State of the University Address, Sept. 11

“Hard work on a good plan” was the theme of Illinois State University President Al Bowman’s State of the University Address on Tuesday, Sept. 11.  Bowman drew upon the words of the University’s first leader in describing Illinois State’s accomplishments and its goals for the future.

Bowman outlined the University’s goals of increasing faculty and staff salaries, continuing the revision and enhancement of the Educating Illinois strategic plan, keeping an Illinois State education affordable through enhanced financial aid, and stepping up the “greening” of campus operations.

In honor of Illinois State’s 150th Celebration, Bowman drew on the words of the University’s first president – or principal – Charles Hovey when Hovey described the feelings of University leaders as they surveyed the first class of students.

 “’They saw in the faces before them a promise of coming honor to the institution.  They believed in its future growth – not as a sudden creation of a magic palace, but as the slow-coming result of hard work on a good plan,’” said Bowman, quoting Hovey.  “I am struck by those words from Principal Hovey because they are as relevant today as they were at the dawn of Illinois State’s existence.”

Bowman pledged to make faculty and staff salary enhancements his number one priority in the coming year, with a commitment to continuing the mid-year salary enhancement plan he initiated with his 2005 State of the University message.  “Since that program began, we have put $2 million into faculty and staff salaries, in addition to the regular salary increases that occur annually,” said Bowman.  “I think that says a great deal about our commitment to this initiative.”

Illinois State continues to make progress toward aligning faculty and staff salaries with comparison group averages, but Bowman said it will take continued effort to reach salary goals.  He stressed that salaries for professors will continue to be the focus of the salary enhancement plan.

“In 2005, salaries for full professors lagged 14 percent behind peer group averages, today it is about 10 percent,” said Bowman.  “For associate professors, the lag percentage in 2005 was over 10, now it is about seven percent.  For assistant professors, the 2005 percentage was 2.2 percent, now it is under a half percent."                              

Bowman noted that administrative professional salaries are at or above comparison group averages, and civil service employee salaries are 1.2 percent higher than peer group averages at universities with similar civil service classifications.

Keeping education at Illinois State affordable and accessible to academically talented students remains a priority.  Bowman pledged that the University will continue enhancing financial aid packages for students and remain responsive to the changing demographics in Illinois. 

“Within the next 10 years, 40 percent of high school graduates will come from underrepresented groups – and unless their college participation rates change dramatically, Illinois universities will be competing for students from a much smaller pool,” Bowman said.  “Our ability to remain a first-choice institution will increasingly be tied to our affordability, accessibility and flexibility.  I am proud to say that in just the last two years Illinois State has doubled its commitment to supplementing the state’s Monetary Award Program from $2 million to $4 million.  No other Illinois public university can say that.”

Completing the revision of Educating Illinois, the University’s strategic academic blueprint, will also be a priority in the coming year.  During his 2006 State of the University address, Bowman called on the campus community to provide input on reshaping the document to reflect the University’s goals for the future.  Educating Illinois’ five core values are individualized attention, public opportunity, active pursuit of learning and scholarship, diversity and innovation. 

“Borrowing again from Charles Hovey, this is our good plan,” said Bowman, while thanking the campus community for its input on the document.  “It has guided us through the most successful period in Illinois State’s 150 year history and with your help it will continue to lead us to future success.  There is no example of shared governance at Illinois State University that shines brighter than Educating Illinois.”

Bowman also highlighted the University’s rapid progress toward “greening” campus operations.  Illinois State is a signatory of the Illinois Sustainable University Compact, an action-based pledge to improve how the University interacts with the environment and works to promote ecology and reduce pollution. 

Bowman reported that the University has already achieved or surpassed several of the environmental goals it pledged to reach by 2010.  Success stories include large scale organic waste composting, reduced pesticide usage on campus, the purchase of flex-fuel vehicles, the use of biodiesel, and the use of “green” cleaning products. 

“Through grants from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, we have been able to upgrade lighting in our classrooms, laboratories and administrative buildings resulting in a combined energy reduction of 950 kilowatts of required electricity,” said Bowman.  “That energy could supply electricity to more than 800 homes for one year!”  The effort we all make today is the best and most important work we do on behalf of our students, faculty and staff members for generations to come.”