SIU Board re-elects Phil Gilbert as chair, approves campus real estate purchases and housing planning; athletics, DEI highlighted

Phil Gilbert was re-elected chair of the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees in a roll‑call vote at the board’s full meeting. The board also elected Ed Hightower as vice chair and Subhash Sharma as secretary, appointed John Simmons and Roger Tedrick to the executive committee, and approved a series of budget, real estate, personnel and policy actions across the SIU system.

Why it matters: The votes authorize near‑term campus capital moves in Springfield and Carbondale, start planning to replace aging student housing at SIU Edwardsville’s Cougar Village, and formalize leadership for board committees while the system continues work on enrollment, fundraising and academic priorities. The meeting also featured detailed briefings on student‑athlete academic performance and a sustained discussion defending the university’s diversity, equity and inclusion work.

Board organization and appointments Phil Gilbert told the board, “I declare by majority of voting members present, I’ve been elected as chair of the board again,” after the roll call election. The board then elected Ed Hightower as vice chair and Subhash Sharma as secretary; John Simmons and Roger Tedrick were elected to the executive committee and Simmons was elected to represent the board on the State University Civil Service Merit Board.

Athletics reports: academic success and fiscal uncertainty Andrew Gavin, director of athletics at SIU Edwardsville, told trustees the SIUE athletics program reported a combined student‑athlete GPA of 3.32 for the fall and that “this past fall of 2024 marked the seventh consecutive semester where our student athletes combined to post a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.” He highlighted that each of the 14 programs posted a team GPA above 3.0 and that SIUE’s 2020–2024 cohort registered a Graduation Success Rate (GSR) near the top nationally.

Tim Leonard, director of athletics at SIU Carbondale, described departmental metrics for GPA, APR and federal graduation rates and said the goal is to raise the department APR (academic progress rate) because “the APR is the one that can really get you in trouble” — penalties apply for low APRs. Leonard and Gavin both flagged the transfer portal and the pending nationwide settlement in the NCAA name/likeness litigation as factors that are changing the fiscal landscape for college athletics.

University leadership framed those reports in a national context. President Daniel Mahoney said the ‘‘House settlement’’ — a multi‑billion‑dollar resolution tied to past student‑athlete claims over pay opportunities — injects uncertainty into future revenue distributions, and that the university’s athletic and academic leaders “have to anticipate everything is moving so fast.”

School of Medicine master plan and Springfield real estate Dean Dan Cruz presented the School of Medicine master plan and a portfolio of recent and proposed Springfield property actions. Cruz described purchases and pending purchases in the Mid‑Illinois Medical District intended to bring the School of Medicine’s clinical and administrative spaces into university ownership. He said the board‑recommended purchases include two occupied clinic/office buildings at 201 E. Madison Street (approximately 88,900 square feet) and 520 N. Fourth Street (approximately 61,000 square feet) with a combined purchase price and closing costs the presentation listed at about $39.1 million; Cruz told the board the acquisitions will be funded with external financing and repaid with non‑appropriated School of Medicine funds and will require Illinois Board of Higher Education approval prior to commitment.

Trustees approved renewal of an existing lease for clinic and clinical education space with HSHS St. John’s (five years, lease costs described as just under $3.5 million from non‑appropriated funds) and approved market‑based purchases of additional properties in the School of Medicine footprint (transcript listed a $145,000 total market purchase price with $60,000 in demolition costs for three properties on Walnut and Franklin; the board approved those items as presented).

Student housing planning at SIUE Campus representatives presented a feasibility study for Cougar Village (formerly Tower Lake Apartments), built in 1969 and 1974, which the consultants and campus leaders said is beyond its useful life and increasingly expensive to maintain. The study recommended a multi‑phase renewal and replacement program; trustees voted to approve planning and cost‑estimation work to design a replacement and renewal project for Cougar Village.

International recruitment contract (Carbondale) Trustees approved a five‑year contract with INTO University Partnerships to support international student recruitment for SIU Carbondale, to be funded from tuition revenue generated by newly recruited students. The contract specifies a 25% commission on first‑year tuition for recruited students and 10% on subsequent years. The board approved an amendment proposed during the meeting: students recruited from institutions that are already under memorandum‑of‑understanding (MOU) arrangements granting in‑state tuition will be excluded from the commission arrangement.

Personnel and policy items The board approved the appointment of Miriam Rachia as SIUE vice chancellor for student affairs and approved proposed revisions to board policies intended to clarify reporting‑line approval requirements and to create a dedicated intellectual property section. Trustees also approved removal of Cougar Village Tract Number 44 from the revenue bond system (the farmhouse on that tract will be demolished) and approved a revised award for Schneider Hall fire‑alarm replacement on the Carbondale campus (revised project cost $2,000,000 funded from housing repair and replacement reserves).

Diversity, equity and inclusion discussion Sheila Call, identified in the remarks as vice president for anti‑racism, diversity, equity and inclusion, addressed recent national criticism of DEI efforts. Call said the university’s DEI initiatives have produced measurable improvements in retention rates and healthcare access and argued the work is essential: “The work of advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion requires long term commitment and intentional action to break down barriers,” she said. Multiple trustees emphasized that search and hiring processes must meet consistent standards and that SIU will continue DEI work while monitoring any legal or regulatory changes.

Votes at a glance - Election of Phil Gilbert as chair — approved (majority roll call). - Election of Ed Hightower as vice chair and Subhash Sharma as secretary — approved (roll call). - Election of John Simmons and Roger Tedrick to the executive committee — approved (roll call). - Election of John Simmons as representative to the State University Civil Service Merit Board — approved (roll call). - Approval of revisions to board legislation and bylaws as presented — approved (finance committee roll call). - Removal of Cougar Village Tract Number 44 from revenue bond system — approved. - Appointment of Miriam Rachia as SIUE vice chancellor for student affairs — approved. - Approval of INTO international recruitment contract (Carbondale) with in‑meeting amendment excluding MOU in‑state students from commission — approved (roll call; amendment accepted). - Renewal of HSHS St. John’s lease for clinic space — approved. - Acquisition/purchase approvals for School of Medicine properties (including 201 E. Madison Street and 520 N. Fourth Street) and associated financing plan (subject to IBHE approval where required) — approved. - Schneider Hall fire alarm revised project and budget (revised total $2,000,000) — approved. - Planning approval to develop designs and cost estimates for Cougar Village renewal/replacement — approved.

What trustees said next: closing and next meeting Chair Gilbert set the next scheduled board meeting for April 17 at SIU Carbondale. A news conference was announced to follow the meeting. The board adjourned following the roll call that closed the meeting.

Ending note: what remains to watch Several approved items require follow‑up work: contractual implementation for the INTO arrangement, IBHE approval and external financing for the School of Medicine purchases, demolition and bond‑system changes tied to campus property, and the detailed planning and funding strategy for Cougar Village replacement. Trustees asked campus leaders to return with implementation details and financial plans as those projects move forward.