Latest news with #IUBoardofTrustees
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Braun appointees join IU board; changes made to protest policy
Jim Bopp takes his oath at the IU Board of Trustees meeting on June 12, 2025. (Madelyn Hanes/Indiana Capital Chronicle) A newly constituted Indiana University Board of Trustees on Thursday changed the school's protest policy related to a federal lawsuit after Gov. Mike Braun's three new appointees were sworn in. Other topics included new degree programs, tuition and fees, and a legislative update. The governor recently removed three alumni-elected board members in favor of his own appointees after lawmakers gave him the new powers earlier this year. Two IU alumni silently held signs at the back of the room, urging President Pamela Whitten to sign a resolution by the American Association of Colleges and Universities condemning political interference in higher education. A third alum joined, standing for the entire session in protest of state overreach into university governance. The public meeting, held on IU Bloomington's campus, began with the swearing in of Braun's newly appointed trustees – sports reporter Sage Steele, conservative attorney James Bopp, Jr. and attorney Brian Eagle. 'Now that we have you, let's put you to work,' said Board Chairman Quinn Buckner. The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana has filed multiple lawsuits against IU over the last year. One of those challenged IU's expressive activity policy, claiming the time restrictions on when students can protest violate the First Amendment. IU's general counsel said they incorporated feedback from the university and the judge overseeing the lawsuit to make new amendments. The board unanimously passed the changes made to the policy, although the exact amendments were not discussed. The Expressive Activity Policy webpage has since changed and no longer includes the contested time restrictions on protests. The only trustee to make comments during discussion was Bopp, who praised the new amendments and mentioned he once protested at Dunn Meadow as an IU student. 'It's a hallowed ground, as far as I'm concerned.' Bopp said. The board also unanimously approved the tuition and fee proposals for the 2025-2027 academic years — despite a $60 million cut from the state budget. IU Chief Financial Officer Jason Dudich presented a two-year tuition freeze proposal for in-state tuition. But tuition for out-of-state undergraduate students will increase by 1%, and graduate programs will increase by 2%, with the exception of certain medical and health fields. The trustees also approved IU's 2026 fiscal year budget, which includes a 2% salary increase for faculty and staff, eliminates select unfilled positions to target reductions, limits operational expenses, and takes back support for non-academic programs. IU Provost Rahul Shrivastav presented seven new degree programs that were all unanimously approved by the board, too. The new programs are: B.S. in Computer Engineering B.S. in Global Media B.S. in Media Advertising B.S. in Public Relations M.S. in Media Leadership and Business B.S. in Business Intelligence and Data Science B.S. in Biomedical Sciences (IU Indy School of Science) Bopp continued his vocal participation in the meeting, questioning the cost of the new programs and if they mesh with recent Indiana legislative changes. He also at times pushed for more transparency on policy changes. Lawmakers passed language during the 2025 legislation to limit the number of programs based on degrees being conferred. Bopp asked if there had been any recommendations to terminate degree programs. Shrivastav said the school is still working out how many programs are likely to be cut. IU has to report by June 23 on how many degree programs are at risk, Bopp said. Vice President for University Relations Michael Huber said IU is among the most competitive institutions for federal research funding. However, he's concerned that proposed federal budget cuts to the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation and federal student aid could jeopardize IU's research. 'The biggest concern down the road is federal funding,' Huber said. The board also heard a legislative update and approved updates to 26 policies to ensure compliance with new state legislation. Several university policies have already been revised on IU's website. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Indianapolis Star
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Indianapolis Star
Mike Braun justifies IU board takeover by claiming Purdue is better. Huh?
