Meeting
of the
Board of Trustees
December 4, 2014
No item in this report for release prior to 9:00 a.m. Thursday, December 4, 2014.
A G E N D A
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
of
NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
9:00 a.m. – Thursday – December 4, 2014
Board of Trustees Room
315 Altgeld Hall
9:00 a.m.
Call to Order, Roll Call, Notice Verification, Meeting Agenda Approval
Special Resolution, Committee Reports, President’s Report, Chair’s Report
Closed Session, Reconvene Board of Trustees Meeting for Adjournment
1. Call to Order and Roll Call
2. Verification of Quorum and Appropriate Notification of Public Meeting
3. Meeting Agenda Approval ............................................................................................. Action........ i
4. Review and Approval of Minutes: May 29, 2014 BOT Special Meeting ............................ Action....... 1
August 28, 2014 BOT Special Meeting ........................ Action....... 6
September 18, 2014 Regular Meeting ......................... Action....... 8
5. Chair's Comments/Announcements
6. Resolution Honoring Bill Nicklas…………………………………………………………………………………. Action. .... 20
7. Public Comment*
8. Reports of Board Committees and Board Liaisons
a. Executive Committee
b. Academic Affairs, Student Affairs and Personnel Committee (AASAP)
c.
Compliance, Audit, Risk Management and Legal Affairs Committee (CARL)
d. Finance, Facilities and Operations Committee (FFO)
e. Legislative Affairs, Research and Innovation Committee (LARI)
f.
Ad Hoc Committee on Enrollment
g. Ad Hoc Committee on Governance
h. Illinois Board of Higher Education
i.
Universities Civil Service Merit Board
NIU Board of Trustees
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December 4, 2014
j.
Northern Illinois University Foundation
k.
Northern Illinois University Alumni Association
l.
Northern Illinois Research Foundation
9. President's Report No. 95
a. University Recommendations Forwarded by the Board Committees
1) Request for a Change in Degree Designation .................................................. Action........ 21
2) Request for a New Degree Program ............................................................... Action........ 22
3) Bowl Game Participation Expenses ................................................................. Action........ 23
4) FY 16 Tuition, Fees, and Room and Board Recommendations .......................... Action........ 24
5) New Facility for Campus Distributive Antenna System ..................................... Action........ 38
6) Energy Infrastructure Improvements – Phase XI Performance Contract ............ Action........ 39
b. University Reports Forwarded by the Board Committees
1) Oversight of Academic Programs............................................................ Information........ 40
2) FY 14 Office of Sponsored Projects Annual Report................................... Information........ 43
3) Federal Relations Update ....................................................................... Information........ 52
4) Internal Audit Update ............................................................................ Information........ 55
5) Clery Act .............................................................................................. Information........ 61
6) Semi-Annual Progress Report of Active Capital Projects ........................... Information........ 72
7) Quarterly Summary Report of Transactions in Excess of $100,000 ........... Information........ 83
8) Periodic Report on Investments ............................................................. Information........ 88
9) Ad Hoc Committee on Governance Work Plan ......................................... Information........ 91
10) Ad Hoc Committee on Enrollment Update ............................................... Information........ 94
c.
Items Directly from the President
1) Lipman Hearne Enrollment Management Contract ........................................... Action...... 103
10. Chair’s Report No. 68
a. Board of Trustees 2015 Meeting Dates Approval ................................................... Action...... 105
b. Ad Hoc Committee on Governance First Reading Item ........................................... Action...... 107
11. Closed Session
12. Other Matters
13. Next Meeting Date
14. Adjournment
NIU Board of Trustees
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December 4, 2014
*The Board and its committees comply with P.A. 91-0715 through its Bylaws, Article II, Section 5.B:
1. Consistent with Public Act 91-0715 and reasonable constraints determined by these Bylaws and the Chair, at each regular or special meeting of
the Board or its committees that is open to the public, members of the public may request a brief time on the approved agenda of the meeting
to address the Board on relevant matters within its jurisdiction.
2. Committees of the Board review University proposals for action and make adjustments and endorsements as appropriate for further
consideration by the full Board. Public comments are generally most useful at meetings of Board committees, where proposals are first
considered and the time for interaction most feasible.
3. To facilitate an orderly process, appearance requests must be registered on a Board-provided form and submitted to the Board’s Parliamentarian
at least 45 minutes before the meeting is scheduled to be called to order. To be recognized, the appearance request will include the name,
address and position of the individual wishing to speak, the name of the organization or group represented, a concise summary of the
presentation, and whether the requestor has appeared earlier on the topic before any other meeting of the Board. The Parliamentarian may
confer with registered speakers to cooperatively assist the Chair of the meeting in assuring coordinated issue presentation and an efficient use of
allocated time. The Parliamentarian will acquaint requestors with the generally acceptable rules of decorum for their presentations. In lieu of
oral presentations, individuals may present brief written materials not to exceed five (5) pages to the Parliamentarian for distribution and
consideration by the Board in advance of the meeting.
4. The Chair of the meeting will recognize duly registered individuals at the appropriate point during the meeting. Unduly repetitive comments may
be discouraged and restricted by the Chair. To assure an orderly and timely meeting the Chair may limit time allotments to five minutes or less,
may delay or defer appearances when appropriate, and defer or refer questions received from presenters for answers if available.
Anyone needing special accommodations to participate in the NIU Board of Trustees meetings
should contact Ellen Andersen, Director of Special Events, at (815)753-1999, as soon as
possible, normally at least a week before the scheduled Board meeting.
NIU Board of Trustees
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December 4, 2014
Minutes of the
NIU Board of Trustees
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
May 29, 2014
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order at 2:12 p.m. by Chair John Butler in the Board of Trustees Room, 315
Altgeld Hall. Recording Secretary Sharon Banks-Wilkins conducted a roll call of Trustees. Trustees
Robert Boey, Anthony Iosco (phone), Robert Marshall, Cherilyn Murer, Marc Strauss, Student Trustee
Elliot Echols, and Board Chair John Butler were present. Absent was Trustee Wheeler Coleman. Also
present were President Douglas Baker, Board General Counsel Jerry Blakemore and Board Liaison Bill
Nicklas.
VERIFICATION OF APPROPRIATE NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
Confirmation of Open Meetings Act notification compliance was given by Board General Counsel Jerry
Blakemore.
MEETING AGENDA APPROVAL
Chair Butler called for a motion to approve the agenda with the modification that President’s Report Item
A1 be removed. Trustee Strauss made the motion to approve the agenda and Student Trustee Elliot
Echols seconded. The motion was approved.
REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES
None.
CHAIR’S COMMENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS
At this time we move to the Chair’s Comments. We are very pressed for time, so I’m not going to make
any comments except to say that once again I would like to point out how much the Board is aware of
and cognizant of the challenges that some of the faculty and staff are going through with respect to the
pension issue and the retirement issue. We know that many of you are having to make choices you did
not expect to make at this time and we wish you well in that very difficult process of decision-making. I
would like to then welcome the members of the University Advisory Council, who are present this
morning, excuse me, this afternoon. I never expected to be speaking in the morning these are some
flawed notes here. The UAC members are Alan Rosenbaum, Deborah Haliczer, Andy Small, Greg Waas,
Rosita Lopez, and Dan Gebo. Mr. Rosenbaum, is there anything you or any of your colleagues would like
to say to the Board? Mr. Rosenbaum had no comment and Chair Butler asked Ms. Haliczer if she had any
comment to make.
Deborah Haliczer: Yes. Chair Butler, thank you for reflecting the sentiments of our faculty and staff. I
promised Rosita Lopez that I would give you her regards. She is one of those faculty who decided to
retire under pressure and has since rescinded and appreciated the flexibility of the university in allowing
her to do that since her plan was not to retire this year. And so, regards from Rosita.
PUBLIC COMMENT
The Chair asked Board General Counsel Jerry Blakemore if any members of the public had registered a
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December 4, 2014
written request to address the Board in accordance with state law and the Board of Trustees Bylaws. Mr.
Blakemore noted that no timely requests had been made to address this Special Board Meeting.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT NO. 91
Agenda Item 6.a. (2) – Authorization to Retain Executive Search Firm for the Appointment of
a Chief Diversity Officer
President Baker: We’ve discussed these issues this morning and why don’t we move through the action
items. The first one regards the authorization to retain an executive search firm for the appointment of
chief diversity officer. I will note that we have a diversity task force working this summer looking at best
practices for structure of policies around diversity and at the end of that we will design that position and
go out and search for it. This is the request to retain the search firm for that position. Trustee Strauss
made the motion to approve and Trustee Murer seconded. There was no discussion and the motion was
approved.
Agenda Item 6.a. (3) – Authorization to Retain an Executive Search Firm for the
Appointment of a Senior Associate Vice President for Human Resource Services
President Baker: The second item is again for a search firm. This one is for a senior associate vice
president for human resource services. Typically at a university there’s a director of human resources to
oversee all of the activities and that was what this position would be. Trustee Boey made the motion to
approve and Trustee Strauss seconded. There was no discussion and the motion was approved.
Agenda Item 6.a. (4) – Fiscal Year 2015-2018 Fire Services Contract with the City of DeKalb
President Baker: The third one is for the Fiscal Year 2015-2018 Fire Services Contract as Bill went over
earlier this is a contract that needs to be redone. We haven’t been with it for 3 years and it also has the
purchase of part of a used fire truck that we have gotten a very good price on. And so this is a nice
partnership between the city and the community to provide this level of service and of course many of
the tall buildings in town are ours. Trustee Murer made the motion to approve and Trustee Strauss
seconded. There was no discussion and the motion was approved.
Agenda Item 6.a. (5) – The Huskie Tram Route Phase I – Bold Initiative – Capital Project
Approval
President Baker: Well we had a great deal of discussion this morning on the Huskie Tram. This is just for
Stage I to get the first one here and to pilot test it and see how it operates and see if it is meeting our
needs and so I would ask that we approve the purchase of that first one and do the infrastructure
support to get it ready.
Vice President Nicklas: May I add also the other half of that that we discussed in committee was if the
President determined that the beta version was successful that we would have the Board’s authority to
purchase the last 3 vehicles and I also clarified in the committee meeting that we had in the long detailed
take-off of the individual costs projected that we might need a storage building and some other things.
We do not need that at this point. So those costs are not relevant. So it’s $270,000 for the beta version
which includes the test vehicle and then $180,000 for the 3 additional vehicles.
President Baker: And then the storage facility as Bill notes is at the very bottom of page 21. There’s a
$170,000 storage and charging shed and we identified existing space on campus that could take care of
that service for us.
Trustee Murer made the motion to approve and Trustee Boey seconded. Chair Butler called for any
NIU Board of Trustees
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December 4, 2014
discussion of the item, and there was some discussion.
Chair Butler: There is a motion and a second. So let me clarify. This is a $450,000 expenditure?
President Baker: Well in 2 stages. If the beta doesn’t work, we’re not going to go after the next phase
Chair Butler: Correct. Right. But any further expansion of this will come back to the Board provided it’s
within the threshold that requires it.
President Baker: Yes
Chair Butler: Yes, OK. Are there any comments from the Trustees? I know we have talked about this
quite bit, but this is the time for other comments. Yes, Trustee Marshall.
Trustee Marshall: I’ll try to make it short. I forgot to ask earlier. Gasoline or diesel?
Bill Nicklas: No. It’s all electric.
Trustee Marshall: OK. No backup system?
Bill Nicklas: There is a solar panel on top which will add some trickle power to it on an appropriate day
which will help with the time between charging.
Trustee Marshall: Thank you.
Chair Butler: Trustee Echols
Student Trustee Elliot Echols: Just to make sure I’m clear. When it comes to maintaining the system say
it does work. Is the Student Association liable for any cost? Are they liable for purchasing anything else?
What are they exactly liable for?
Bill Nicklas: There is nothing in this proposal that includes the Student Association’s participation in the
funding at this point. So if there’s a 3rd phase, a 4th phase, that’s a negotiation that’s not included in this
proposal.
Trustee Echols: OK. Thank you sir.
