Illinois State University announces ratification of first UFISU contract

On Friday, April 4, 2025, Illinois State University and the United Faculty of Illinois State (UFISU), the Union representing Illinois State's approximately 650 tenured and tenure track faculty, reached an overall tentative agreement. Illinois State is pleased to confirm that, on Monday, April 14, 2025, UFISU notified the University that its members have ratified this tentative agreement. The resulting contract will be posted to the University's Human Resources webpage in the near future and will be in effect through June 30, 2028.

Illinois State's goal in these negotiations was for tenured and tenure-track faculty, at every rank, to be compensated in a manner that is competitive with the average at Peer Institutions (other R2 schools in the Midwest US Census Bureau Region), while also ensuring the long-term viability of Illinois State and its ability to provide excellent and affordable educational opportunities for all students. This contract addresses competitiveness with Peer Institutions by providing market adjustments to employees in the bargaining unit, including a 1.75% market adjustment to all employees in the unit effective May 1, 2025. Other key economic highlights of the agreement include:

• An across-the-board increase of 2.75% effective May 1, 2025
• Across the board increases effective January 1, 2026 (3.0%), January 1, 2027 (2.5%), and January 1, 2028 (2.5%)
• The opportunity for employees to earn additional increases each year of the contract, based on the employee's individual performance.

"This agreement reflects our shared commitment to academic excellence, fiscal responsibility, and the continued success of our students and faculty," said Illinois State University President Aondover Tarhule. "I want to express my sincere appreciation to all those who worked tirelessly at the bargaining table to reach this agreement and to everyone across campus who has shown patience, dedication, and resilience during this period."