In some ways, being Western Illinois University’s interim president has been exactly what Kristi Mindrup expected.
“All in all, I think one thing that stands out to me is the sense of community among the faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the Macomb and Quad Cities communities,” Mindrup said in an interview with TSPR.
Mindrup took office on April 1.
“The love for Western that I observed whether attending homecoming (or) passing through one of our academic buildings, it’s just a strong sense of Leatherneck pride even during times of challenge,” she said.
But Mindrup said there have also been surprises along the way.
“I think the depth of our financial challenges was something that we began to fully grasp probably a couple months into my time as interim president,” she said.
The administration has estimated a budget shortfall of up to $22 million. To work toward closing the gap, the administration laid off more than 100 people last summer, including tenured faculty members.
Will there be a need for more layoffs down the road?
“I think that we are evaluating enough measures now that we want to minimize that possibility,” she said.
TSPR asked if WIU will be able to bring back any people who were laid off.
“The first thing I’ll say is that -- as I’ve said all along -- this is the difficult year financially, with some residual into next year as well as we march toward balancing the budget,” Mindrup said.
“As far as bringing individuals back, all universities all of the time need to evaluate where they are in the moment. So, looking at student interests and demands, looking at enrollment trends, looking at what the external workforce needs from Western Illinois University.”
Mindrup said those are things the university should evaluate on an ongoing basis, not just during a budget crisis.
“So, whether to bring back will depend on some of those factors,” she said.
More about finances
Mindrup and other university presidents in Illinois are talking to state legislators about an equitable funding bill for higher education.
“(It) will be a wonderful opportunity for institutions like Western Illinois University and some of our similar institutions across the state,” she said.
She said Western is also exploring new models for revenue generation.
The physical layout of WIU is another issue being reviewed.
“We now have a population of 6,000 students, and the faculty and staff around that. We need to look at our physical footprint across the university and think about deferred maintenance, as well as the types of capital asks that we’ll make as we continue to plan and think to the future of WIU,” Mindrup said.
The vision for WIU
Mindrup said universities are offering more programs online, and WIU will be engaged in that. She said online classes are especially beneficial for adult and post-traditional students who need greater flexibility in their schedules.
She said online education also allows students from around the globe to earn a degree from WIU.
Mindrup said enrollment could dip a bit in the next few years from the current 6,332, which includes students taking classes in Macomb, the Quad Cities, and online.
But she called that a starting point as Western rolls out its new initiatives, such as the Innovation Campus in the Quad Cities, which will be a hub for partnerships.
“A great example of that is something we’re already working on, which is a partnership with the University of Illinois and Iowa State on manufacturing in support of the Rock Island Arsenal,” Mindrup said.
“That’s an opportunity where our institutional partners bring their strengths through being R-1 institutions, research-focused. And we bring our strengths as far as having an engineering program based in the Quad Cities and having a workforce-focused academic program that aligns with the mission of that partnership.”
She said for the Macomb campus, WIU will emphasize the programs it’s known for and for which there is a demand, including nursing, education, agriculture, and law enforcement.
Mindrup said WIU will also look to expand into new markets and strive to align with workforce needs.
Removing ‘interim’ from her title
Mindrup said she has thought about whether she wants to be president on more than an interim basis, especially now that the WIU Board of Trustees has appointed a committee to assess whether she should be appointed president.
“My philosophy for most everything I do, especially in my professional life, is to wait until I have all the information, and then determine the path forward from there,” she said.
“I will continue to serve the university in whatever role seems to take shape for me in that moment.”
Trustee Derek Wise will serve as the committee’s chair.
The panel includes representatives from throughout the Macomb and Quad Cities campus communities
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