Chair Butler: Are there other questions or comments from the Board? I would just say that I am very
sensitive to the comments made earlier by Trustee Strauss. We’ve talked about this quite a bit. I’m
inclined to support this because I think it’s an innovative and exciting idea and I share that sentiment
with my colleague, Trustee Murer. I think she put it better than I will now, but I am very interested in
the progress of it and I do look forward to hearing progress reports in the future. And I hope as we
move forward that we don’t neglect the concerns of Trustee Strauss. I hope we will work to make sure
that questions are answered that he has raised, even if we move forward as I believe we are about to.
Yes, Bill.
Bill Nicklas: I would just say that I will promise a status report at the August committee meetings and the
Board meeting.
Chair Butler verified there was no further discussion and called for a vote. There were five ayes and one
nay by Trustee Strauss but the motion was approved.
NIU Board of Trustees
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December 4, 2014
Agenda Item 6.a. (6) – Fiscal Year 2015 Open Order for Elevator Services and Maintenance
President Baker: This is the open order for 2015 for elevator services and maintenance. We have 107
elevators on campus that require repair and maintenance and this is to take care of those. Trustee
Strauss made the motion to approve and Student Trustee Echols seconded. There was no discussion and
the motion was approved.
Agenda Item 6.a. (7) – Information Technology Services (ITS) Oracle and PeopleSoft ERP
System
President Baker: We’re on to 6.a.7 which the Information Technology Services Oracle and PeopleSoft ERP
system. ITS requests permission to issue orders for the renewal of the ongoing maintenance contract.
So this is a continuation of the master contract we recently negotiated and it has just a continuation of
that and we need to do that on this annual basis. Trustee Strauss made the motion to approve and
Trustee Murer seconded. There was no discussion and the motion was approved. This ended the
President’s report.
CHAIR’S REPORT NO. 65
Agenda Item 7.a. – Amendment to Board of Trustees Bylaws Article Vi, Section 4 – Board
Committees
Chair Butler: The next item on our agenda is a single item from the Chair or me. I’m very excited about
this item. Unfortunately, we were not able due to time and due to Trustee Murer’s willingness to move
us quickly into this meeting despite the fact that there were some things that she wanted to conclude
with the ad hoc committee, but this item, I’m very happy to say, is to extend the work of the ad hoc
committee and put in place a permanent place for that work. Nine months ago we created the ad hoc
committee and we were to hear today from that committee a final report, but understand that that final
report will be the beginning of the newly formed committee which we are talking about today. The ad
hoc committee has been chaired with great skill by my colleague Trustee Cherilyn Murer and today I
introduce for your consideration the Legislative Affairs, Research and Innovation Committee or LARI.
LARI is a modification of the work the current Legislative and External Affairs Committee, also chaired by
Trustee Murer, to include the subject areas of the ad hoc committee and overall subjects of research and
innovation as those areas are conceived as functions of the Division of Research and Innovation. LARI
will retain the subjects of state and federal relations and will no longer receive regular report on
Marketing and Communication. This is the first reading which means the Board should make a motion to
receive the proposed amendment and consider it for a second reading at the next regular meeting of the
Board. So may I have a motion to that effect and then we can have any discussion?
Trustee Boey made the motion to approve and Trustee Strauss seconded. Chair Butler called for any
conversation and there was some.
Trustee Murer: I very much appreciate this discussion today and moving this subcommittee into a
standing committee and I think that the folding of the legislative is at a very appropriate time. I think we
saw this morning comments under Finance when it was relative to Finance when we were addressing
some of the state issues and I think that federal issues are more dominant within the research area. So I
think it’s going to flow very well together. We’re going to continue with our focus of having a trilogy as I
called it, the trilogy of looking at problem-solving with greater depth so what we had prepared for the
last meeting which will now be in August is the final component of our initial trilogy which looked at an
overview, looked at process, looked at accountability and we use the same subject matter, same case
study throughout the entire process and Dr. Riggs and Dr. Freeman are incredible colleagues to work
with in this regard and I do look forward to working with them to bring to the Board and to the
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December 4, 2014
community greater understanding of where we are relative to research and technology and the legislation
that impacts both of those. Thank you.
Chair Butler: Thank you. Other comments from the Board? I want to just point out that Trustee Murer
had a clean slate when I asked her to chair this ad hoc committee and she did a marvelous job of
working with then Vice President Freeman and then Interim Provost Freeman and then Interim Vice
President Rigg. As we learned, as a Board in the form of an ad hoc committee, much more about the
research endeavor and aspect of the university and I hope that as we move forward with this action item
at the next meeting. We’ll reflect on the potential of the ad hoc committee process to engage in an indepth study of an area or an issue that is raising a significant amount of concern and something that the
Board should be focused on. So I would very much appreciate the Trustees support of this and what you
have before you is a preliminary draft of a change in the Bylaws. I anticipate that we will going forward
after the June meeting begin a process of revising the Bylaws so that the description of this standing
committee will look, as the other standing committees will look, a lot more like what we see in the Bylaws
with respect to the CARL committee. But this is the first step to create this merger of subject areas and
to begin the work.
Chair Butler called for a vote and the motion was approved.
CLOSED SESSION
Chair Butler asked for a motion to close the public meeting to conduct an executive session to discuss the
following subjects authorized by the Illinois Open Meetings Act; personnel matters as generally described
under section 2(c)(1), (2), (3) and (21) of the Open Meetings Act and Litigation and Risk Management
matters as generally described under sections 2(c)(11) and (12) of the Open meetings act and property
matters generally described under Sections 2c5 & 6 of the Open Meetings Act. A motion was made by
Trustee Strauss and seconded by Trustee Murer, and the motion passed unanimously with a roll call vote.
Chair Butler
Trustee Boey
Trustee Murer
Student Trustee Echols
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Trustee Marshall
Trustee Strauss
Trustee Iosco
Yes
Yes
Yes (telephone)
MEETING RECONVENED AND ADJOURNMENT
Chair Butler reconvened the open session of the meeting of the Board of Trustees and called for a motion
to adjourn. A motion was made by Trustee Boey and seconded by Student Trustee Echols, and the
motion passed. The meeting was adjourned at 4:19 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon Banks-Wilkins
Recording Secretary
In compliance with Illinois Open Meetings Act 5 ILCS 120/1, et seq, a verbatim record of all Northern Illinois
University Board of Trustees meetings is maintained by the Board Recording Secretary and is available for
review upon request. The minutes contained herein represent a true and accurate summary of the Board
proceedings.
NIU Board of Trustees
5
December 4, 2014
Minutes of the
NIU Board of Trustees
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
August 28, 2014
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order by Chair John Butler in the Board of Trustees Room, 315 Altgeld Hall.
Recording Secretary Cheryl Ross conducted a roll call of Trustees. Members present were Trustees
Robert Boey, Anthony Iosco, Robert Marshall, Cherilyn Murer, Marc Strauss, Student Trustee Paul Julion,
and Board Chair John Butler. Also present were President Douglas Baker, Board General Counsel Jerry
Blakemore and Board Liaison Bill Nicklas.
VERIFICATION OF APPROPRIATE NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
Confirmation of Open Meetings Act notification compliance was given by Board General Counsel Jerry
Blakemore.
MEETING AGENDA APPROVAL
A motion to approve the agenda was made and seconded. The motion was approved.
REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES
None.
CHAIR’S COMMENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chair Butler welcomed the members of the University Advisory Council who are present at the meeting:
William Pitney, Deborah Haliczer, Jay Montero, Greg Waas, Dan Gebo, and Rebecca Shortridge. Bill
Pitney commented that he appreciated President Baker’s thanks and praise to the faculty and staff for
their role in welcoming students back to campus. He also noted his interest in the earlier presentations
from Dr. Alden and Dr. Rigg whereby the productivity of our faculty and staff was clearly evident. I think
you’ll share what we likely already know and this and that is that our faculty and staff work very hard and
I was grateful for seeing that today. So thank you very much.
Chair Butler formally welcomed Student Trustee Paul Julion to his first official meeting of the board. He
also thanked Cheryl Ross who is serving today as the recording secretary. Cheryl is retiring after 34
years of service; and Cheryl completed her undergraduate degree at NIU while an employee during that
time. For about seven years Cheryl worked on the Finance and Facilities and Operations Committee
agenda book. It was primarily her responsibility and so we’ve seen her work and have worked with her
for years. Overall, Cheryl spent 20 years in the Department of Psychology, 6 years in Academic Affairs,
and 8 years in Finance and Facilities. She has been very important recently for us as a board helping us
through a transition period. Good luck and we wish you the very best on behalf of the board.
PUBLIC COMMENT
The Chair asked Board General Counsel Jerry Blakemore if any members of the public had registered a
written request to address the Board in accordance with state law and the Board of Trustees Bylaws. Mr.
Blakemore noted that no timely requests had been made to address this Special Board Meeting.
NIU Board of Trustees
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December 4, 2014
PRESIDENT’S REPORT NO. 93
Agenda Item 7.a. (1) – Open Order for Litigation Services Investigations and Litigation
President Baker presented the action item finalizing an open order for fiscal year 2014 to cover the costs
of work being done on the federal investigations that have been underway and to conclude the billing. He
requested Board approval of $215,000 to cover the legal costs associated with that work. A motion to
approve the item was made by Robert Boey and seconded by Paul Julion. The motion passed with no
opposition, thus concluding the President’s Report.
CLOSED SESSION
Chair Butler thanked the many people who made these meetings possible; Ms. Ross, the board staff
liaison Mr. Nicklas and others on his team who assist in the logistics of this meeting including the
committee liaisons and the hardworking staff of media services. He also thanked the University Advisory
Committee for their service, as well as the staff who are responsible for the food and refreshments. Chair
Butler asked for a motion to close the public meeting to conduct an executive session to discuss the
following subjects authorized by the Illinois Open Meetings Act; personnel matters as generally described
under section 2(c)(1), (2), (3) and (21) of the Open Meetings Act and Litigation and Risk Management
matters as generally described under sections 2(c)(11) and (12) of the Open meetings act. A motion was
made and seconded, and the motion passed unanimously with a roll call vote.
Chair Butler
Trustee Boey
Trustee Murer
Student Trustee Julion
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Trustee Marshall
Trustee Strauss
Trustee Iosco
Yes
Yes
Yes
MEETING RECONVENED AND ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Butler reconvened the open session of the meeting of the Board of Trustees and called
for a motion to adjourn. A motion was made and seconded, and the motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Cheryl Ross
Recording Secretary
In compliance with Illinois Open Meetings Act 5 ILCS 120/1, et seq, a verbatim record of all Northern Illinois
University Board of Trustees meetings is maintained by the Board Recording Secretary and is available for
review upon request. The minutes contained herein represent a true and accurate summary of the Board
proceedings.
NIU Board of Trustees
7
December 4, 2014
Minutes of the
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF
NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
September 18, 2014
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order by Chair John Butler at 9:00 a.m. in the Board of Trustees Room,
315 Altgeld Hall. Recording Secretary Sharon Banks-Wilkins conducted a roll call of Trustees. Members
present were Trustees Robert Boey, Anthony Iosco, Robert Marshall, Cherilyn Murer, Marc Strauss,
Student Trustee Paul Julion and Board Chair John Butler. Not present was Trustee Wheeler Coleman.
Also present were President Douglas Baker, Board General Counsel Jerry Blakemore, and Board Liaison
Bill Nicklas. With a quorum present, the meeting proceeded.
Chair Butler asked the recording secretary to call the roll. All Trustees were present except for Trustee
Wheeler Coleman.
2. VERIFICATION OF APPROPRIATE NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
Chair Butler asked Mr. Blakemore to confirm that appropriate notification of this meeting had been
provided. Mr. Blakemore indicated that appropriate notification of the meeting had been provided
pursuant to the Illinois Open Meetings Act.
