Indiana State University Newsroom

Even as Indiana State University continues to upgrade campus housing, the cost of room and board is increasing by the smallest percentage in more than 10 years.

Trustees on Friday approved a 3 percent increase for campus residence halls for 2011-12 and a 3.5 percent increase for 2012-13. Rates for a standard double room and meal plan for incoming freshmen will be $7,990 this fall and $8,262 for the following year. The new rates reflect the lowest percentage increase since 1999.

Higher rates apply for enhanced suite-style rooms with air conditioning and suite baths, premium rooms with air conditioning and semi-private baths and for single rooms.

Rates for University Apartments will rise by 1.5 percent for 2011-12 and 1.75 percent for 2012-13. Rates include utilities, including cable television and wireless internet.

"Not only is this increase the lowest in many years, but it will enable us to continue our multi-year program of residence hall upgrades while keeping housing rates competitive with the local market," said Diann McKee, vice president for business affairs and finance.

Pickerl Hall is set to re-open next fall following a $10 million renovation to create double-occupancy rooms and private bathrooms, individual heat and air conditioning controls and wireless internet. Pickerl Hall will have space for 235 students. Erickson Hall, which currently houses classrooms and offices, is in line for renovation beginning later this year and will return to its original purpose as a residence hall.

Trustees heard details of a new performance evaluation system that will enable the university to better assess and acknowledge the work of faculty while also identifying those whose performance is not acceptable and in need of additional support, said Jack Maynard, ISU provost and vice president for academic affairs.

"This new system will also connect more effectively compensation to performance," Maynard said. "This evaluation model is the result of two years of discussions involving faculty committees, the Faculty Senate and the university administration. It will go a long way toward accomplishing goal six of the university's strategic plan, which is to recruit and retain great faculty."

Under the new model, more than 85 percent of funds set aside for salary adjustments will go to faculty who are performing at or above expectations.

In conjunction with continued restructuring of academic programs, the board approved name changes for two departments.

The department of health, safety and environmental health sciences was renamed the department of applied health sciences. The department includes dietetics, food service management, health sciences, human development and family studies, family and consumer sciences education and driver's education licensure. The department's safety management program was moved to the department of built environment in the College of Technology.

"The department of applied health sciences has undergone many changes during the past year as part of the continued restructuring of programs to better meet the changing health care needs of Indiana and the nation. The new name more accurately reflects the disciplines in the department," Maynard said.

In the Bayh College of Education, the name of the department of educational leadership, administration and foundations was shortened to department of educational leadership.

"This change provides greater focus on the preparation of leaders for K-12 schools and post-secondary institutions. The Bayh College of Education and the department want that mission of leadership to be clearly identified in the name," Maynard said.

Trustees agreed to seek state approval to purchase the non-transit portion of the Cherry Street Multi-Modal Transportation Facility pending approval by the Federal Transit Administration and the city of Terre Haute. The university owns the land on which the facility sits and currently leases half of its 626 parking spaces. Following the purchase, ISU would operate the parking garage portion of the facility as part of its campus parking system.

The sale, at a price not to exceed $4.85 million, would provide the city with funds to pay down bonds, freeing up funds for other downtown development projects, said Cliff Lambert, executive director of the city's Department of Redevelopment.

"This proposal would accelerate the long-range plan put into place when the university and the city worked together to obtain federal funding for this project," said Lambert.

The sale would also help the university address a growing need for parking due to increased enrollments and the planned relocation of the Scott College of Business to the former Federal Building at Seventh and Cherry streets, said McKee.

The university would finance the sale from reserve funds and short-term borrowing. The sale must be advertised in the Federal Register and also requires approval by the Terre Haute Board of Public Works, the regional office of the Federal Transit Administration, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and the State Budget Committee.

In other action, ISU trustees:• Approved an extension through 2021 of the Sodexo Dining Services contract that provides for space in Hulman Memorial Student Union now occupied by the Barnes & Noble College Bookstore to be renovated for additional dining services • Approved a revised policy streamlining appeals of student residency determinations and eliminating a requirement for signatures to be notarized• Authorized a $10 fee for a new service to provide transcripts online, with an increase in fees for other transcript services• Approved revised fees for 14 courses campus-wide, for new student orientation, library fines and fees, and an increase in the financial process fee for installment payment of tuition, late payments and bad checks• Approved contributions to the faculty pension fund for summer session earnings and department chair stipends for regular faculty• Delegated to the university president and treasurer authority to set rental rates for the use of university owned and operated venues by off-campus entities.

Media contact and writer: Dave Taylor, media relations director, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3743 or dave.taylor@indstate.edu.