By Patrick Baron
NORMAL – Illinois State University will be offering two new degrees starting this fall.
At Friday’s Board of Trustees meeting, it was unanimously agreed upon that the school add two new academic degrees – a Master’s Degree in Business Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Systems Science and Sustainability. ISU president Larry Dietz explained there is a growing need for workers in those fields. He noted adding those degrees provides more avenues for students to further their education.
“We want to make sure we have a strong core curriculum that emphasizes the important aspects of critical thinking and working in groups,” said Dietz.
Dietz added ISU is trying to be practical in what it offers.
The board also unanimously agreed to authorize renovations on the lower level of Julian Hall and providing an expanded budget for repairs to the Milner Library Plaza.
The university will hire consultants for the architectural design of the lower level of Julian Hall, which will be designated for classrooms and student collaboration spaces within the cybersecurity major. The $750,000 project will be funded by the university and a grant from State Farm.
The board approved spending an additional $4.6 million to repair and renovate the Milner Library Plaza deck and first floor document storage area. The board previously approved using $1.9 million for the project in 2016. Board members cited significant and previously undetectable deterioration of the deck’s infrastructure. First floor document storage areas have reportedly suffered significant water damage.
The project will be paid for by university funds.
Patrick Baron can be reached at [email protected].