3. MEETING AGENDA APPROVAL
Chair Butler called for a motion to approve the meeting agenda. Trustee Strauss made a motion to
approve the printed agenda with the following modifications: first, to remove Item 10 and all of its subparts, and second to place the following items on a consent agenda: action items 9.a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
and 9, and information items 9.b 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, 12 and 13. Trustee Marshall
seconded the motion. Chair Butler called for any discussion and there was none. Chair Butler called for a
vote with no opposition and the agenda was approved.
4. CLOSED SESSION
Chair Butler stated that the Board needed to go into closed session and would reconvene in
approximately 90 minutes. He called for a motion to close the public meeting to conduct an executive
session to discuss the following subjects authorized by the Illinois Open Meetings Act: personnel matters
as generally described under sections 2C1, 2, 3 and 21 of the Open Meetings Act, and litigation and risk
management matters as generally described under sections 2c11 and 12 of the Open Meetings Act.
Trustee Strauss made the motion and Trustee Iosco seconded. As there was no discussion, Chair Butler
called for a roll call vote and the recording secretary called the roll. All Trustees agreed and the motion
was approved. Chair Butler closed the session.
MEETING RECONVENED
The meeting reconvened at 12:22 p.m. by Chair Butler moving to reopen the public meeting.
5. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JUNE 19, 2014
Chair Butler next called for a review and approval of the minutes of the June 19, 2014 regular meeting.
Trustee Strauss made the initial motion and Trustee Iosco seconded. Chair Butler called for any
NIU Board of Trustees
8
December 4, 2014
discussion and there was none so the minutes were approved.
6. CHAIR’S COMMENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chair Butler stated that at this time we move to the chair’s comments and announcements. I would like
to begin by welcoming the members of the university advisory council who are present this morning.
They are William Pitney, Deborah Haliczer, Jay Montero, Greg Waas, Rebecca Shortridge, and Dan Gebo.
Mr. Pitney, is there anything you or any of your colleagues would like to say at this time?
UAC Representative, William Pitney, said that as a member of this advisory committee, I also act as a role
as our Faculty Senate President, and recently, Monday, I was at Illinois State University attending the
Council of Illinois University Senators. On that council we have the opportunity to share issues, concerns
and challenges that might be common to all of us in those roles. I just wanted to simply say that I left
that meeting feeling really good about where we are here at NIU with respect to shared governance. I
really just wanted to articulate that I believe that my dialogs with the president have been very positive
and I feel a sense of collegiality and believe that there’s a level of sensitivity with respect to the concerns
of the faculty of staff and I just thought it important to articulate that.
Chair Butler then continued the meeting after no further remarks were offered. Well this morning I am
going to take some time to offer some extended remarks and make some official announcements. I don’t
usually do this, but it’s September and the school year has begun, a new academic term. It’s an exciting
time for many on campus. I found myself rather impressed when I was walking around campus the other
evening with President Baker observing what I think is a remarkably different look and feel particularly in
the center of campus, which seems to have opened up and become more lively. I would not have
expected to feel that way based on plans that we approved in this meeting in the cold, hard chambers of
the Board of Trustees, but when you walk out and actually see the banners and the library and the
busses on Normal Avenue, it is a different feel. I also noted that every single student who walked by us
knew President Baker and said “Good evening, President Baker” which I thought was extraordinary.
Throughout the prior year and especially this summer, leaders at the university college and department
level in partnership with leaders of units within the facilities and operations and the student government,
have begun the complex and dynamic process of determining how to operationalize within their
respective units; the need to respond to significant challenges that NIU faces, particularly regarding fiscal
responsibility and the recruitment and retention of students.
What it means for this board to operationalize these goals is unique in many ways. We’re a group of eight
individuals, we’re tied in no particular way to any academic or operational unit. Seven of us are appointed
by the Governor for six year terms, one of us is a student who’s elected by the student body. Our role is
to set policy and establish strategy in partnership with the president and to hold leaders accountable for
the exercise in policy and the achievement of strategy. But like most leaders in this room, our activities
across the span of last year began with a first phase and that was to join the campus wide effort to focus
the university in its core mission and challenges. President Baker’s keystone goal of creating a system to
insure student career success has focused the university and its external committee stakeholders on the
importance of recruitment and retention and the related pillars of financial and programmatic
sustainability, ethic inspired leadership, and thriving communities. The board realized that these are not
merely words. Endeavors within these categories were massive, multi-faceted undertakings that require
the capacity to identify and describe problems in vision and invent new approaches, develop a support
among stakeholders, and engage in external and internal diplomacy that addresses anxiety occasioned by
transformation. We expect as a board that there will be push back. We’re in the midst of a cultural
change. For the board, that culture change has had specific implications that have formed a second
phase of activity for us. We’ve had to examine our structure and consider how best to facilitate and align
the work of the governing board with that of the university. Aligning the work of the governing board and
the university is always a complex endeavor for a board that is consciously seeking to properly function in
relationship to university leadership. In my judgment, we’ve made a lot of progress in this regard.
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December 4, 2014
Those of you have attended board meetings for many years know that meetings over the course of the
last year have involved lively exchanges about strategic choices we have before us. Trustees have
focused more than ever on the relationship between limited resources and strategic outcomes. We’ve had
disagreements, we’ve had split votes. We’ve not been afraid to postpone action when we believe we
need more information. We’ve also enacted rather dramatic shifts in board structure including some steps
that we’ve taken that have never been taken before.
When President Baker first assumed the presidency, we began the implementation of immediate
changes. We created a new committee on compliance, audit, risk management and legal affairs. And we
empanelled the board’s first ad hoc committee on sponsored research and technology transfer which has
evolved in only the course of one year into the Legislative Affairs Research and Innovation Committee,
which is now a standing committee. Structural change at this level is not easy. I’ve talked to many of you
about this personally. I could have done a lot of different things with several summer weekends one year
ago rather than work on all of these changes and devise all of these memorandums and descriptions of
committees and charges. It’s not easy. Once we set these changes in motion we knew we would face
some soul searching, moments of truth, and decisive events that occasion all serious commitments to
change.
So now, like so many of you, we’re operating in a midst of a third phase which I will characterize as
awareness that we are pivoting from listening, learning and formulating a vision toward actions that
address the critical key challenges of fiscal sustainability and declining enrollment. Our expectation is that
this pivot will be accompanied by the formation of a system of control and management guided by critical
imperatives, benchmarks, and indicators. It is apparent to us that the continued pursuit of an
environment committed to fair treatment, transparency, and effectiveness and the development of
exciting and innovative new curricular and academic offerings will prove essential to the success of these
central endeavors. It is in this context I’m pleased to announce that the board is initiating and extension
of our activities in two directions that are intended to increase our capacity and sharpen our focus. The
first is a focus on governance; the second is a focus on enrollment. This year the board will delve deeply
in these subjects in separate ad hoc committees.
In terms of governance we’ll focus on our own practices and relationship with university level priorities.
This improvement initiative will be collaborative, aimed at determining the means the board will employ
to establish goals and measure progress, the appropriate occasions and formats for regular consultation,
the constructive role of the board and committee leaders in developing agendas and the possibilities for
preparation and presentation of information in advance of formal consideration action items. In short, we
are seeking to establish among all relevant leaders a shared vision of and commitment to meaningful
board engagement. I’ve prepared a more specific charge for this ad hoc committee on governance and
enrollment which I’ll describe in a moment which I’m presenting to the board this morning and I’m
pleased to provide anyone who is at this meeting. These parameters are general in nature and we may
determine changes are in order as we commence our work.
For most people in this room the issue of enrollment is more directly relevant to your responsibilities. The
board believes this is the core challenge facing the university and should form the crux of the board’s
formal strategic dialog with the university administration. The formation of an ad hoc committee on
enrollment immerges out of discussions between President Baker and trustees regarding the central
importance of enrollment and the prospect of several board level proposals, particularly of a capital
nature that relate directly to the enrollment challenge. This committee will receive background
information on the nature and extent of the enrollment challenge, produce recommendations for board
level action intended to positively impact enrollment, and develop metrics for accountability purposes and
building an infrastructure to receive and act on metrics related to enrollment. My memorandum which
you’re welcome to read goes into more detail about what some of those subjects might look like. I’ve
asked Trustee Strauss to chair the committee. President Baker has agreed to function directly in the
NIU Board of Trustees
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December 4, 2014
liaison role. So there is a strong connection between academic affairs, student affairs and personnel
aboard standing committee and the ad hoc committee we’ve consulted with Trustee Marshall and he
plans to serve on the committee as well. Any other trustees interested may as well.
These additional committees will address matters that require extended analysis and discussion beyond
our current standing committee meetings and beyond what we’re currently configured to accommodate.
So I think these will result in a dramatic improvement for us structurally. I wanted to share these two
developments with you and the context into which we are moving in this direction because I wanted to
share with all of you that we are also engaged in an effort to operationalize goals and strategies and we
hope that you are as enthusiastic as we are about that future. And so that concludes my lengthy
remarks. Probably the longest you’ll ever hear from me on any subject, but it’s the beginning of the year,
I thought it was important to share that with you. I’m very proud to serve on this board with these
outstanding colleagues and I’m very pleased with the progress that we’re making.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
Chair Butler asked Mr. Blakemore if the board had received any timely requests to address this board,
and Mr. Blakemore indicated that he had received two requests. The first was Ms. Misty Haji-Sheikh and
Chair Butler recognized her and asked that she reserve her remarks to five minutes.
Ms. Haji-Sheikh rose to the microphone and provided the full disclaimer that I am on the county board,
but today I’m not speaking for the county, I am here to speak about something called Greenways and
Trails. That is something that the county is a lead agency on, it works with the city as well, and there is
grant money that is involved. I did talk to the county administrator, I am here with his approval as I am
here also with the approval of some our county board members that I had the opportunity to speak with
as well, and the city has been involved as well. But I am here as an individual and I’m a student too for
anybody that didn’t catch this when I was here a couple of weeks ago. So back 2004 this document is the
Greenways and Trails plan and the idea was that we need to have connectivity, we need to celebrate the
fact that we have resources here, we need activity areas for bicycling, walking, that sort of thing, So they
looked at, and I was not part of the county board at this time, but they put this together and it passed in
2004. I believe it was updated once since then. And so this is an overarching thing, it’s part of our county
regulations, rules, documents, whatever you want to call it, but this is our guideline (Ms. Haji-Sheikh
provided a copy to Chair Butler).
I don’t expect you to read it right now and I did print it off my home computer. For any of the rest of
you, you can get it off the county’s website, under Greenways and Trails. Okay. And the reason I bring
that up is because in September 2013 there was an engineering study done on our lagoon here on
campus. And the study was done by a firm called WBK. And they came up with some recommendations.
Now the study was paid for, I have some FOIA documents, freedom of information documents and that’s
where I got this information, and the FOIA documents say that they want to do things to the lagoon to
dig it down three feet, change the way it looks, make it more of a detention area, and by doing that it
will change the flood plain that’s over on John and Harrison back toward the lagoon. Okay, fine. My
neighbors would love not to be in a flood plain. I guarantee you that. But what they came up with has a
problem with Greenways and Trails. So I took the liberty of having this blown up yesterday. This is one of
the maps that is there to orient you. This is Lincoln Highway. This is the Kish River here and this is
Lucinda. This is Castle here. The current lagoon is approximately this area here. That’s the nice lagoon
that we have now. And my understanding is that this whole are here would be the part that would be
lowered three feet so that this part over here, which is John and Harrison, would be out of the flood
plain. Okay, so far so good. Where this touches the Greenways and Trails are these other lines that go
through here. Greenways and Trails talks about the bike trail that goes right along the river, it goes down
here, and the grant money is to take it under Lincoln Highway and to carry it on south so we have
connectivity with the parks and things down there by Lions Park and Prairie Park and those things. And
so we have already started work underneath the bridge. We being the county and the city. I should say
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December 4, 2014
they did, I didn’t do it. And there’s a bed of rocks down there, if you go and look, it’s already down there.
