DECATUR, Ill. — Millikin University President Dr. Dean Pribbenow delivered a candid and forward-looking address at the Decatur Regional Chamber of Commerce’s annual State of Education Luncheon, offering both a national perspective on higher education and a local vision for Millikin’s student-ready future. Held inside Millikin’s University Commons, the luncheon convened leaders from Millikin, Richland Community College and Decatur Public Schools to discuss shared priorities in serving today’s students.
Pribbenow, now four months into his presidency, opened by acknowledging the collective commitment of Decatur’s educational institutions.
“It heartens me to see this level of support for the educational systems in our community,” he said. “We all play a part in preparing Decatur and Macon County for the future.”
Drawing from national research on the challenges facing private universities, Pribbenow outlined four major pressures reshaping higher education: shifting student demographics, a fragile tuition-dependent business model, changing market demand for majors, and the rapid evolution of learning technologies.
He noted that fewer high school graduates nationally – combined with greater economic need and increasing racial and ethnic diversity among college-going students – require universities to rethink their structures and supports.
“The students who are going to college today are more diverse, more likely to be first-generation, and more likely to come from families with fewer financial resources,” he said. “And many of those students are not located in the Midwest, where most small private universities like Millikin operate.”
Pribbenow emphasized that Millikin has adopted a mindset shift: from expecting students to be “college ready” to ensuring that the institution is “student ready.”
“With 35 percent of our students being first-generation, we must build the supports and partnerships that meet students where they are,” he said.
Pribbenow highlighted Millikin’s tuition restructuring completed two years ago, when the University reset tuition to $26,500 and implemented a tuition guarantee limiting annual increases to no more than $1,000.
“This model reflects what families are able and willing to pay,” he said. “It gives students greater clarity and confidence during their college journey.”
Pribbenow also spoke about key initiatives designed to expand opportunity for today’s learners:
•Strategic transfer partnerships with regional community colleges – including Richland, Heartland, Lincoln Land and Parkland – to create clear, affordable pathways for students to complete bachelor’s degrees.
•New athletics programs, including Women’s Flag Football and Women’s Wrestling (launching in 2026-27) – support the 48% of Millikin students who are athletes and strengthen recruitment efforts.
Pribbenow concluded by anchoring Millikin’s mission in service to Decatur and the region.
“Millikin is committed to being an engine for talent, innovation and community vitality,” he said. “Our partnerships – with businesses, schools, community colleges and service organizations – ensure that students have the support they need and that Decatur has the workforce it needs. We are stronger when we work together.”
The luncheon also featured presentations from Richland Community College President Cris Valdez and Decatur Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Rochelle Clark, who highlighted dual-credit growth, career pathways and significant gains in academic proficiency across the district.
As Millikin continues its work under Pribbenow’s leadership, the University remains focused on Performance Learning, community partnerships and a comprehensive approach to student success, all hallmarks of a student-ready institution prepared for the future.
