Dear Colleagues:
I write to share a few highlights from today’s meeting of the Board of Trustees.
Kay Bales, vice president for Enrollment Planning and Management, shared an update about our enrollment figures. This Fall, our University enrolled 22,541 students; that’s an all-time record. We also welcomed our largest, most academically qualified, and most diverse freshman class in our institution’s 101-year history. More than 76 percent of these freshmen have earned an academic honors diploma, which is also a record. And our off-campus enrollment, which includes our online students, increased for the seventh consecutive year to a record-high 6,572 students.
This news is very encouraging. But over the past two to three years, our undergraduate retention rate has declined. As I indicated in my remarks at last month’s Fall Convocation, we have more work to do. Student success is the top priority for each and every one of us at our University.
The Board accepted targets for 13 of the 29 metrics it approved at the May 3 meeting. These targets will help us track our progress toward the five goals in our new strategic plan.
The Board also approved the structure and premium rates for the healthcare and dental plans that will be provided to current employees and retirees in 2020. Consistent with past years, modest premium increases are necessary to cover our medical claims and expenses. Detailed information about these changes and plan options for 2020 will be made available later this Fall both online and through other communication channels, including educational presentations and informal “meet and greets” on campus.
On another note related to healthcare, the Board approved our recommendation to eliminate retiree health and dental insurance coverage for employees who are hired into benefit-eligible positions on or after January 1, 2020. No other public university in Indiana offers this benefit to new employees. And our employees have told us that this benefit is not a determining factor in their decision to accept an offer to work at Ball State. But the change
will not affect current employees or retirees.
The Board also delegated some additional authority to administer our employees’ retirement plans to our new vice president for Business Affairs and treasurer, Alan Finn. This authority will enable Alan and his team to align our current defined contribution retirement program with industry best practices in order to fulfill our fiduciary responsibility to our employees. Alan has extensive experience managing retirement plans, and he will consult with experts and stakeholders as needed. He will make decisions based on the best interest of our employees.
At the end of the Board meeting, I made a few comments. If you would like to read my remarks, please
visit the website.
It is a privilege to serve with you, and I am grateful for your encouragement and support.