And so they’ve been working on grant money and they are activity working on this. Gary Hanson checked
with the city yesterday or the day before just to make sure that I’m on target with this. The problem with
this map though as far as Greenways and Trails, is that the bike trail now no longer goes underneath the
bridge. It now goes this way. And so I wanted to bring this to your attention, and it is in your packet and
it is on line as well, so that you know that I’m sure the county and the city would like to speak with you
about this and maybe there’s a different model that we can use, a different map we can use, a different
idea we can use, that will still support the Greenways and Trails that’s been on the books since 2004.
Thank you.
Chair Butler called for any questions and there were none. He then recognized the second speaker, Mr.
Derek Van Buer and asked that he also limit his comments to five minutes.
Mr. Van Buer indicated that he was here at the May 29th Finance and Operations sub-committee meeting
and during that discussion the interim CFO presented that she found 65.1 million dollars that could be
used on the strategic initiatives and this money come out of the Build America bonds and bond reserve
funds. During the conversation or presentation, she said that by state rules, NIU had too much money in
these reserve funds. And during the conversation not once was I brought up about the official document
when the bonds were issued. On Tuesday afternoon I e-mailed each of you the actual document that
contains it and what’s relevant in the document that bond issue is Appendix C which are the definitions
and summaries and provisions of the bond resolution. And in that appendix is the section on the flow of
funds, describes how the funds come into the ancillary systems to produce incomes, how they can be
spent, the establishment of all these bond reserve funds, and finally what happens when there is surplus
and the end of the year. In it there are details, three of the things that you can do with the funds.
Basically, pay the bonds, pay the bonds, and pay the bonds. And so I just wanted to bring it to your
attention that before you spend these funds you might want to go back and review to bond issuance
document because if might be the control documents. And I should also say as a disclaimer I’m not
giving legal advice. I’m a graduate of the College of Law at NIU. I’m an undergrad graduate of NIU too,
but I just wanted to bring it to your attention of this document that was not talked about at the May 29 th
committee meeting. Thank you.
Chair Butler asked for any questions, and there were none. He then thanked both speakers for coming
and supplying us with that information. We take seriously what people bring to us and send to us and
we’ll take seriously what you’ve said today.
8. REPORTS OF BOARD COMMITTEES AND BOARD LIAISONS
Chair Butler then moved to the next agenda item, which was the reports of board committees and
liaisons.
a. Executive Committee
Chair Butler began with the executive committee which did not meet. He then called for a report from the
chair of the Academic Affairs, Student Affairs and Personnel Committee, Trustee Robert Marshall.
b. Academic Affairs, Student Affairs and Personnel Committee
Trustee Marshall reported that the Academic Affairs, Student Affairs and Personnel Committee met on
August 28, 2014. At that meeting the committee considered and endorsed the following action items: an
honorary doctorate recommendation for Miss Francis Whitehead; a request to delete the emphasis in
General Physical Education Grade 6-12 teacher certification within the Bachelor’s of Science education in
Phys Ed. The committee also heard very informative reports on year 2013 through 2014 faculty emeritus
recognition; an overview of the NIU international activities for fiscal year ’14; a report on Title IX and NIU
and I would like to add that I am very impressed as a learner of all of the committee reports that contain
NIU Board of Trustees
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December 4, 2014
so much invaluable information. Thank you. That concludes my report.
Chair Butler thanked Trustee Marshall and called for the report of the Finance, Facilities and Operations
Committee, which is chaired by Trustee Marc Strauss.
c. Finance, Facilities and Operations Committee
Trustee Strauss stated that the Finance, Facilities and Operation Committee met on the same day. There
are a number of items that are contained on the agenda today that came out of that committee. In order
to make sense of them, simply keep track of the fiscal year. So we have three fiscal years that were
before the committee and three fiscal years that are here today. We had reports for the conclusion of
FY14 that appear as items B 1,2,3 & 4 on our agenda. We have several items relating to FY15 which
we’re in the middle of now including the internal budget with is item 9A1 as well as the approval of some
expenditures in 9A5, 6 & 7 and some reports. And we have some action on 2016 because of the state
budget cycle is even in advance of our budget cycle and we had some filings that are required with the
state now, those items show up under 9A2, 3 & 4. All of these items that are on our agenda today
passed out with recommendation from the Finance, Facility and Operations Committee. That concludes
my report.
Chair Butler thanked Trustee Strauss and asked for the report of the Compliance, Audit, Risk
Management and Legal Affairs Committee, which is chaired by Trustee Robert Boey.
d. Compliance, Audit, Risk Management and Legal Affairs Committee
Trustee Boey stated that the Compliance, Audit, Risk Management and Legal Affairs Committee met on
Thursday, August 28th at 9:00 a.m. The committee proceedings began with the swearing in of Student
Trustee Paul Julion by Board Chair John Butler. Mr. Julion was warmly welcomed by the committee and
all members of the Board of Trustees. The committee then considered two agenda items. The first was
an update on Title IX compliance issues and requirements presented by Karen Baker, Associate Vice
President for Administration and HR Compliance and Nikita Carrington the Assistant Director for Training
and Development. The second agenda item focused upon the responsibilities of the university’s Risk
Management Office. This presentation was made by Sarah Cliff the Director for Risk Management and
internal investigations and Emily Hochstatter, the Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Human Resource
Services.
Chair Butler thanked Trustee Boey and asked for the report from the Legislative Affairs, Research and
Innovation Committee, which is chaired by Trustee Cherilyn Murer who was not in attendance. Dr. Lesley
Rigg provided the report.
e. Legislative Affairs, Research and Innovation Committee
Dr. Rigg reported that the Legislative Affairs and Research and Innovation Committee met on August 28,
2014. At the meeting Trustee Murer announced the hire of Dr. Anna Quider as the NIU Federal Relations
Director and that she would be formally introduced at the board meeting on November 6th. Following
Trustee Murer’s announcement, I presented the federal relations update. Following the federal relations
update Assistant Vice President Mann presented the committee an update on state budget and legislative
issues including an update on the FY15 budget. This reduction represents, or the reduction which was .24
percent reduction, represents a much leaner amount than was originally predicted. The final item of the
meeting was a presentation of the accountability portion of the drilling down on the research enterprise
presentation which began with Dr. Freeman in the previous meetings, followed by a presentation by Julie
Crouch in previous meetings as well. And then I briefly summarized the previous presentations and
finished drilling down into the research enterprise.
Chair Butler thanked Dr. Rigg and then asked President Baker for his report concerning the Illinois Board
of Higher Education.
NIU Board of Trustees
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December 4, 2014
f.
Illinois Board of Higher Education
President Baker indicated that he didn’t think the board had met since our committee meeting so no
report there. We did have the regional P20 higher education group together. It’s a regional P20 group
that’s looking at how we partner in this region to align from P to 20. The Center for P20 Studies put that
on and a number of board members including the executive director was there. Very supportive of our
work to try and integrate the pipeline activities and we will come back together after the first of the
calendar year to take the next step there, but that’s our interaction with the board.
Chair Butler thanked President Baker and then called for the board’s representative to the University Civil
Service Merit Board, Trustee Robert Marshall, to present his report.
g. Universities Civil Service Merit Board
Trustee Marshall reported that the Merit Board met on August 20, 2014 in Urbana, IL. In the one
personnel action item, the board upheld an executive director’s decision to bar a job applicant from
advancing past the qualifying exam. Cause, after irregularities were observed during the exam by both
the exam assessor and the proctor. In other items that were action items, approval was given to the
2016 budget proposal to be forwarded to Illinois Board of Higher Education; approval for revisions of our
procedure manuals; and approval of the no weapon policy for the agency office. Update reports were
also given on the police series assessment center revisions, ongoing revisions of the exemption
procedures manual, and a review of recent audits completed since the last merit board meeting. Regular
reports included those from the Administrative Advisory Committee, the Employee Advisory Committee,
the Human Resource Directors Advisory Committee, and the Executive Director and Legal Council reports
from the agency. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 19th in Urbana.
Chair Butler thanked Trustee Marshall and then recognized the Vice President of University Advancement,
Michael Malone, concerning the Northern Illinois University Foundation.
h. NIU Foundation
i. Northern Illinois Alumni Association
Mr. Malone explained that my colleague, Joe Matty, had to leave to catch a plane, but I think he e-mailed
you and President Baker to note the last two pre-game receptions at our away games were some of the
most successful we’ve had. More than a thousand reconnected alumni at the Northwestern and UNLV
pre-game receptions. Those brave souls in Nevada came out in 100 degree heat and not an
exaggeration, it was 100 degrees and yet they had a great time. They socialized and met university staff,
faculty and students; and reconnected with each other. It’s a great opportunity for us collectively as the
university to get university alumni from around the country reconnected to the university as it is today. I
gave a preliminary estimate on our earnings on investments in the endowment pool at the last meeting
that you and indicated that it appeared they’d be about 18.3 percent. The lagging alternatives are now in
and the investment earned on our endowment pool for the fiscal year ending June 30 is actually going to
be 20.4 percent which I think will put us in the top quartile nationally among universities and really
stands pretty well given the fact that our endowment remains relatively modest and we’re competing
against multi- billion dollar endowments like Harvard. We’ve beaten Harvard four out of the last five years
by the way in terms of endowment return. So very proud of the volunteer committee that works on our
behalf in terms of reviewing suggestions for allocation and also managers and also our group that we pay
to advise us on those investments, a fund evaluation group. In the foundation and development area
we’ve been really working on preparing as much infrastructure as we can for the transition in leadership.
We have scrubbed the database. We’ve added another screening, a wealth capacity screening to our
database called Donor Cast which is a proprietary software screen by Bentz Whaley Flessner who we’ve
engaged to do some work for us. We are currently beginning a review of the prospect coordination
policy. This is the policy by which all the units in the university need to agree on the rules of engagement
for prospects and donors. Who will ask, who will cultivate, what they will be asked for as you know many
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December 4, 2014
donors have multiple interests in the university. It may be athletics, it may be arts, but they may be a
college of business grad as well. So we need a policy that we all agree to that sorts that out and the goal
is to obviously ask for the gift that will result in the biggest donation to NIU in general. We’re going to be
reviewing that with President Baker, senior cabinet, the deans, athletic director, etc. We have a policy in
place, we’re just looking at best practices at this point. We’ve begun very preliminarily to talk with
university leadership about capital projects that might be part of the next campaign. It’s not too early to
begin planning and developing some program statements for those and every major gift officer is going
through a portfolio review right now where we go name by name and go through the portfolio and put
on and maybe put in the parking lot some that have not been very active over the past 18 months and
then add some new names to each gift officers portfolio that we call the discovery pool where they need
to make a contact with those individuals within the next six months. I’ve been doing personal visits to
major donors to our first campaign, True North. My goal is to meet personally with every individual that
made a very significant gift to True North. I’ve obviously been in the Chicago area, I’ve been in
Massachusetts, Texas, next week I’m in Florida, on the west coast of Florida. I have trips planned to
Missouri and to New York just basically to thank them for what they’ve done, but also to prepare the way
for the new person at the helm of both the division and the foundation. One visit did result in an estate
commitment of a million dollars. We’ll announce that a little bit later because we’re still discussing details
with the donor. A couple I think when we finally get around to announcing it, it will be in excess of that
number. We’ve had some great responses. I think their excited about the direction that the university is
headed. Most of the gifts you get in your second campaign will be from donors you already know and
donors who have already given. I think there is a bit of a concern that they not be forgotten, okay that
just because a name changes on letterhead that they won’t be forgotten and we need to keep as many
tethers attached to our major donors from the university and the community as possible. And that
concludes my report.
Chair Butler thanked Mr. Malone, indicating that his comments regarding the pre-game events provided
some information on Northern Illinois University’s Alumni Association, and he asked if Mr. Malone had
anything else to add to that on behalf of Mr. Matte.
Mr. Malone stated that Joe and the Alumni Association are also involved in obviously building out the
intern and mentor program with alumni and actually Joe was heading up the search for meeting and
academics base in Chicago as well as sort of other duties as assigned.
Chair Butler indicated that Joe did talk to me about the possibility that he wouldn’t be able to be here if
our meetings went longer than expected and he’s doing good work for the university in his travels. Chair
Butler then moved to the Northern Illinois Research Foundation, which was presented by Vice President
for Research and Innovation, Lesley Rigg.
j.
