FY2021 operating budget
The Board of Trustees of Illinois State University approved the University’s annual operating budget of $487.3 million for FY2021. During its May 2020 meeting, the Board authorized expenditures from tentative budget allocations before state appropriations for FY2021 were known.
FY2022 operating and capital requests
The Board of Trustees also approved an FY2022 appropriated operating budget request of $80.6 million and a capital appropriation request of $449.6 million. The requests are based on the University’s strategic plan, Educate Connect Elevate, and will allow the University to address critical statewide goals for higher education.
The appropriated operating budget request represents a 15.8 percent increase ($11 million) over the University’s prior year appropriation and is focused solely on receiving state support to help reimburse the University for COVID-19 health and safety expenditures and additional IT instructional software and hardware support costs. Excluding the request for funds needed to cover COVID-19 expenditures, this FY2022 request represents a zero (0) percent increase to the FY2021 funding level of $69.6 million.
The FY2022 capital appropriation request of $449.6 million includes six major capital improvement projects totaling $409.2 million, and $40.4 million for capital renewal projects. The proposed capital projects are aimed at enhancing a healthy, safe, and environmentally sustainable campus and ensuring the University has the physical infrastructure necessary for instruction, research, and service in the 21st century.
- Engineering Building, $101.5 million
- Mennonite College of Nursing Building, $60.9 million
- Thomas Metcalf School Replacement, $57.8 million
- DeGarmo Hall Rehabilitation, $38.7 million
- University High School Replacement, $63.9 million
- Williams Hall Renovation, $86.2 million
- Capital Renewal projects, $40.4 million
Total – $449.6 million
Connect Transit contract extension
Trustees authorized the University to enter into a six-month extension of its current agreement with Connect Transit for the period of January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021 for an amount not to exceed $289,068. The extended contract with Connect Transit allows students, faculty, and staff to use their Redbird Card ID to access fixed routes, regularly published public transportation service throughout the Bloomington-Normal community, including the University campus.
COVID-19 testing authorization
The Board authorized the University to enter into a contract to establish a lab to process COVID-19 saliva-based tests and to conduct saliva-based testing of students, faculty, and staff for the period from November 1, 2020 to May 14, 2021, in partnership with the University of Illinois–Shield, at a cost not to exceed $5.5 million.
This cost provides for up to 275,000 tests to be conducted over the contract period at a projected price of $20 per test. The exact number of tests conducted each week will vary. The University will not enter into the contract until such time as the University of Illinois saliva-based COVID-19 testing methodology receives FDA approval.
Illinois State has been working with the University of Illinois–Shield team to create a CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) certified lab on campus. This agreement requires that the University of Illinois–Shield provides all the necessary equipment and supplies to create the lab and complete the testing. A revenue sharing agreement has been entered into with University of Illinois–Shield to cover the costs of the staff working in the lab.
COVID-19 quarantine space
The Board of Trustees gave approval for the University to enter into contracts, as deemed necessary, to secure additional off-campus housing and dining services for on-campus students who need to quarantine. The contracts cover services needed for the period from September 15, 2020 to May 14, 2021, at a cost not to exceed $1.6 million. This proactive step will provide surge space to quarantine students who live in the residence halls and who have been identified as close contacts of an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19. The University has secured capacity to quarantine up to 94 students per night for a period of 14 days each. The exact number of rooms used each night will vary based on the need for quarantine spaces on a particular day.
Classroom and office naming
Classroom and office naming Trustees gave approval for the naming of a classroom at the University Farm and office space in the University’s Multicultural Center.
Classroom 101 in the Illinois State University Farm Conference Center has been named the Compeer Financial Classroom in recognition of that company’s financial gift in support of the University. The gift made possible a total renovation of the classroom to bring the entire facility into compliance with accessibility laws. The project includes the addition of a wheelchair ramp on the building, accessible restrooms, and the raising of the floor in the classroom to a single level.
Room 140 of the Multicultural Center has been named the Mr. Stan L. and Dr. Rene’ R. Shingles Black Student Union Office, in recognition of their financial gift in support of Illinois State. Stan Shingles ’82, M.S. ‘88 is currently the interim chief diversity officer at Central Michigan University, where he has spent the past 30 years. Dr. René Shingles, M.S. ‘86 currently serves as a professor, program director, and internship coordinator for the School of Rehabilitation and Medical Sciences at Central Michigan University.
