Aondover Tarhule

The future of a state-funded program to increase the diversity of faculty at colleges and universities in Illinois is in doubt as the Trump administration continues to pressure higher education to abandon DEI values.

A group of non-union workers at Illinois State University threatened to unionize during Friday’s Board of Trustees meeting. Organizers say over 200 ISU employees have signed a petition asking for raises, in the wake of other collective bargaining on campus.

Labor negotiations, spending cuts, creating a new model for budget planning, developing the new College of Engineering, and, oh yes, graduation this weekend — Illinois State University has a lot on its plate right now.

Over the last decade, state funding for Illinois State University has dropped by more than a third after inflation. And it has declined as a share of the total university budget for more than three decades. That could change if the state legislature passes a measure this spring.

Jeri Beggs is now officially ISU's athletics director, after serving in that role on an interim basis since May 2023. Beggs was named to the position Wednesday following a national search that began in November 2024.

The newly-dedicated expansion of the nursing simulation lab at Illinois State University already is making a difference in the student experience, according to college leaders and students.

No single cause is responsible for a projected $8 million deficit in this year's budget, says Illinois State University's president, but a series of challenges both specific to ISU and to higher education in general have both contributed to the issue.

Illinois State University's efforts to close a structural budget deficit include current year spending cuts of nearly $5.6 million.

Normal Mayor Chris Koos says he spoke Monday with Illinois State University President Aondover Tarhule to come up with ways to prevent large parties from causing havoc on campus and around town.

In a "Dear Colleagues" email to the campus, provost Ani Yazedjian said every ISU division will cut its budget by 2% for the current budget year that began in July.