Research universities are inherently messy. Research is unpredictable. No one knew that Gregor Mendel's research on peas would lead to the green revolution. No one realized research in the field of space quantization would lead to the development of lasers or quantum computing. Penicillin was discovered by accident. Studies on gambling have helped to explain the behavior of stock markets and outbreaks of viral diseases. Cognitive scientists and education researchers have found that experiencing failure is an essential part of learning. No one predicted that research on DNA would lead to advances in genetics and biotechnology. There are risks for any individual or group believing they can pick winners and losers when it comes to research. Opinion: I was running for IU Board of Trustees — until Mike Braun took it over The path of the Indiana General Assembly should concern any of us who have benefitted from a research breakthrough. The legislature is dictating how faculty governance should work at Indiana University, becoming increasingly prescriptive regarding tenure and long-term employment. Is the next step dictating what should be counted as acceptable research? Gov. Mike Braun has suggested that Purdue University does a better job of preparing Hoosiers for careers than IU. Over 80% of all graduates of Indiana University Bloomington live and work in the state, compared to 60% of Purdue graduates. Which university directly benefits Indiana? Braun has suggested that changes in the composition of the board of trustees, with the governor choosing all members, will lead to a smoother governance process. A large body of research indicates that prioritizing a smooth decision-making process risks stifling innovation and creativity, poor risk management, ethical oversight and cultural openness. This threatens long-term resilience and success. Academic governance enhances an institution's overall research output and impact. Trustees should not be involved in the details of all disagreements. However, it is hard to imagine that a board overseeing any complex organization would not disagree sometimes. It should not always be a smooth process. Indiana University's governance should be open and transparent, even when disagreements arise. If the only rationale the governor can point to for changes in how trustees are appointed is an inaccurate statement about which university prepares Hoosiers for jobs in the state of Indiana, then we have a problem. We should be equally concerned that IU President Pamela Whitten has not spoken out about these issues.
Axios
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Indiana Statehouse follows Trump's MAGA playbook
Indiana's Republican lawmakers passed a raft of legislation this year that mirrors President Trump's MAGA agenda. Why it matters: Trump has been quick to reshape American life and enact a new conservative order that state leaders are seemingly using as a roadmap. Zoom in: They've followed Trump's footsteps in dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, targeting higher education and the transgender community, and looking for ways to cut spending on and limit access to entitlement programs like Medicaid. Here are four issues where lawmakers passed legislation that mirrors Trump's MAGA agenda: 🛠️ Dismantling DEI Trump has issued several sweeping executive orders revoking decades of diversity and affirmative action practices in the federal government. What he did: He ordered the termination of all DEI programs in the federal government — including in employment procedures, union contracts and training policies — and eliminated all DEI positions. What Indiana did: Gov. Mike Braun issued an executive order ending DEI practices in favor of what he calls "MEI," or merit, excellence and innovation. Lawmakers followed up by passing Senate Bill 289. It outlaws discrimination in education, public employment and licensing based on race, religion, color, sex, national origin or ancestry. 👩🎓 Targeting higher education Higher education was an early target of the Trump administration. What he did: The administration is squeezing universities by threatening funding cuts for everything from violating DEI policies to antisemitism to Title IX violations and has threatened to investigate international students. Between the lines: Colleges have been a conservative target for years because of perceived "wokeness" on campuses, but under Trump, it's been total warfare on all aspects of higher education. What Indiana did: Republican lawmakers dismantled several key tenets of the public higher education system, including tenure, with language slipped into the state budget bill at the last minute. Plus, provisions eroding shared governance — the concept by which governing boards, administrators and faculty members share responsibility for decision-making at higher education institutions — were added to the 215-page bill 24 hours before it was set to be voted on by the General Assembly. Lawmakers also took away alumni-elected positions from the IU Board of Trustees and made them gubernatorial appointments, giving Braun total control over the board. 