Northern Illinois Research Foundation
Dr. Rigg explained that the NIU Research Foundation board met last Thursday, September 11 th in the
evening at Hoffman Estates. Various updates were received by the board on IP activities and other
research activities here at NIU. It was also the annual meeting where all the elections of directors and
appointed officers are made. At this meeting I was voted the new president of the research foundation
and my term began immediately following that September 11 th meeting. Dr. Freeman, who was the
outgoing president, has been retained in an administrative appointment on the board and will continue to
collaborate with me in the future on many of the issues that were initiated during her time there. We
very happily voted three new outside board members to the board. They are Dr. Robert Kephart who is
the director of IARC at Fermi Lab. The board has maintain representation from Argon National Lab and
noted that NIU has a strong collaboration with Fermi Lab and that having a representative from both ANL
and Fermi Lab made a lot of sense and was also very important for the research mission of our
institution. Eric Wasowicz who is an investor and entrepreneur and an NIU alum, who’s actively involved
on the campus through entrepreneurship course in the College of Business and to serve us on the college
board. Eric has hosted workshops on entrepreneurship for the NIU Foundation’s Venture grant process
NIU Board of Trustees
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December 4, 2014
and is currently serving on the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Committee which is being chaired by Dr.
Lisa Freeman. The third member that was brought on was William F. Martewski who is an NIU alum and
the owner of the law office of William F. Martewski which is currently located in Chicago. William is a
successful NIU alum with a background in tax law and an interest in giving back to the NIU community
through his participation on the NIRF board. It was a very good meeting and we’re looking forward to the
next year.
Chair Butler thanked Dr. Rigg and all those who presented reports. I appreciate everyone preparing such
thoughtful observations and input.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT NO. 92
UNIVERSITY RECOMMENDATIONS FORWARDED BY THE BOARD COMMITTEES
Agenda Item 9.a.(1) – Fiscal Year 2015 Internal Budget
Chair Butler called for a motion to approve the items in President’s report No. 94 that were approved to
be considered as part of the consent agenda. Trustee Strauss moved and Trustee Boey seconded. There
was no discussion and the motion passed. Chair Butler then recognized President Baker.
President Baker began by saying a couple words about the semester roll out. We’re just a few weeks into
it now, but I want to thank the faculty and the staff of the university for such an amazing roll out. We
thought a lot about it in the spring and a lot of people took up arms so to speak and went to work and I
really appreciate that hard work. There was a different buzz this year than last year and it’s because the
faculty and staff took it on. They thought about it and they went out and did it and a lot of people took
initiative and leadership at their local levels to make a difference and I thank all of them so very much. I
got scores of letters, e-mail letters from moms and dads saying I’ve moved my kids in somewhere else
and this was by far the best experience I’ve ever seen. It was effortless, we felt welcomed as parents
and our students did as well. And that whole weekend, that first start up weekend was amazing from the
march out to the parents and family welcome at the convocation center to the dance that we had that
night that was a big deal; and even the president’s picnic down here by the lagoon was great fun and I
hope nobody goes and looks at pictures of Sean Frazier and me paddling around in the lagoon, but it was
great fun and I’m convinced that may have been the first time some of the students were in a canoe and
then were out of a canoe and then were in a canoe and then were out of a canoe, but it was great fun to
rediscover the lagoon one of the most beautiful places we have on campus. We have great assets here
and it was wonderful to see that buzz. We had students performing for about four hours on stage down
there and the talent was amazing and some of the freshmen that I was talking to there would say those
are students. They were just amazed by the talent we had on the stage and some of the upper class
students, juniors and seniors that were there, told me I’ve never been down here before, this is beautiful,
I didn’t know it was here. So I think some of the efforts that we took to try and get the university to
rediscover the water and the university has happened; and it is a beautiful place. And I see Ron back
here. That was one of the ideas that came out of the design shred this spring. Thank you Ron for helping
lead that effort, a number of those things. And to Bill and his crew for all the hard work to get the
banners up and to get the posters up and clean up the MLK Mall so it’s an inviting place. A lot of good
work got done in a short period of time. Thank you very much. So that does link to 9A1 and this is the
internal budget and I want to extend thanks again in this case to the interim Vice President for Finance,
Nancy Suttenfield, to Lisa Freeman and to their staffs who worked so hard; and also to IT. I guess Brett
just left, but we had an IT staff member involved as well, that worked so hard to pull together a budget
and a budget process, budget principles that were widely shared across the university. It was an
enormous effort and it’s gotten us to a balanced budget in a strategic way and I want to thank them and
propose to you that this budget be approved.
Chair Butler called for a motion to approve the internal budget, which was moved and seconded. He
asked for any discussion and went on to state that he wanted to say thank you also to the individuals
NIU Board of Trustees
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December 4, 2014
who worked on this, particularly Nancy Suttenfield for the time and the effort and your colleague in this
Dr. Freeman. It was something that we discussed extensively at the committee level and I wanted to
make sure that we marked the moment that we supported it as a board. This is the fiscal sustainability
portion of the priorities that I spoke about earlier and I think that in supporting this budget we are
demonstrating our appreciation for the hard work that’s gone into it. This is, for those of you who might
be new to this and I don’t think there are anyone here who are, this is a revolutionary document. There’s
a lot of information in here that we’ve never seen before, that’s never come before this board, and it’s
out there for everybody to read and consider and to debate and it’s a level of transparency that I’m very
proud of for this board and for this administration.
Chair Butler called for a vote and there was no opposition so the internal budget was approved.
ITEMS DIRECTLY FROM THE PRESIDENT
Agenda Item 9.c.(1) –
Permanent Easement for Prairie Professional Park LLC
President Baker continued with 9.c.1 and that’s the permanent easement for Prairie Professional Park
LLC. So if you’ll turn to page 147 or look at the single blown up version of this map that you’ve got in
front of you at your table, you’ll not a big pink square and a yellow portion at the bottom called the
Monsanto Campus. So to orient you, the Monsanto Campus is across the street from Kishwaukee Hospital
and that’s where we have the Monsanto Building and there’s a picture on page two of what it physically
looks like. Prairie Professional Park would like to put four parking stalls in and those are in the bottom left
corner, the pink area, and right below that is a little blue slice, so those four rectangles in that pink area
are parking stalls to orient you to the rough size of it. And the blue area is a little sliver of land that they
would like to be able to drive across to put the cars in the parking slots. So they’re asking for an
easement to allow them to drive their cars there and this is not land that we’re using or plan to use and
it’s a little tiny sliver, so being good citizens, we would recommend to you the approval of the easement
of this land to allow them to use those parking stalls and drive across.
Chair Butler called for a motion to approve this item. The motion was made by Trustee Boey and
seconded by Trustee Iosco. Chair Butler called for any discussion on this motion and there was none. A
roll call vote on this motion was necessary, so Ms. Banks-Wilkins called the roll call vote.
Ms. Banks-Wilkins: Trustee Boey
Trustee Boey: Yes.
Ms. Banks-Wilkins: Trustee Iosco
Trustee Iosco: Yes
Ms. Banks-Wilkins: Trustee Marshall
Trustee Marshall: Yes
Ms. Banks-Wilkins: Trustee Strauss
Trustee Strauss: Abstain
Ms. Banks-Wilkins: Student Trustee Julion
Student Trustee Julion: Yes
Ms. Banks-Wilkins: Chair Butler
Chair Butler: Yes.
Chair Butler indicated that the motion passed and called for the next item.
Agenda Item 9.c.(2) –
Delegation of Authority to Implement the Illinois Smoke-Free
Campus Act
President Baker continued to the next item, which is in response to the legislature passing and the
governor signing a ban on smoking on public university campuses and so we need to comply with this by
next summer and we’re required to put together a committee. And this asks you to delegate to me the
authority to set up the committee to put this piece of legislation in place on our campus. So I would
move that you approve the delegation of authority to me bring this policy into action and implement here
NIU Board of Trustees
17
December 4, 2014
at the university.
Chair Butler called for a motion to approve the delegation of authority to the President to put in motion a
community task force and all that comes after that to implement this important piece of legislation, which
was given by Trustee Strauss and seconded by Trustee Boey. Chair Butler asked for any discussion on
the motion and there was none so the motion passed.
President Baker thanked the Trustees and I noted that he was looking at this in two ways. One is the
enforcement piece of course and getting the information out on that, but the other is this is an
educational opportunity for us. We know smoking is harmful to health and this is an opportunity for us to
use as an education tool and to help with smoking cessation programs for faculty, staff and students and
so we’re going to engage the resources on campus, the people with expertise in this, to see if we can
help with that activity and not just police this into submission, but see if we can improve the overall
health with is the underlying intent I think of this kind of legislation. Thank you for the authority to do
that and Marc if we need somebody to help we’ll know who to call.
Agenda Item 9.c.(3) –
Grant and Contract Awards
President Baker moved to the next item, which was an information item, and these are the grants and
contract that have been awarded since our last meeting and this is an information item and we’d be
happy to answer any questions on the luminous grants and contracts that you have in front of you.
Chair Butler asked if the Trustees had any questions on the grants and contracts items and there was
none so President Baker concluded his report. Chair Butler noted that his report had been eliminated.
CHAIR’S REPORT NO. 67
Chair Butler noted that these items were removed from the agenda.
Agenda Item 10.a. –
Benchmarking Review and Modifications to Achieve More timely and
Efficient Contracting and Procurement:
Resolution to Approve
Modifications
Agenda Item 10.a.(1) – Amendment to Board of Trustees Regulations Section V.B.2. –
Financial Affairs Obligation of Financial Resources
Agenda Item 10.a.(2) – Amendment to Board of Trustees Regulations Section VI.A.2. –
Physical Facilities – Real Property
Agenda Item 10.a.(3) – Amendment to Board of Trustees Regulations Section VII.F.1. –
Legal Proceedings and Actions
OTHER MATTERS
Chair Butler noted before asking for any other matters that Vice-President Nicklas will have retired by the
next board meeting and that a more formal statement would be made at the December meeting. He then
asked if there were any further matters for discussion.
NIU Board of Trustees
18
December 4, 2014
NEXT MEETING DATE
Chair Butler indicated that there were no other matters and that the next meeting date of this board is
December 4, 2014. He thanked all for their patience and stated that we respect very much your respect
for us and the time that you give to these meetings and thank you again for coming.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Butler called for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Trustee Strauss motioned and it was seconded
by Trustee Iosco. There was no discussion and a call was made. All agreed and the meeting was
adjourned 1:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon Banks-Wilkins
Recording Secretary
In compliance with Illinois Open Meetings Act 5 ILCS 120/1, et seq, a verbatim record of all
Northern Illinois University Board of Trustees meetings is maintained by the Board Recording
Secretary and is available for review upon request. The minutes contained herein represent a
true and accurate summary of the Board proceedings.
NIU Board of Trustees
19
December 4, 2014
Action
Agenda Item 6.
