Board of Trustees action items, February 20, 2026

The Board of Trustees of Illinois State University approved several resolutions at its regular quarterly meeting on February 20, 2026. Full text of the resolutions can be found on the Board of Trustees website.

Consent Agenda: All items listed on the Consent Agenda are considered routine and enacted in one motion. Details regarding Consent Agenda items are provided under Meeting Materials in the link above.

Tuition, Fees, and Room and Board Rates

The Board approved tuition, fees, and room and board rates for the 2026-2027 academic year. The total annual cost for new full-time undergraduate students will increase $1,143.29 (4.15%) over the previous year to $28,705.29,before financial aid is applied. For undergraduate students in programs with differential tuition (Mennonite College of Nursing, College of Business, College of Engineering, Cyber Security, and Computer Science), total cost will increase by $1,233.90 (4.2%) to $30,605.80.

Total costs include the following:

• Tuition- The tuition increase only applies to the incoming class and is the guaranteed rate for the next four yearsdue to the State of Illinois' Truth in Tuitionstatute.
  • $422.30 per credit hour ($844.60 out-of-state) for general undergraduate students, and $485.65 per credit hour ($971.29 for out-of-state students) for students in programs with differential tuition. Both represent a five percent increase over the previous year.
  • $443.70per credit hour for graduate students ($921.61 out-of-state), five percent increase over the previous year. No changes were implemented for graduate specialized program pricing. The Truth-in-Tuition statute does not apply to graduate tuition rates.
• Room and Board - Housing continues to be impacted by increases in operational expenses, including but not limited to utilities, facility maintenance and repairs, property insurance, and university overhead. In addition, personnel costs have increased due to contractual salary obligations and the campus wage program.
  • Students will pay between $3,373 and $5,769 per semester, depending on the type of residence hall room. Rates for Cardinal Court apartments will range from $5,172 to $7,234 per semester, depending on apartment configuration and occupancy. These housing rates represent a four percent increase over the previous year.
  • Residential meal plans will range in price from $2,716 to $2,918 per semester. The rates represent a four percent increase over the previous academic year.
• Mandatory Student Fees
  • $119.21 per credit hour for undergraduate and graduate students. This represents a 1.71 percent increase over the previous academic year.

STEM Building Financing Plan

Trustees authorized expenditures, not to exceed $4 million per year, from the Academic Enhancement Fee (AEF), to pay debt service on the University's portion of a proposed STEM Building. The State of Illinois has appropriated approximately 50% of the building's originally estimated cost, and a final, updated project cost will be determined once design documents are completed. The total cost is expected to be presented at the May 8, 2026, Board of Trustees meeting. This authorization meets Capital Development Board requirements of the University to formally identify and validate its funding source for the institutional share of the project prior to initiating construction activities and meet a tight construction timeline to have the facility ready for student use by Fall 2028.

Center for Performing Arts' Audio and Lighting Systems Upgrade

Trustees approved a $3.2 million construction project to begin at the Center for Performing Arts on April 20, 2026, that will upgrade the sound, lighting, and public address systems. Zeller Electric is awarded the contract, with substantial completion required by September 1, 2026. Funding for the project is from bond revenue reserves and utility LED lighting rebates will be utilized to offset project costs.

Naming of the Julie and Bob Dobski Concourse

The Board approved the naming of the concourse in the CEFCU Arena as the ""Julie and Bob Dobski Concourse," in recognition of the generous financial commitment to Illinois State University. Julie and Bob Dobski have been advocates of Illinois State University for several decades, with Bob serving on both the ISU Foundation Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees and Julie serving as a member of the College of Business Advisory Council. Julie was also awarded an honorary doctorate from Illinois State. Their dedication to philanthropy has had a major impact on the University and the entire Bloomington-Normal community.