President Al Bowman

Bowman Delivers State of the University Address

Despite budget uncertainties over the past several years, Illinois State University continues to be a vibrant and resilient institution with a passion for academic excellence.   In making his annual State of the University Address, President Al Bowman attributed that success to the cohesiveness and hard work of the campus community and the vision outlined in the University’s Educating Illinois strategic plan.

Bowman noted that even with a drop in state funding for higher education during the past decade, Illinois State continues to rehabilitate its aging infrastructure, find new ways to cope with rising energy costs and make the campus safer, greener and more welcoming for an increasingly diverse student population. 

Bowman reiterated his commitment to faculty and staff salary increases through the University’s ongoing salary enhancement plan. Since the plan’s inception in 2005, more than $3million has been added to faculty and staff salaries above and beyond annual merit-based pay increases. 

“Today the salaries of civil service and administrative professional employees are very close to, at, and in some cases, above comparison group averages,” said Bowman.  “For faculty members, the salaries of assistant professors are very close to or at comparison group averages and we are moving closer to the mark for associate and full professors.”

Bowman also announced a three percent increase in funds budgeted for the operational costs of departments and units on campus in the coming year.  “It has been 14 years since we have been able to provide a general cost increase,” said Bowman.  “In creating that budget, I have asked the vice presidents to make sure several initiatives are funded.  These include funding for our new Ph.D in Nursing program, increased support for Milner Library and funds to enhance our emergency communications, dispatch and notification systems.”

Bowman noted that maintaining competitive salaries, expanding academic programs and enhancing facilities in a time of decreasing state support has forced the University to raise tuition in the past several years.  However, he stressed that the investment in an Illinois State education remains affordable. 

“In order to maintain that affordability, and the access affordability offers, we must continue to mine new streams of revenue,” Bowman said.  “In fiscal year 2008, external grants to Illinois State reached an historic high of $22.3 million, a 23 percent increase over fiscal year 2007.  During the last fiscal year, private giving to Illinois State increased 37 percent over the previous year as we raised over $10 million in private gifts.”

Recruitment and retention efforts focused on an increasingly diverse student population will be a priority for Illinois State over the next decade.  Bowman announced the creation of a new recruitment and retention committee, consisting of faculty, staff and students.  “Their charge will include examining current recruitment and admission practices at Illinois State, exploring avenues for outreach to middle schools and high schools and developing more effective methods of transitioning underrepresented students from application to admission to enrollment,” Bowman said.

Bowman noted that enhancing security measures on an already safe campus is another high priority, in light of violent incidents at other universities in recent years.  “Illinois State is purchasing and will implement a texting system that will immediately connect emergency information to individual cellular phones,” he said.  “In addition to the new texting system, Illinois State will continue with its web-based, e-mail and landline telephone warning systems.  Our home web page links to a campus security site that offers faculty, staff members and students easy-to-read safety suggestions, as well as instructions in case of an emergency.”

Bowman announced that a group would be formed to discuss initiatives to make the campus community an even more welcoming environment for all students, faculty, staff members and visitors.  He also condemned insensitive acts that make people feel unwelcome. 

“Acts of racial bigotry will not be tolerated on this campus,” Bowman said. “It doesn’t matter what the motives are and it doesn’t matter if the perpetrator is a member of the ISU community or a visitor to campus. We all enjoy the right of freedom of expression, but we are all responsible for creating and maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for everyone who lives, learnsand works at Illinois State. Those who violate laws will be prosecuted and those who violate our codes of conduct will be removed from this campus.”

Bowman also outlined the University’s growing sustainability initiatives, which enhance the quality of life on campus and meet the economic, social and environmental needs of the current and future generations.  Illinois State is one of a select group of universities and colleges participating in the pilot phase of a national rating system for sustainability in higher education. 

The rating system gauges progress toward sustainability in all sectors, from governance and operations to academics and community engagement.  Measures have also been taken on campus to reduce water and energy consumption, reduce food waste and provide alternative transportation options through the Reggie Ride bicycle loan program. 

“It is important for us to link all our sustainability initiatives together, so I am proud to announce that I have signed the American Colleges and University Presidents Climate Commitment, a pledge to reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050 with an ultimate goal of carbon neutrality,” said Bowman.  “I believe that if we exhibit leadership in addressing climate change we will stabilize and reduce our long-term energy costs, attract excellent students and faculty, attract new sources of funding and increase the support of alumni and local communities.”