Southern Illinois University Carbondale has challenges to address, but it's CEO says the campus has many strengths that will help it through difficult times. Listen to Interim Chancellor Colwell's State of the University Address here.
In his State of the University Address, Interim SIUC Chancellor Brad Colwell said budget pressures and enrollment declines continue to be the biggest obstacles. But Colwell also outlined goals are being set to begin turning things around by the the fall of 2018.
"Increasing new freshman and transfer enrollment by at least 10% each, increasing graduate enrollment by 10% and increasing retention of first-time freshmen to 70% - up from this year's rate of 64.3%."
Colwell says he wants to strengthen the overall student experience on campus - including in areas of diversity and inclusivity.
Among other changes, Colwell says he will soon fill a new position tasked with addressing issues of diversity on campus.
"Our new Interim Associate Chancellor of Diversity will have a responsibility for a number of initiatives, including mandatory training for search committees, and a climate survey focusing on diversity and inclusive excellence."
Colwell says he'll also have updates to initiatives launched last spring in response to concerns about diversity and inclusivity. He says those should be announced later this week, with many changes expected this academic year.
When it comes to finances, Colwell says more cuts must be made.
"Of the $21 million made at the beginning of this year, more than $5 million were in administrative costs. That said, I will still be asking our Vice Chancellors to make an additional 5% cut in administrative cost reductions over the next year."
He also says he wants to strengthen the overall student experience, improve diversity and inclusivity, and work more closely on a regional basis as an economic and social engine for southern Illinois.
