Friday, November 20, 2009 9:41 PM CST
EIU board hires firm to update campus facilities master plan
By ROB STROUD, Staff Writer
rstroud@jg-tc.com
CHARLESTON — The Eastern Illinois University Board of Trustees hired a firm on Friday to help update the 10-year-old master plan for the development of campus facilities.
The board also heard that the national economic downturn has taken a toll on total student enrollment, which has dipped for third year in a row. Still, the fall 2009 enrollment of 11,966 students was not far off of EIU’s 12,000 target for the new school year.
Regarding the master plan, the board voted to hire Loebl Schlossman & Hackl of Chicago for $274,115 to assist with updating the document in 2010. This process will involve planning sessions, building and space assessment, conceptual planning, development of the master plan, and documentation and presentation of the plan.
As an example of the updates, EIU Vice President for Business Affairs William Weber said the 1999 plan called for constructing a new science building.
He said the updated plan will account for improvements to lab equipment during the last 10 years. The 1999 plan envisions this science building on the east side of Seventh Street, near the steam plant. But the property on the southeast corner of that intersection recently was purchased by a developer who may have other plans for the site.
Weber said the EIU Athletic Department has already begun planning for the future use of its facilities, but the department’s plans will be integrated into the updated master plan for the entire campus.
Regarding enrollment, EIU Vice President for Academic Affairs Blair Lord presented 2005-09 fall enrollment figures. Total fall enrollment was 12,129 in 2005, 12,349 in 2006, 12,179 in 2007, 12,040 in 2008, and 11,966 in 2009. Lord said EIU was not far off its 12,000 target for fall 2009 as it contends with the national economic downturn.
Lord said freshmen statewide have been trying to reduce their tuition costs by starting their studies at community colleges instead of four-year universities. He said EIU has seen an increase in enrollment in the School of Continuing Education’s online courses.
Board member Julie Nimmons asked about efforts to slow and reverse the decrease in enrollment. Lord responded that EIU has been stepping up its financial aid programs, minority student recruiting initiatives, and prospective student receptions and open houses.
Other board actions included:
n Commending retiring Vice President for External Relations Jill Nilsen, an EIU alumnus, for her 33 years of service to the university and her 11 years of service as vice president.
n Renaming the Afro-American Cultural Center as simply the Cultural Center to be more inclusive and encourage other groups to use this facility on Seventh Street. The name change was request by the EIU Office of Minority Affairs and supported by the Black Student Union.
Contact Rob Stroud at rstroud@jg-tc.com or 238-6861.
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Mama says wrote on Nov 22, 2009 3:58 PM: