June 13, 2025
Dear Colleagues:
I send this message to share some information about today’s meeting of the Board of Trustees.
During the meeting, the Board approved the next iteration of our long-term strategic plan, which reaffirmed our University’s mission, our enduring values, and our five principal goals. This decision extends Destination 2040: Our Flight Path through 2030.
The Board’s approval is the culmination of a year-long, consultative process in which our strategic planning committee gathered feedback from you through surveys, working groups, and open forums. More than 7,000 employees, students, and graduates responded to our two surveys. And more than 300 people served on one of our ten working groups or participated in one of our eight open forums.
I encourage you to learn about the enhancements we made to this guiding document by reading our revised plan, which we will begin implementing this Summer.
Also during the meeting today, the Board approved our operating budget for the next academic year.
I suspect that most of you have already heard about the reductions in our state operating appropriations in each of the next two years. These reductions total approximately $14 million per year. At the direction of Governor Braun, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (ICHE) also recommended that all public institutions not increase tuition and mandatory fees in both of the next academic years. I recommended that the Board comply with ICHE’s recommendations, and the Board agreed. Had we raised tuition and mandatory fees by 3%, that would have generated an additional $6 million of revenue in each of the next two academic years.
As a result of these challenges, many public institutions across the state have begun to lay off staff to reduce their expenses. For example, Indiana University has embarked upon a process to reduce the institution’s annual operating budget by $200 million, and Ivy Tech recently announced that it will eliminate more than 200 faculty and staff positions.
Because of our University’s long-term fiscal strength, and our ongoing commitment to fiscal discipline, we are able to balance our operating budget next year without taking immediate actions to address this anticipated shortfall. Next year, though, we will engage in a deliberate process to identify prudent and strategic steps to operate more efficiently, yet equally effectively.
Unfortunately, our FY26 operating budget does not afford the capacity to provide recurring salary increases for our faculty and staff. At my recommendation, however, the Board did approve a $1,500 salary supplement for all eligible full-time employees and a $750 salary supplement for all eligible part-time employees. These salary supplements will be provided to eligible employees in September 2025.
I know that the news about the impact of the state budget reductions on our operating budget is difficult. Despite these challenges, we are committed to recognize your sustained efforts by providing this one-time salary supplement and by continuing to provide our Days of Beneficence.
Today, for the fifth consecutive year, the Board approved my recommendation to provide these extra vacation days to all of you at the end of the calendar year. Our 2025: Days of Beneficence will occur on Friday, December 26, 2025; Monday, December 29, 2025; Tuesday, December 30, 2025; Wednesday, December 31, 2025; and Friday, January 2, 2026.
Consistent with our University’s enduring value of gratitude, these additional days of rest and relaxation—as well as the 10 other holidays approved by our Board—are a demonstration of our appreciation for your hard work and your dedication. Please enjoy this time with your family and friends. I am grateful for your service.
I hope that you have a restful, productive, and safe Summer.
