ISU is beginning to craft its long-term financial plan to maintain educational quality, affordability and high levels of enrollment to combat the dwindling levels of state support.

With Bowman’s retirement nearing, ISU is looking to redesign its financial plan.

Faculty and staff are looking forward to the development of something greater to move ISU forward as a pioneer of higher education.

Administrative teams have been designing the structure of the plan, starting off with student input and suggestions.

Vice President of Finance and Planning Dan Layzell and Provost Sheri Noren Everts are collaborating on the project and have outlined questions used within the survey to target some specifics they hope to learn from the student body.

In an effort to devise a unified financial plan, an online survey and two public forums are being used to gauge feedback and opinions throughout the beginning stages of the process.

Layzell and Everts are working together to begin soliciting input for the financial plans.

A survey is available at MovingForward.ilstu.edu that asks five questions related to a variety of academic and financial issues.

The survey is directed toward student interests and will hopefully project some insight into students’ opinions on their own financial experiences based off of their ISU experience thus far.

Layzell and Everts are dedicated to including students’ perspectives within their decision-making process.

“This is part of our efforts to consult with the campus community in the long-range financial planning process,” Layzell and Everts said.

The questions being asked in the survey and the input by survey participants will provide Layzell and Everts with ideas and themes to consider in the development of the recommendations made.

ISU President Al Bowman requested the financial task force in his State of the University address back in September, several months before announcing his retirement.

Layzell and Everts are confident that their strategy will be beneficial in planning with student input in mind and will give the new president a great starting point for his career.

“This plan should provide the new president with a comprehensive roadmap to navigate the financial opportunities and challenges facing ISU in the next several years,” Layzell and Everts said.

This effort is intended to ensure ISU’s academic quality and to enable the institution to continue making progress toward Educating Illinois.

Students are encouraged to complete the survey and follow the decisions made along the way.

Information regarding the financial plan process can be found at MovingForward.ilstu.edu.