State University education,” said Vice President for University Advancement Pat Vickerman. “Donors fuel excellence in scholarship, research, and the student experience. Every gift creates opportunities to enhance programs and shape our positive trajectory.”
Redbirds win global agribusiness case competition
A team of six undergraduate students from the agriculture and international business programs took first place at the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) World Conference and Global Student Case Competition in Almeria, Spain, last summer.
The Illinois State team, consisting of agriculture students Brandt Faivre, Rodney Billerbeck, Patrick Collins, and Samuel Berry, and international business students Leo Krueger and Riley Pruser, was advised by faculty members Iuliia Tetteh, Barbara Ribbens, and Aslihan Spaulding. The team’s solution to a real-world agribusiness problem won the competition that included more than 20 teams from nine countries.
“We recruited students from different programs to bring diverse backgrounds, personalities, strengths, and ideas together because complex challenges require innovative and diverse mindsets,” said Dr. Tetteh.
UMC wins CASE Circle of Excellence awards
Illinois State University Marketing and Communications (UMC) captured three awards, including a gold, in the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) 2024 Circle of Excellence competition for creative work produced for university clients and flagship communication channels.
UMC writer John Twork, M.S. ’12, and several colleagues earned a gold award for storytelling for the State magazine story about concerts on campus written to celebrate Braden Auditorium’s 50th anniversary. UMC Executive Director Brian Beam, M.S. ’94, MBA ’10, led a group that won a bronze for creating a micro-website hosting University Advancement’s fiscal 2023 data report, and UMC’s social media team received a bronze for an Instagram Reel highlighting students’ favorite food on campus.
“Earning three CASE awards is a tremendous honor and achievement, highlighting the dedication, excellence, and innovation of our team,” said Pat Vickerman, vice president for University Advancement. “From a magazine feature on campus concerts over the decades, to social media videos of students’ favorite campus food, and our advancement dashboard report, the Illinois State story and brand are stronger than ever.”
Riaz published, quoted on Bangladeshi political turmoil
Distinguished Professor Ali Riaz was interviewed frequently by international media in the wake of an uprising in Bangladesh that deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who resigned and fled the country on August 5, after weeks of protests and violence perpetrated by law enforcement agencies and activists.
Riaz appeared regularly in international media before and after Hasina’s resignation. He was interviewed on CNN, BBC, and Aljazeera, and quoted in the Wall Street Journal. He additionally published a commentary in Benar News, a Washington-based news portal.
#RedbirdImpact Month exceeds goals
Redbirds came together to make a difference last June as Illinois State University celebrated #RedbirdImpact Month, a dedicated month of civic engagement launched six years ago by the Alumni Association’s Redbird Engagement and Development Committee.
A challenge of 450 tracked service hours was surpassed as Illinois State alumni and friends logged a combined 780 hours of service—both on campus and around the world. Donors additionally raised money for the Red and White Scholarship fund.
“Watching the number of service hours and the financial support increase each year is astounding. We watch our numbers grow and are proud of what our Redbirds are accomplishing,” said Stephanie Duquenne ’04, M.S. ’15, senior director of Alumni Engagement. “The importance of giving back their time, talent, and treasure to their communities and to ISU make each #RedbirdImpact Month special and inspiring.”
Illinois State recognized as top destination for transfer students
Illinois State University has once again been recognized among a select group of 228 universities across the country by being named to the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society’s 2024 Transfer Honor Roll, continuing the University’s reputation as a top destination for transfer students.
The award recognizes four-year colleges and universities for exemplary support for community college transfers. Illinois State is one of only nine institutions that has been included on the Transfer Honor Roll since the award’s inception in 2016, marking the University’s consistency and excellence in serving transfer Redbirds.
LGBTQA+ Alumni Reunion Weekend
The ISU LGBTQA+ Alumni Network will host a reunion weekend January 31-February 2, 2025, on campus and in the surrounding community. The weekend will include a film festival at the Normal Theater, tours, speaker series, drag show, and alumni party. To receive more information, update your information at Alumni.IllinoisState.edu/Update and indicate interest in reunion communication in the “additional notes” field.