December 4, 2014
RESOLUTION HONORING BILL NICKLAS
WHEREAS, wise stewardship is critical to the vitality and economic sustainability of institutions of higher
education in the State of Illinois, and service to others within one’s community are hallmarks of strong
character and excellence; and,
WHEREAS, devoting one’s professional life to responsible governance, civic engagement, and positive
community relations is a pursuit worthy of the highest praise; and,
WHEREAS, sustaining a high standard of university governance requires intelligent and imaginative
approaches to facilitate and align the work of a university with that of its governing board; and
WHEREAS, Bill Nicklas, over the course of three years as a senior leader at NIU, has served the
university in multiple and extended appointments, including as Associate Vice President for Institutional
Planning and Sustainability, Vice President of Public Safety and Community Relations, Liaison to the
Board of Trustees, and Vice President of Operations and Community Relations; and,
WHEREAS, Bill Nicklas assumed the role of Board Liaison during a critical leadership transition:
immediately following the selection and installation of the 12th President of NIU, Dr. Douglas Baker, in
July of 2013; and,
WHEREAS, Bill Nicklas’ leadership as Board Liaison was essential to ensuring that Trustees remained
steadfast in their resolve to add value to institutional leadership and decision making, focus on their
essential role as fiduciaries, remain committed to the covenants of shared governance, improve the
Board’s capacity and functionality, and focus their time on issues of greatest consequence to the
institution; and,
WHEREAS, Bill Nicklas brought to his NIU responsibilities an extensive and impressive background as a
trusted and respected public servant – having served 13 years as Chief Administrative Officer for the City
of Sycamore and as City Manager for the City of DeKalb from 1992 to 1997 – and in all his deeds
embodies the potential of an NIU education – having earned both a Master’s Degree and Ph.D. in
American History from NIU; and,
WHEREAS, Bill Nicklas, upon his retirement, on October 31, 2014, leaves to a the next generation of
leaders a clarity of purpose and model of exceptional leadership practice;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Trustees of Northern Illinois University in
formal meeting herein assembled, extends its grateful appreciation to Bill Nicklas for his leadership and
service to the administration, faculty, staff, students, and Board of Trustees of Northern Illinois
University.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this RESOLUTION be presented to Bill Nicklas and a copy of this
document be placed in the official files of the Board of Trustees as part of the permanent record of the
university and the great State of Illinois and as a lasting tribute to the accomplishments of Bill Nicklas.
NIU Board of Trustees
20
December 4, 2014
Adopted in a regular meeting assembled this 4th day of December 2014.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF
NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
John Butler
Board Chair
Wheeler Coleman
Board Secretary
NIU Board of Trustees
20
December 4, 2014
President's Report
No. 95
December 4, 2014
Action
Agenda Item 9.a.(1)
December 4, 2014
REQUEST FOR A CHANGE IN DEGREE DESIGNATION
This change in degree designation request has received all required curricular approvals at the
department, college and university levels, endorsement by the Academic Planning Council and the
concurrence of the Executive Vice President and Provost. This request will be forwarded to the Illinois
Board of Higher Education for approval.
Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision
Description: The university proposes to change the degree designator for the current Ed.D. in Counselor
Education and Supervision to a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision degree program in the
Department of Counseling, Adult and Higher Education within the College of Education.
Rationale: The Department of Counseling, Adult and Higher Education proposes to change the degree
designator for the current doctoral program in Counselor Education and Supervision from an Ed.D. to a
Ph.D. reflecting best practices within the discipline and better alignment with the program’s disciplinary
accreditor, the Council for Accreditation in Counselor Education and Related Programs (CACREP). Data
from September 2013 indicate that of the 62 programs in the U.S. accredited by CACREP, only nine
(14%) continued to offer an Ed.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision. The remaining 53 (86%)
either offered a Ph.D. or were in the process of transitioning to a Ph.D. The proposed change would
make NIU graduates more competitive with those who graduate from other Ph.D. programs in
educational counseling and supervision and increase the likelihood that prospective students interested in
this field would identify NIU as their institution of first choice.
The counselor education and supervision faculty have been preparing for this transition for several years
and have implemented changes in course work and program requirements to move to the Ph.D. These
changes were made based on a feedback from external reviewers and CACREP standards and have led to
a more research-based, robust degree program.
Once the Ph.D. degree is implemented, all students would be admitted to this program; the Ed.D degree
will be phased out. Students currently enrolled in the program will be given the option of electing the
Ed.D. degree or the Ph.D. degree if they complete the appropriate requirements.
Costs: No new resources are needed to implement the proposed Ph.D. degree program in counselor
education and supervision; the requirements for the doctoral degree are staffed and funded.
Recommendation: The university recommends that the Academic Affairs, Student Affairs and Personnel
Committee endorse this request and ask that the president forward it by means of the President’s Report
to the Board of Trustees for approval at its December 4, 2014 meeting.
NIU Board of Trustees
21
December 4, 2014
Action
Agenda Item 9.a.(2)
December 4, 2014
REQUEST FOR A NEW DEGREE PROGRAM
All new degree programs require the approval of the Board of Trustees and the approval of the Illinois
Board of Higher Education. This new program request has received all of the required curricular approvals
at the department, college, and university levels, has been endorsed by the Academic Planning Council,
and has the concurrence of the Executive Vice President and Provost.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.)
Description: The university seeks approval for a Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) degree program in
the School of Nursing and Health Studies within the College of Health and Human Sciences.
Overview and Rationale: The proposed degree program addresses expanding roles for nurses in the
healthcare industry, responds to a proposed requirement for the D.N.P. as entry into advanced practice
nursing, maintains the completive advantage in attracting well-qualified applicants to graduate nursing
programs at NIU; and delivers the knowledge and skills for nurses to practice in increasingly complex
healthcare systems with diverse clients.
The D.N.P. is a practice-oriented professional degree similar to the emphasis placed on professional
practice doctorates in other health professions including: medicine (M.D.), dentistry (D.D.S.), psychology
(Psy.D.), physical therapy (D.P.T.), and audiology (Aud.D.). The D.N.P. program is grounded in advanced
nursing knowledge, collaborative leadership, and evidence-based practices focused on addressing issues
and needs of diverse client populations and healthcare systems. It is designed to accommodate both
Bachelor’s (Entry-Level B.S. to D.N.P.) and Master’s prepared nurses (Post-Master’s to D.N.P.) who desire
to assume the roles of leader and change agent. Implementation of the D.N.P. degree program at NIU
will begin with Post-Master’s students. This degree is a logical extension of existing programs and builds
upon the expertise and facilities already in place. The proposed D.N.P. reflects a much-needed expansion
of education requirements from NIU’s current graduate-level programming in nursing.
The year 2015 is a proposed target date for mandating the D.N.P. as entry-level educational preparation
for advanced practice nursing roles by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). While
the final deadline and mandate for converting all educational programs to the D.N.P. has not yet been
announced, it is likely to occur within the next five years. If NIU’s graduate nursing programs are to
remain viable, it is imperative that the proposed D.N.P. program be implemented prior to the date when
D.N.P. preparation is mandated by the AACN for Nurse Practitioners and Clinical Nurse Specialists.
Student enrollment for the D.N.P. is anticipated at 10 individuals enrolled part-time for the first year the
program is offered (3.3 FTE) and is expected to increase to 60 individuals (20 FTE) by the fifth year of
the program when it is fully implemented.
Costs: Support for the program will be realized through reallocation of existing university resources.
Potential also exists for differential tuition.
Recommendation: The university recommends that the Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and
Personnel Committee endorse this request and asks that the president forward it by means of the
President’s Report to the Board of Trustees for approval at its December 4, 2014 meeting.
NIU Board of Trustees
22
December 4, 2014
Action
Agenda Item 9.a.(3)
December 4, 2014
BOWL GAME PARTICIPATION EXPENSES
Summary: The university has requested that the Board of Trustees delegate to the President, or his
designee, approval for all necessary and proper expenses related to NIU’s participation in a post-season
Bowl Game competition, including (but not limited to) the following: the Bowl agreement(s), expenses
relating to ticketing, tickets, travel/transportation, lodging, rentals, insurance, dining, beverages (nonalcoholic), fees, services, broadcast, apparel, commodities, equipment, and supplies. Further, such
approval is requested to also authorize the President, or designee, to undertake all business transactions
necessary in relation to an anticipated upcoming Bowl event.
Recommendation: Board of Trustees approval is requested for expenditure authority for a post-season
Bowl Game competition and delegation of approval authority to the President, or designee, to undertake
all transactions necessary in relation to the Bowl, reporting actions taken where required beyond
customary authorizations at a subsequent meeting of the Board.
NIU Board of Trustees
23
December 4, 2014
Action
Agenda Item 9.a.(4)
December 4, 2014
FY16 TUITION, FEES, AND ROOM AND BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS
Background and Summary:
Last year, NIU modified the review and management process and
related timelines for developing recommendations for the “pricing” of students’ total cost of attendance
(COA) such that all tuition and fee decisions were made in February. In previous years, the
Administration presented its recommendations for over a dozen separate student fees and for various
room and board rates to the Finance, Facilities, and Operations Committee in February, with approval by
the Board of Trustees following in March. Tuition rates (per credit hour) were adopted later in a separate
action by the Board at its June meeting to permit subsequent preparation and approval of the next
annual budget.
This year, the Administration recommends advancing these pricing decisions to December. As noted last
year, there are several compelling reasons to move these decisions up another three months:
x
x
x
x
Some Illinois institutions (and others around the nation) make their pricing decisions in January.
Approval later than January is an unnecessary competitive disadvantage to NIU at the very time
we are implementing multi-faceted long-term strategies and short-term tactics to boost
enrollment and generate the revenue essential for fiscal equilibrium.
Most institutions of higher education have prepared their financial aid offers by mid-March; these
offers must by law consider the total COA. Earlier pricing will allow NIU to use staff time more
effectively and efficiently to focus on other aspects of our student aid practices to be more
responsive to needs of students and their families.
Many current NIU students begin making final decisions as early as January about whether to
continue living in our residence halls. The earlier timeline for approvals of next year’s housing
rates will allow NIU to maximize re-capture of students who might choose to live on campus, and
thus improve our ability to maximize housing revenue, as well as foster a more vibrant residence
hall and on-campus social community that is attractive and important to current and prospective
students.
Demand is a function of both marketplace and price, along with many other combinations of
unique factors that students and parents consider. For this reason, along with continued focus
on earlier pricing decisions our consolidated pricing recommendation provides for an increase in
tuition and fees, with a more than offsetting reduction in room and board rates. The result is a
reduction of 2.8 percent in the total COA for entering freshmen and transfers compared to fiscal
year 2015.
This year, there is an additional reason to advance pricing decisions to December. This decision point is
the final step in accomplishing an annual timetable that permits a more effective, efficient, and
transparent annual budget development process. With pricing decisions made in December, the annual
budget planning and development process for the next fiscal year can begin in January, thus permitting a
final budget for both the operating budget (and a new annual capital budget) in June versus September.
Compared to the last internal budget cycle, which was tightly compressed and did not conclude until late
August, this timetable allows more time for analysis and discussions with University leaders and other
campus stakeholders. There have been clear benefits to increased transparency across the board during
the past year. Further transparency and opportunity for interactive discussion during an expanded budget
development phase will permit a continued focus on enrollment issues and fiscal sustainability within the
new academic responsiveness/fiscal responsibility oversight model and reflecting our Guiding Principles
for Financial Planning and Budgeting, and will thus allow for better informed decision making.
NIU Board of Trustees
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December 4, 2014
Moreover, assuming that decisions on appropriations are made prior to the end of June, the University
will be better able to notify campus units about their approved budgets as close to the beginning of the
fiscal year as possible. In order for there to be appropriate alignment of responsibility and budget
authority, campus units need as much time as possible to notify their academic departments and other
administrative units of the resources that will be available for the fiscal/academic year to dedicate to their
student career success and other strategic goals.
As noted, the Administration is recommending a reduction in its total COA for entering undergraduate
students living in most residence halls. Our undergraduate pricing recommendations thus reflect a
continuation of last year’s approach with some minor exceptions explained in the next section. The
recommendations for graduate pricing, however, represent a number of major reforms that are related to
one another and aimed at increasing enrollments and generating revenue by pricing programs instead of
courses. The recommendation reflects an entirely new pricing structure that overcomes numerous current
challenges and obstacles represented in the pricing of education delivered on-campus, off-campus, or online. Similar to the extended time devoted to the pricing of undergraduate education last year, the
Administration welcomes the opportunity to devote significant time this year to a focus on the pricing of
graduate education.
Appendix I provides a comparison of NIU’s tuition and fees to other Illinois institutions for the past ten
years.
In the next several sections, we describe the specific Fiscal Year 2016 recommendations for each major
component of pricing that drives the total cost of attendance and 50 percent of the NIU revenue budget.
