Incoming SIU President Randy Dunn has had little contact with the administration he will oversee, and will not make any critical changes to the university’s plans until settled.

Dunn said his discussion with the chancellors has been brief and “fairly perfunctory.”

He received a package from SIU-Edwardsville Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe several days ago consisting of SIUE’s strategic plan, and has received documents from Chancellor Rita Cheng regarding events, activities and initiatives for the Carbondale campus.

Dunn said he did ask the chancellors for information about the campuses, but did not inquire for any specifics.

Cheng said it is premature to comment on her plans about working with Dunn as he has not started yet.

“I haven’t had the opportunity to do anything other than welcome him back,” Cheng said. “I sent an email welcoming him when he was appointed and he said he would be in touch when he starts.”

Dunn said he will not attend the SIU Board of Trustees meeting April 16 and 17 to discuss the presidential transitional plan.

“There is only one president at a time,” he said. “I don’t need to be there trying to steal the stage at this point. At what time that process is figured out and some dates are set, things of that nature, then it’ll be appropriate for me to be there at the meetings.”

Dunn and John Charles, SIU’s executive director for governmental and public affairs, met Wednesday in Springfield to discuss Gov. Pat Quinn’s new budget. Dunn said he has followed the budget very closely and is heartened by it.

“Anything that we can do to build support for (the temporary tax increase) and show how critical it is for appropriate level of funding for higher education is going to be important as legislatures look at it through the remainder of season,” he said.

Dunn said campuses across Illinois may see an increase in student-to-faculty ratio, but it is still too early to predict any layoffs or tuition increases.

“The challenge is to be prepared for, but also continue to mitigate the severity of those cuts,” Dunn said.

Dunn said while he will not make any major changes to each university’s plans until settled if needed.

It is important to ensure strong enrollment in courses and off-campus facilities, and outreach programs will be vital, Dunn said.

“I don’t have rose-colored glasses on. We’ve got some tough challenges for the campuses — for the system — in the years to come,” he said. “But we’ll be able to think through those, make good decisions, come together and provide leadership as a group.”

Dunn wants to improve programs that will increase enrollment and system-wide efficiencies while working “leaner and smarter.” He said the track the Carbondale campus is on is not sustainable.

Enrollment and regional growth must improve, and handling the budget efficiently is critical, he said.

President Glenn Poshard said the university had less enrollment issues when he was hired in 2005, and Dunn will face several issues coming in.

“Our university serves a lot of middle or low-income students, and increasing tuition and fees will offset the loss of the state funds, that’s going to be a challenge,” Poshard said.

While facing financial challenges, Dunn must build a strong community on the Carbondale campus, Poshard said.

This is the first presidency where Dunn will oversee a university system, but said he is comfortable with the position as he managed four regional campuses while president of Murray State University.

Dunn said he and his wife Ronda will leave Youngstown by April 12, and plan to stay at Ronda’s parents’ home in Benton before they move into their Carbondale home April 21.

Poshard’s retirement date is June 30 with Dunn set to take office July 1.

Luke Nozicka can be reached at [email protected], on Twitter @lukenozicka, or 536-3311 ext. 282.