Western Illinois University’s interim president will deliver a public address next week.
Dr. Kristi Mindrup will focus on Western’s priorities, opportunities, and the future vision for the university.
She will speak from 10 to 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 10 at the COFAC Recital Hall.
All faculty, staff, students, and members of the community are invited to attend.
Mindrup’s address will also be live streamed on Western’s official YouTube channel.
The challenges ahead
Board of Trustees members have made it clear that the administration faces some difficult budget decisions in the coming months.
“The board has studied, we’ve read, and we’ve been vocal about our financial results for the last three years, and it’s been obvious that our situation will become more challenged,” said Chairperson Carin Stutz at the beginning of the board’s March 22 meeting.
“We are at that point now: decisions must be made.”
Stutz said trustees are united in agreeing that the administration must present a balanced budget to the board in June.
Paul Edwards, Vice President of Finance and Administration, assured trustees that the administration will indeed deliver a balanced budget.
“There will be a lot of tough things we will have to do to do so,” Edwards said, adding that a lot more information will come out campus-wide and difficult conversations will be held.
Edwards said the administration will be transparent.
“When this is all said and done, no one will be able to say they didn’t know. Whether they agree or not is a different story. But they won’t say they didn’t know,” Edwards said.
Governor appoints new member to WIU board
The Executive Director of Philanthropy for The Art Institute of Chicago is now a member of the Western’s Board of Trustees.
Erika Lowe Mullins is also a WIU alumna. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Communication from Western.
Governor JB Pritzker’s appointment of Lowe Mullins must still be confirmed by the Illinois Senate, though she can begin serving while awaiting confirmation.
The governor’s office said that prior to joining The Art Institute of Chicago, Lowe Mullins fundraised with the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and the University of South Carolina.
She fills the vacancy on the WIU board that was created when Greg Aguilar resigned last fall.
Aguilar served on the board from March 2019 to September 2023.
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