I. Tuition Recommendations:
Undergraduate Tuition
Similar to the tuition approved for FY 2015, in concert with the other pricing recommendations that
comprise the total cost of attendance (COA) the undergraduate tuition recommendation for FY 2016
reflects a 2.3 percent increase for a student enrolled in 15 credit hours. Further, the recommendation
reflects:
x
x
x
Pricing that is consistent with NIU’s current market and does nothing to discourage a student
from enrolling, all other things being equal;
Pricing that also reflects the importance of accessibility and affordability to new students that NIU
wishes to attract, following an extended period prior to FY 2015 during which the COA had been
increasing while numbers of new NIU students and appropriations were declining, resulting in a
financial model that is clearly not sustainable if not strategically altered for current
circumstances;
A pricing decision early enough in the financial aid packaging cycle to have a positive impact on
student/family choices for FY 2016 and in future enrollment cycles;
In addition to the above rationale, the tuition recommendations also reflect Truth-in-Tuition legislation,
which took effect Fall 2004 for Illinois residents seeking an undergraduate degree. Under the provisions
of the law, the entering degree-seeking undergraduate class for each fiscal year, beginning in FY 2005, is
guaranteed the same tuition rates for four continuous years. NIU policy adds one additional semester to
this four year guarantee. NIU’s current policy is that after nine continuous semesters, the guaranteed
undergraduate tuition rate adjusts to the fixed tuition rate paid by students who entered the university
one fiscal year after the date of original entry for two years (in accordance with Senate Bill 3222 which
was passed effective July 1, 2010). The fixed tuition rates for such students are maintained consistent
with that cohort.
NIU Board of Trustees
25
December 4, 2014
Other FY2016 recommendations that are reflected emanate from a new tuition task force established by
the Executive Vice President and Provost and the Interim Chief Financial Officer. The task force was
charged with making a comprehensive review of all instruction-related pricing to assure that it is rational
and easy to understand by prospective and enrolled students, parents, and individuals inside and outside
of NIU and that it is structured so as to generate sufficient revenue to sustain the institution, sustain the
institution’s value proposition, and eliminate barriers to enrollment by prospective students. The task
force was asked to examine alternatives that would address the following broad goals:
x
x
x
x
x
Modify or eliminate the current declining credit hour rate structure to eliminate unintended
consequences that occur when a student drops individual courses; and to encourage students to
enroll in more than the minimum number of hours required to be classified as full-time.
Consider establishing an alternative tuition rate to attract more students from adjacent states.
Identify options to use housing scholarships to fill residence halls in concert with alternative
tuition rates for out-of-state and international students.
Identify obstacles as well as opportunities to modify tuition to make NIU more competitive with
major local competitors.
Examine, rationalize, and simplify current program fee, on-line tuition, and other pricing and
identify changes that may be in order.
Accordingly, in addition to a 2.3 percent tuition increase, the Administration is recommending two
changes that affect the structure of undergraduate tuition as follow:
1. Abandon the declining credit hour structure and replace it with a flattened bundled structure. The
current declining credit hour structure was originally thought to be an incentive to encourage
students to take additional courses and graduate on time. There is no evidence that it ever had
that effect. The declining rate structure has created enormous confusion for students and parents
and is highly difficult to administer due to its complexity. This strategic change from a declining
scale to a bundled rate is estimated to have a time savings, simplification factor, and better
service implications for the service areas interacting with students and parents addressing
concerns.
2. Establish a lower out-of-state tuition for students from the Midwest (i.e., Iowa, Wisconsin,
Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Missouri) that covers the direct and estimated indirect instructional
costs at 140 percent of in-state tuition to create a greater incentive for these students to enroll at
NIU. (Students from other states, of which there are not many, would continue to be charged
tuition at 200 percent of the in-state rate.) Although there is a revenue loss associated with this
reduction, it is estimated that recruitment of approximately 80 additional students would make
this proposal revenue neutral, which could be achieved through purchase of a student prospect
list and targeted recruitment of students from these states.
See Table 1 at the end of this section for a summary of the undergraduate pricing recommendation along
with the graduate pricing recommendations described below.
Graduate Tuition
The Administration recommends a series of structural changes to graduate and law student tuition. All of
the changes are recommended with the objective in mind of either easing burdens that fall on graduate
and law students or of providing pathways to enrollment growth and additional revenue production.
The Administration recommends establishing an alternative tuition rate for graduate assistants and
fellows equal to the in-state rate. This recommendation is revenue neutral, but it will ease a tax
withholding burden that falls on out-of-state graduate assistants who serve in graduate staff assistant
roles. Additionally, billing graduate assistants and fellows at the in-state rate will align our tuition policies
NIU Board of Trustees
26
December 4, 2014
with our grant policies, which require cost recovery for only the in-state portion of tuition, when tuition
can be included in an externally-funded grant or contract.
The Administration recommends combining “tuition” (currently $349.18 per credit hour) and “general fee”
charges (currently $113.16 per credit hour) into one consolidated tuition rate for graduate students and
law students. Charging graduate students a consolidated tuition in each semester will aid in attracting to
NIU students with employer reimbursement. Generally, employer reimbursement benefits are limited to
tuition charges only, making NIU, even when the institution of first choice, appear less attractive to
prospective students who can attend a private institution with 100 percent reimbursement of tuition.
Furthermore, consolidating the instructional charge and fees, which together constitute the cost of
instruction, into a single tuition charge makes the true cost of attendance readily apparent to adult
students.
The Administration recommends establishing a minimum graduate program and law school differential
tuition rate of $30 per credit hour and a maximum of $400 per credit hour in addition to the tuition
charge described above. Currently, advanced students are charged program, excellence, and regional
delivery fees, ranging from $50 per hour to $349.18 per hour. This recommendation eliminates program,
excellence, and regional delivery fees and replaces them with a differential tuition charge that will be
approved by the Executive Vice President and Provost and the Chief Financial Officer. Because the
differential tuition will be applied to all students admitted to a program of study, regardless of the
location of the program, academic leaders including deans will need to determine how best to propose a
differential tuition that takes into consideration individual program costs and competitive pricing for the
program in question; thus, the recommendation is for the Board to approve a minimum and maximum
rate that accommodates a wide range of reasonable possibilities.
Online Tuition
The Administration recommends establishing a minimum tuition rate of $500 per credit hour and a
maximum tuition rate of $1,000 per credit hour for one year, FY 2016, for both graduate and
undergraduate online programs. Over a two year period, the undergraduate online program rate range
will facilitate a demonstration project to determine the viability of large scale online programming
designed particularly to appeal to adult students in our region, as well as international students. The
components of the minimum online tuition rate are illustrated below in Figure 1. This recommendation
relies on approval of a consolidated tuition charge and differential tuition, where the minimum differential
charge will be $30 per hour and the maximum differential charge will be $530. NIU’s efforts to develop
budget and pricing models to stimulate growth of online programs and enrollment has been discussed for
many years. Coupled with the efforts of the Office of Online Program Development and Support, this
recommendation paves the way for that growth.
Figure 1
Components of Online Tuition: Rates for FY 2016
Components of Tuition
Minimum Per
Maximum Per
Hour Charge
Hour Charge
Instructional Charge
$357
$357
Central Services Charge
$69
$69
Outreach Charge
$18
$18
Career/Professional Development Charge
$4
$4
Technology Charge
$22
$22
Program Differential
$30
$530
TOTAL Online Tuition
$500
$1,000
NIU Board of Trustees
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December 4, 2014
The recommended tuition rates for undergraduate, graduate and law students are presented in Table 1.
Table 1
Fiscal Year 2016 Tuition Recommendations
Undergraduate:
AY 16
Part Time
Per Cr. Hr. Rate
1 - 11 Cr. Hrs.
$348.84
Full Time
Package/Bundle Rate
12 or more Cr. Hrs.
$4,732.80
PriorTruth in Tuition Year Rates (cap at 14 hrs.)
AY 15
AY 14
AY 13
AY 12
AY 11
AY 10
1 - 13 Cr. Hrs
$330.45
$323.95
$317.60
$303.20
$283.90
$259.25
14 or more Cr. Hrs.
$4,626.30
$4,535.30
$4,446.40
$4,244.80
$3,974.60
$3,629.50
(1) Undergraduates who are entering in FY2016 or who are non-degree seeking; non-residents in the Midwest at 1.4 times
and all others at 2 times the FY2016 rate.
Graduate:
1 - 11 Cr. Hrs.
12 or more Cr. Hrs.
AY 16
$493.63
$5,923.56
The above hourly tuition rate includes an instructional charge of $357 per credit hour and an institutional
charge of $136.63 per credit hour.
Law:
1 - 11 Cr. Hrs.
12 or more Cr. Hrs.
AY 16
$913.27
$10,959.24
The above hourly tuition rate includes an instructional charge of $677.29 per credit hour and an
institutional charge of $235.98 per credit hour.
II. Room and Board Recommendations:
The collection of room and board from students living in university residence halls supports Student
Housing and Dining Services operations and related Revenue Bond obligations.
Room rate
recommendations typically address increased student wage and service contract costs, software support,
indirect costs, contractual services, general operating expenses, and debt service payments related to
renovations to the residence halls. At this time, in order to address student affordability concerns, the
university is recommending a single room and board rate that represents a 7.08 percent
reduction in rates for Fiscal Year 2016 as a modest step to entice more students to reside on
campus and to reduce the total pricing package for students entering the University in the
Fall of 2015. (NOTE: Rates for New Hall and Northern View, the Collegiate Housing Foundation II
Project, are considered separately and are not included in this recommendation.) A summary is provided
in Table 2 which details each residence hall room and board rate.
NIU Board of Trustees
28
December 4, 2014
Table 2
Fiscal Year 2016 Room and Board Rate Recommendations
NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
ROOM & BOARD COMPARISON
FY15 and FY16
FY15
FY16
NEPTUNE
Double as Single
Double
$
$
RATE
4,658
3,663
NEPTUNE
Multiple-Occupancy
RATE
$4,703
GILBERT
Double
$
4,206
GILBERT
Multiple-Occupancy
$ 5,246
GRANT TOWERS
Single
Double
$
$
4,828
4,206
GRANT TOWERS
C/D Towers - Single-Occupancy
C/D Towers - Multiple-Occupancy
$5,868
$5,246
STEVENSON TOWERS
Single
Double
Suite with bath, 2-person
Suite with bath, 4-person
Suite, no bath, 2-person
Suite, no bath, 4-person
$
$
$
$
$
$
4,828
4,206
5,637
4,635
5,389
4,389
STEVENSON TOWERS
Single-Occupancy
Multiple-Occupancy
$5,868
$5,246
MEAL PLANS
Huskie Unlimited
Huskie 65
Huskie 90
$
$
$
1,040
1,040
1,440
Other Residential Fees
Winter Break Fee
Prior to deadline
After deadline
$42/week or $150/4 weeks
$56/week or $200/4 weeks
Living-Learning Communities
$50/semester
(Formerly Academic Residential Programs)
Board Rates
In an effort to best meet the dining center usage patterns for residential students and to minimize the
cost of the board plan, all residents will purchase the existing Unlimited Access meal plan for FY2016 as
part of their room and board package. There is an expectation that the reduced cost could result in
additional nonresident student participation to help make it budget neutral through this and other dining
NIU Board of Trustees
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December 4, 2014
program initiatives.
Since the required meal plan will be the same for all students, it allows NIU to create a combined room
and board rate that brings us in line with what other universities are already doing in terms of showing a
combined rate. It also gives students and parents a single number that they can use to determine the
cost of living in the residence halls. Finally, a combined room and board rate falls in line with our desire
for student bills to be streamlined and easier to read.
III. Student Fee Recommendations:
The university has numerous student activities, programs, services and operations that are supported to
various degrees by the assessment of dedicated-use student fees. Table 3 provides a summary of fee
rates for FY 2015 and recommendations for FY 2016. This year, fee committees were again asked by the
President to review the continuing necessity of each fee, ensure the fee is being utilized for the intended
purpose, and assume a zero percent fee increase, unless compelling documentation could be provided
that would support the need for an increase.
