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Board Agendas, Minutes & Audio


Wednesday, March 18, 2026 - 2:00 p.m.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Health Sciences Complex, Room 1340,
200 University Park Dr., Edwardsville, IL 62025 and Zoom

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Agenda (PDF)

Calendar

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Minutes

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Meeting Agenda

A. Call to Order/Roll Call

  • Call Meeting to Order and Remarks, Pranav Kothari, Chair

  • Action to Permit Board Member Virtual Attendance

  • Welcome and Remarks, Dr. James T. Minor, Chancellor, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

  • Executive Director Report, Ginger Ostro, Executive Director

B. Resolution and Recognition – Action Item

  • Consideration and Approval of Resolution Honoring Retiring Board Member

C. Advisory Committee Update

Student Advisory Committee

  • Raul Asante Adjei-Boateng, Chair of the Student Advisory Committee, Eastern Illinois University

  • Jackie Guzman, Committee Member, University of Illinois Springfield

D. “A Thriving Illinois” Progress Report

  • Ginger Ostro, Executive Director, IBHE

  • Brian Durham, Executive Director, Illinois Community College Board

  • Eric Zarnikow, Executive Director, Illinois Student Assistance Commission; Ex Officio Member, Representing the Chair

E. Break

F. Public Comment

  1. Request from Members of the Public to Address the Board

G. Action Items

  1. Consideration and Approval of Ad Hoc Strategy Committee

  2. Consideration and Approval of New Units of Instruction at Public Service, and Research at Public Universities (Dr. Nkechi Onwuameze)

  3. Consideration and Approval of New Operating and/or Degree- Granting Authority for Independent Institutions (Dr. Nkechi Onwuameze)

H. Consent Agenda Action Items

  1. Consideration and Approval of Board Meeting Minutes – January 21, 2026
  2. Consideration and Approval of Non-Instructional Capital Projects – Eastern Illinois University
  3. Consideration and Approval of Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois Program Approval of Nominations to the DFI Program Board
  4. Consideration and Approval of Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois Program Fiscal Year Grant Allocation
  5. Consideration and Approval of IBHE Employee Handbook updates

I. Executive Session

  • Executive Session for the Purpose of Discussing Matters Pursuant to Sections 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1), 2(c)(21) and 2.06(d) of the Open Meetings Act

J. Action Item

  1. Consideration and Approval of Removing Confidentiality of Executive Session Minutes and Destruction of Verbatim Recording

K. Other Business

The next meeting will be Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at the CMS Regional Complex, in Springfield.

L. Adjournment

This meeting will be audio recorded and a copy may be requested through the IBHE website. Board agenda materials online at: www.ibhe.org.

In compliance with pertinent state and federal laws, this meeting will be accessible to persons with disabilities upon notification of anticipated attendance. Persons planning to attend and needing special accommodations should contact: Board Secretary, Illinois Board of Higher Education, 1 North Old State Capitol Plaza, Suite 333, Springfield, Illinois 62701, telephone: 217/557-7351 (TTD 217/524-3494), e-mail: boardsecretary@ibhe.org by March 16, 2026.