Dr. Katrina Bell-Jordan, almost a month after her inauguration ceremony as the university’s official eighth president, looked ahead to new projects in place, reflected on increasing enrollment and decreasing retention, urged the university community to engage with ongoing surveys and additional public events, and more in this school year’s State of the University speech. During the Q&A, the recent passing of a Nest resident, Nest policies, meal plans, and student employment were among concerns addressed by President Bell-Jordan and present cabinet members. 

New projects in place

The NEIU administration is currently invested in three major initiatives: a One Stop Center, a Veteran Center, and the new NEIUport.

Upon completion of the One Stop Center, students across all three of NEIU’s campuses are to gain access to a more centralized system that comprises of admissions, undergraduate and graduate recruitment, registration, advising, and financial services, with access to online and chat functions as well as a centralized email and phone system. 

“Quite honestly,” President Bell-Jordan shared, “a One Stop Center can be a game changer for NEIU.” While briefly mentioning the initiative as a building block in the university’s future application for the Seal of Excellencia, she also emphasized the One Stop Center’s ability “to enhanc[e] efficiencies…reducing the need for students to visit multiple offices.”

Similarly, a new Veterans Services Center will be established on the fourth floor of the Ronald Williams Library in the coming year. The $145,000 in grant funding required for its construction was attributed to Senator Tammy Duckworth.

“We are also pleased to introduce the new and upgraded Newport platform,” President Bell-Jordan transitioned, “tailored specifically to enhance the daily operations of NEIU faculty, staff and students.” The redesign of NEIUport, which is now also hosting DegreeWorks – a platform viewable to students as the degree audit system under “Degree Progress” on the homepage – would allow students and advisors to “design a streamlined academic planning process to contribute to higher student retention and, of course, to save our students time and money.”

When one attendee asked during the Q&A whether students have been polled to see if the new NEIUport actually improved, Dr. Claudia Mercado, Interim Vice President of Enrollment Services, responded that with the platform running for just three weeks, there hasn’t been enough time yet to collect data. 

However, “it’s not just going to be on the students. We have to also see how it is for all faculty and … employees.” Dr. Mercado emphasized the importance of “fixing any glitches as we go … because this is going to be a learning semester for us,” at least until going through a full registration cycle.

Other aspects of NEIU’s strategic planning include improving the El Centro campus for the next ten years, launching the Carruthers Legacy Growth Initiative, and introducing the previously mentioned new NEIUport platform.

Other ongoing and future projects include a new building E campus entrance, funded by the Capital Development Board; an auditorium refresh at CCICS in response to water damage as well as “modest improvements” to the main campus auditorium and Stage Center Theater, funded by the Pell 55 grant; a new education building that could begin construction in March 2025; going through the design phase of making NEIU’s own nursing program; and increasing visibility through expanding campus branding and marketing.

President Bell-Jordan also highlighted academic affairs initiatives: these include the launching of the redesigned Master of Arts in Teaching Program in early childhood education, and NEIU accelerated master’s program, this fall; a Doctorate in leadership, equity and inquiry, and a Master of Science in Nursing to be reviewed by the Illinois Board of Higher Education in November; the Peace Corps prep certificate program launched by the Department of World Languages and Cultures in 2024; many other accomplishments were also mentioned at the departmental level.

Increasing enrollment and decreasing retention

• NEIU witnessed a 4.2% increase in fall enrollment, with 567 new freshmen representing a 2.5% increase from last year’s cohort and 682 new transfer students representing a 14.4% increase from last year. 
• However, despite “strong new graduate student enrollment this fall,” 450 new students shows a 4% decrease from last year.
• Transfer student retention this fall increased to 80% from 77.5% last fall.
• However, NEIU did not achieve its retention goal of 62% for freshman students, yielding only 52.4% retention of this group this fall.

Of the increases, President Bell-Jordan asked the audience to “note that NEIU was one of only a few public universities this fall in Illinois to have had an increase in enrollment this fall.”

Of the decreases, President Bell-Jordan said, “there is important work to be done here,” elaborating on the potential effectiveness of scheduling orientation during later summer days as well as a review and revision of the First Year Experience (FYE) Program, which includes an advisory council and the creation of the FYE peer mentor program.

In comparison of these particular student groups with the fall class,

• 75% of students applied with FAFSA on file,
• 56% of students overall received federal pell grant awards,
• 81% of new freshmen and new transfer students received some federal and state assistance, 
• 73% of all students receive some form of assistance – including FAFSA, Rise Act, and other scholarships.