🏳️⚧️ Transgender athlete ban Trump barred transgender women and girls from competing in women's and girls' sports in an executive order, one of several targeting the transgender community. What he did: The executive order denies federal funds for schools that allow trans women or girls to play in capacities corresponding with their gender identity. Schools that don't abide by the order will be considered in violation of Title IX, which could jeopardize their access to federal funding. What Indiana did: Lawmakers had already banned transgender girls from playing girls sports at the K-12 level, but they expanded that to the collegiate level with House Bill 1041. 😷 Medicaid work requirements Trump has indicated he would cut"waste, fraud and abuse" from any mandatory spending — including Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security — as ways to pay for his border, defense and tax priorities. What he's doing: Trump has expressed openness to work requirements for Medicaid and discussing ways to reduce the rate of growth of some health care programs. What Indiana did: Lawmakers put work requirements on Indiana's Medicaid expansion plan as part of their effort to rein in Medicaid spending, the fastest-growing part of the state budget. With a $2 billion budget shortfall, lawmakers also cut spending on public health and limited access to child care and pre-K vouchers for low-income families in order to fund priorities that included private school vouchers and planned income tax cuts. What we're watching: Braun and Trump came into office at the same time and have seemed to be essentially in lockstep.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
IU President Pamela Whitten gets 28% raise, contract extension despite rocky year on campus
Indiana University President Pamela Whitten will receive a $200,000 raise and a five-year contract extension despite widespread calls for her resignation by hundreds of IU faculty last year. The IU Board of Trustees voted Thursday to increase Whitten's base salary by 28% to $900,000 and to extend her contract, initially set to expire in 2026, through 2031. Whitten's current salary is $702,000, IU spokesman Mark Bode said. The raise, which will take effect July 1, moves Whitten's pay from the 50th percentile to the 70th percentile among presidents of peer universities in the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference, according to the trustees. She's still eligible for bonuses, which last year earned her an extra $175,000. All but one of the nine trustees voted in favor of the raise and contract extension, lauding Whitten for IU's accomplishments since her tenure began in 2021. Several trustees praised Whitten's steadfast leadership in a tumultuous era, alluding to campus unrest that erupted with IU's crackdown on pro-Palestinian protests last April. "(Whitten's) smart as a whip, has an indomitable spirit and understands ... we do the things the right way, and when people go low, we go high," said Quinn Buckner, chair of the Board of Trustees. "There's no need to play down there. And you can get things done when you do that." Investigation: 'I begged you yesterday not to make martyrs': An inside look into IU's protest response Vivian Winston, a former Kelley School of Business professor appointed as a trustee in 2022, cast the lone vote against the contract amendment. Despite Whitten's achievements, Winston said, the president hasn't done enough to address widespread faculty mistrust. Winston cited a no-confidence vote of more than 800 IU Bloomington faculty last April after the Whitten administration's perceived encroachment on academic freedom that included canceling a Palestinian artist's exhibit at the campus museum. Whitten has created a "culture of fear," Winston said, particularly on the Bloomington campus. The trustees should have waited for Whitten's five-year review in 2026 to make a decision, Winston said. If only the pay raise were on the table, Winston said, she would have voted yes. "Reappointment of a university president should be done with transparency and only after getting input from a variety of stakeholders," Winston said. "A reappointment should not be done until we have conducted the outside, independent review." Some of the accomplishments for which trustees lauded Whitten at Thursday's meeting include launching IU Indianapolis, recently named a top-tier U.S. research university; growing research expenditures by 28% since 2021 and obtaining IU's largest-ever research grant for $138 million; leading a long-term budget redesign as part of a 2030 strategic plan; and traveling to all 92 counties to meet with Hoosiers. At the meeting Thursday at the Madame Walker Legacy Center in downtown Indianapolis, trustee Catherine Langham praised Whitten's "courageous leadership and unflappable moral courage." "Regardless of the situation," Langham said, "(Whitten) is committed to doing the right thing for IU to ensure its status as a premier academic and research institution." Email IndyStar Housing, Growth and Development Reporter Jordan Smith at JTsmith@ Follow him on X: @jordantsmith09 This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IU President Pam Whitten gets raise and contract extension
