The University and the Union met for this forty-sixth negotiation session on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. The University presented a significantly enhanced on-the-record economic proposal, as well as an on-the record proposal on Definitions. The parties continued off-the-record discussions around the remaining unresolved topics.

Key takeaways from the April 2, 2025, negotiation session, include:
1) Further enhancements to the guaranteed funding pools to support across-the-board and merit-based annual base salary increases for tenure-track faculty of 4.50% at the first day of the first full month following ratification. 3.50% in 2026 and 2027, and 4.00% in 2028 (up from 3.75% following ratification and 3.25% in 2026, 2027 and 2028 in the University’s previous offer)

2) By the first full month following ratification, the average salary for Assistant and Associate Professors will be at or above the projected market averages for similar positions at Illinois State’s peer institutions—and, by January 1, 2026, the average salary for all Illinois State tenure-track faculty will be at or above the projected market averages for similar positions at Illinois State’s peer institutions.

3) Six weeks (30 business days) of paid parental leave available to all tenure-track faculty (up from four weeks in the University’s previous offer). This new benefit could be combined with other existing paid benefit time that can already be used for parental leave to extend the leave beyond 6 weeks.

The next negotiation date is scheduled for Thursday, April 3, 2025.

Additional information can be found on the University’s negotiations status website.