President Bell-Jordan also sees the One Stop Center as an initiative “strategically designed to enhance student success and retention for all NEIU students, particularly to support our Latinx, Black, and Pell eligible students.”

In terms of other financial funding,

• The NEIU Board of Trustees approved a fiscal 25 final operating budget of $90.9 million, a 6.6% increase from fiscal 24.
• Employee salaries and benefits account for 75% of the university’s expenses. 
• The Affordable College Materials (ACM) initiative resulted in three faculty cohorts completing summer course programs since 2021, with 28 faculty adopting affordable course materials (which are thought to be $40 or less) in over 34 courses.
• The ACM initiative has impacted approximately 870 students and has yielded a net savings to students of more than $105,000.
• The NEIU Foundation raised $2.9 million for fiscal 24 in philanthropic gifts from individuals, corporations and foundations; this was an increase from $2.4 million in fiscal 23.
• The NEIU Foundation increased its endowment value by 47% over the last five years, from 13.4 million to 19.7 million.
• Associated with endowment growth, the NEIU Foundation increased its annual endowment drawdown from $293,000 to $600,000.
• $2.8 million in fiscal 24 is given to students, primarily for scholarships, grants, and programmatic support.

“That is nearly 105%,” President Bell-Jordan said of the endowment drawdown, “which underscores NEIU’s commitment to supporting our students and enhancing the resources that we are able to provide for them.”

Ongoing survey

Students are encouraged to complete the ongoing basic needs survey, organized by the Advocacy and Resource Center (ARC) committee. The survey aims to identify resources and support facing basic needs and housing insecurity. Responses would influence what the Student Pantry, Peer Wellness Coaches, and other campus resources are able to provide.

In response to concerns brought up in the Q&A regarding employment and salaries, attendees were encouraged to also participate in public university hearings where those topics are discussed in further detail, such as the Finance, Buildings and Grounds Committee’s monthly meetings.

Q&A and statement of acknowledgment

During Q&A, a group of Nest residents and nonresidents alike wanted clarification on Nest organization and resources.

One student said, to much applause from the audience, “as far as the guest policy and student safety and present staff … there should be clear guidelines, especially when it’s at the risk of students’ lives … we can’t beat around the bush. We need to be direct and communicate. We are all adults in this room … So, I just want clarification on what’s going on at the Nest and how are we … taking it seriously?”

In response, Dr. Terry Mena, Vice President and Dean of Students for Student Affairs, said “this is an ongoing conversation,” elaborating on how various committees have been meeting since the beginning of this semester to put together plans that are still in the works for the Nest.

One such initiative is to bring back Goldie Bucks. “It’s your closest when it comes to a meal plan option,” Dr. Mena said. “We’re going to have a full report flushed out by the middle of next semester … again, that’s more than just the cafeteria. We’re looking at other things that we can add – things like having food trucks, visits, [possibly] br[inging] back the coffee space over in the library … a lot of ideas are being thrown out.” 

He continued, “But, coming out of the pandemic, it has been difficult for a lot of our food vendors … so we’re allowing them time to gear back up so that we can provide a more thorough food offering.”

Another attendee inquired specifically about what procedures were in place to acknowledge the recent passing of a Nest resident.

“The passing of Stephan’s life is something that has been very critical to all of us,” Dr. Mena said. “And as we move forward, we’re going to begin to work with you all, work with many students that are in the space and beyond the space to begin to celebrate his life … Many of us are still processing, grieving, trying to understand questions of why, and that process itself will take time.”

Dr. Mena encouraged reaching out to NEIU’s available counseling resources and said the staff have been able to help many students in both individual and group sessions.

“It is a reminder of how fragile life is and how precious are the connections we have with our students, our colleagues, our friends and our own loved ones,” President Bell-Jordan said at the very beginning of her address – an address that “gave me an opportunity to reflect on the history of the university and to look forward to its future.”

“Everything we do here at NEIU is in service and support for you and is a reflection of our commitment to providing you the very best educational environment and opportunities we can,” President Bell-Jordan said – a callback to her State of the University speech last year – quite literally demonstrating looking back and moving forward.

Past transcripts of the University’s address can be viewed on the university’s website. At the time of publishing, it has not been updated to reflect the current year.

Note: this article was written much earlier than the publication date. It just got lost in the publishing process 😭