As part of the simplification of pricing, the Administration is also recommending a two-year phase in that
will collapse over a dozen separate dedicated fees into four broad categories of related fees for the
purpose of publicized pricing and easier to explain billing. The color coded diagram that follows depicts
the current fees and the new fee to which it will be mapped beginning with next year’s fee
recommendations. The uses of each of the “fees within the new replacement fee” will be explained on
the University website and still be reviewed, as currently, with students each year. The accounting for the
fee allocations will continue in the same manner so that fee revenue remains dedicated to the approved
purpose and assure continued transparency to the students who participate in the fee review process or
any student who wishes to drill down to understand where the dollars go. This change is strictly
“cosmetic” and involves no change in policy.
NIU Board of Trustees
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December 4, 2014
NIU Board of Trustees
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December 4, 2014
Excluding the health insurance fee increase, the increases recommended for approval
represent a 0.3 percent increase for undergraduate students. Fees for graduate and law student
are incorporated into the recommended tuition rates. Following Table 3, fee descriptions are provided to
describe each fee and the recommended fee rate.
Table 3
FISCAL YEAR 2016 FEE RECOMMENDATIONS
(Including Pre-Approved Fees)+
CURRENT FEES FY 15
Per Credit
Semester (@
12 + Cr. Hrs.)
Proposed
Change per
Credit Hour
Hour
12 + Cr. Hrs.)
Per Credit
Semester (@
Hour
Mandatory Fees
PROPOSED FEES FY 16
Percent
Change
ACTIVITY FEE
$
4.40
$
52.80
$
0.13
$
4.53
$
54.36
3.0%
ATHLETICS
$
22.59
$
271.08
$
-
$
22.59
$
271.08
0.0%
BOND REVENUE
Bond Facilities
Living/Learning+
West Campus Improvement+
$
38.98
29.78
6.00
3.20
$
467.76
357.36
72.00
38.40
$
(0.10)
(0.10)
$
38.88
29.78
6.00
3.10
$
466.56
357.36
72.00
37.20
-0.3%
0.0%
0.0%
-3.1% +
BUS
$
9.45
$
113.40
0.33
$
9.78
$
117.36
3.5%
HEALTH SERVICES
$
10.25
123.00
-
$
10.25
123.00
0.0%
GRANTS IN AID
$
0.88
10.56
-
$
0.88
10.56
0.0%
STUDENT TO STUDENT GRANT
$
0.50
6.00
-
$
0.50
6.00
0.0%
250.00
-
250.00
0.0%
75.00
-
75.00
0.0%
ACAD PROGRAM ENHANCEMENT
CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT
NA
$
6.25
$
NA
$
6.25
$
TOTAL IF REGISTERED FOR 12 OR MORE SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS*
2014-15 per
Semester
$ 1,369.60
UNDERGRADUATE
2015-16 per
Semester
$ 1,373.92
0.32%
* Totals do not include the Health Insurance Fee
Refundable Fee**
HEALTH INSURANCE***
NA
$
759.00
-
NA
TBD
** Can be waived with proof of comparable insurance.
*** For full time students only. FY 16 Rates not available yet.
+ = BOT Pre-approved fee schedule.
NIU Board of Trustees
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December 4, 2014
Fee Descriptions
Activity Fee
The Student Association recommends allocations from collected Activity Fees, which are used to support
student organizations, activities, and programs including concerts, films, speakers, etc. The Student
Activity Fee Review Committee is recommending a $.13 increase from $4.40 to $4.53 per
semester credit hour for undergraduate students. The increase, 3 percent, is requested by the
students on the committee, who feel strongly that the activities supported by these fees contribute to
student engagement and retention by supporting student organizations and student services areas.
Athletics Fee
Intercollegiate Athletics maintains sixteen sports (7 men’s and 9 women’s) at the NCAA Division 1A level.
The Athletic Fee is the primary source of fiscal support for Intercollegiate Athletics. In order to support
operations in the coming fiscal year, the Athletics Fee will stay at $22.59 per credit hour, with no
increase.
Revenue Bond Fees
Revenue Bond Fees are used to support facilities and operations that have been established through the
issue of revenue bonds. Included in the Revenue Bond fee is the 1996 Bond Series fee and the 2010
Bond Series Fee. One of these fees have been pre-approved by the Board based on a schedule
established when the financing arrangements were created. The 1996 Bond Series (West Campus
Improvements) bond fee structure was established in 1997 and initiated in FY98. The approved structure
provided a specific schedule for 1996 Bond Series fees through calendar year 2022, and began
decreasing in FY03; therefore, a decrease of $0.10, from $3.20 to $3.10 per credit hour, is included in
the overall bond fee package for FY 2016. The 2010 Bond Series (Living & Learning) bond fee structure
was established in 2010 and initiated in FY12. The recommendations for each Revenue Bond fee are as
follows:
Holmes Student Center – The fee will remain at $12.33 per credit hour, with no increase.
Recreation Center I – The fee will remain at $4.57 per credit hour, with no increase.
Recreation Center II – The fee will remain at $2.26 per credit hour, with no increase.
Huskie Stadium – The fee will remain at $2.40 per credit hour, with no increase.
Convocation Center – The fee will remain at $8.22 per credit hour, with no increase.
1996 Bond Series (West Campus Improvements) – This previously approved fee decreases $0.10,
from $3.20 to $3.10, per credit hour.
2010 Bond Series (Living & Learning) – The fee will remain at $6.00 per credit hour.
Overall, the FY 2016 recommended bond fee package reflects an decrease of $0.10, from
$38.98 to $38.88, per credit hour.
Student Bus Service Fee
The Bus Fee supports the university’s Huskie Line bus and Freedom Mobile paratransit services. All feepaying students are eligible to utilize Huskie buses without being charged fares. The Bus Fee Review
Committee is recommending a $0.33 increase from $9.45 to $9.78 per semester credit hour
NIU Board of Trustees
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December 4, 2014
per academic semester and a $0.11 increase from $3.17 to $3.28 per semester credit hour
for the summer session. These increases are needed to meet obligations of the contract with the
vendor that provides student bus services.
Health Service Fee
The Health Service Fee supports the University Health Services, Disability Resources, and Health
Enhancement, which provide comprehensive ambulatory health care, disability-related accommodations,
and health education for students. The Health Fee Review Committee is recommending no
increase at $10.25 per semester credit hour.
Grants-in-Aid Fee
The Grants-in-Aid Fee supports the University Scholar and Academic Finalist Awards Program, a
scholarship-based financial aid program. It is the only major academically focused scholarship program
available at Northern Illinois University for outstanding incoming new freshmen and community college
transfers. The Grants-in-Aid Fee Review Committee is recommending no increase at $0.88 per
semester credit hour.
Student-to-Student Grant
Revenues collected to fund the Student-to-Student Grant program support a need-based financial aid
program for economically disadvantaged students. The fee is assessed only to undergraduate students
registered for twelve or more credit hours of on-campus instruction and is refundable upon request.
Schools are eligible for matching funds from the state of Illinois; however, matching funds were not
appropriated in fiscal year 2014, and are not expected in fiscal year 2015. The fee is presently at the
ISAC statutory maximum of $6.00 per semester; therefore, no increase is recommended for
next year.
Academic Program Enhancement and Instructional Surcharge
The Academic Program Enhancement and Instructional Surcharge is a flat fee that is assessed in order to
meet the ever-emerging demands for cutting edge academic programs and services for NIU students.
Critical areas for funding include library journals and books, support for courses in high demand,
technology upgrades, as well as support for identified academic strategic planning initiatives designed to
strengthen, direct and further improve academic programs, research, and the academic experience of
students. The fee will remain the same at $250.00 per semester.
Campus Improvement Fee
The resources generated by this fee will be used to maintain and improve classroom physical conditions,
perform renovations needed to enhance the teaching and learning environment, provide support needed
for classroom buildings and campus infrastructure improvements such as mechanical, electrical and
plumbing systems. These basic needs must be satisfied in order to provide students with a quality
learning environment and faculty with tools and surroundings from which they can perform their mission.
The fee will remain at the current rate of $6.25 per semester credit hour.
Health Insurance Fee
The student health insurance plan provides comprehensive medical insurance for students and their
dependents. The Health Insurance fee is a flat fee, which provides coverage for all students registered
for nine or more credit hours of on-campus instruction, unless proof of comparable health insurance
coverage is provided. It should be noted that Spring Semester enrollment in the plan includes summer
NIU Board of Trustees
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December 4, 2014
coverage regardless of whether the student is registered for summer session instruction. This assures
year-round health insurance coverage for participating students. The Student Health Insurance Fee
Review Committee is currently undergoing the Request for Proposal (RFP) process to select
a plan administrator and underwriter for the FY2016 student health insurance plan. This
process will not finished until the March 2015 Board of Trustees meeting.
Overall Pricing Recommendation for Fiscal Year 2016: The university requests approval of the
recommended FY 2016 pricing package as described in this item and detailed in Figure 1, Tables 1 – 3,
and summarized in Table 4. These figures reflect the average annual costs for a full-time student at the
undergraduate, graduate and law school level.
NIU Board of Trustees
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December 4, 2014
TABLE 4
Fiscal Year 2016 Tuition, Fee and Room & Board Recommendations
Annual Cost Summary for Full-Time Students
NEW UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
FY 2015
In-State
FY 2016
In-State
Change FY15-FY16
$
%
TUITION
$
9,253
$
9,466
$
213
2.30%
FEES*
$
2,739
$
2,748
$
9
0.33%
ROOM & BOARD**
$
11,292
$
10,492
$ (800)
-7.08%
TOTAL
$
23,284
$
22,706
$ (578)
-2.48%
Assumptions:
Full-time 15 hours for both Fall and Spring
* Excludes Health Insurance Fee
** Renovated Double, Grant, Gilbert, Stevenson; w ith an Unlimited Meal Plan ($2,080 in FY 2016).
NOTE: Does not include housing rates at New Hall or Northern View . Those rates are set in a separate process.
NEW AND CONTINUING GRADUATE STUDENTS
FY 2015
In-State
FY 2016
In-State
Change FY15-FY16
$
%
TUITION*
$
11,096
$
11,847
$
751
6.77%
TOTAL
$
11,096
$
11,847
$
751
6.77%
Assumptions:
Full-time 12 hours for both Fall and Spring
* In FY 2015 includes $2,716 in Fees. The FY 2016 figure is all Tuition.
NEW AND CONTINUING LAW SCHOOL STUDENTS
FY 2015
In-State
FY 2016
In-State
Change FY15-FY16
$
%
TUITION*
$
21,564
$
21,918
$
354
1.64%
TOTAL
$
21,564
$
21,918
$
354
1.64%
Assumptions:
Full-time 12 hours for both Fall and Spring
* In FY 2015 includes $5,628 in Fees. The FY 2016 figure is all Tuition.
NIU Board of Trustees
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December 4, 2014
NIU Board of Trustees
37
December 4, 2014
7,871
7,411
7,795
5,938
9,748
7,252
6,306
7,229
6,899
6,831
5,209
8,498
5,965
Northeastern IL University
Northern Illinois University
Western Illinois University
SIU Carbondale
SIU Edwardsville
U of I Chicago
U of I Springfield
9,966
5,478
11,244
8,108
10,546
7,033
8,899
8,079
8,589
7,998
9,019
5,966
7,990
$
7,730
FY 2008
12,240
9,077
11,716
7,831
9,813
8,862
9,403
8,964
9,814
7,542
8,783
$
8,878
FY 2009
12,660
9,541
12,034
8,336
10,411
9,617
10,180
9,908
10,531
8,352
9,429
$
9,500
FY 2010
13,658
10,374
12,864
8,401
10,467
10,149
11,144
10,698
11,417
8,746
9,987
$
10,366
FY 2011
14,414
10,984
13,464
8,865
11,038
10,719
11,795
11,394
12,230
8,936
10,534
$
10,724
FY 2012
*Source: IBHE. Includes student health insurance, which can be waived with proof of comparable insurance.
8,688
7,166
7,091
Illinois State University
U of I Urbana-Champaign
8,040
5,050
Governors State University
7,035
6,339
Eastern Illinois University
$
7,138
FY 2007
$
6,626
FY 2006
Chicago State University
PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES
($ in 000s)
TUITION & FEES* HISTORY FY 2006 - FY 2015
Entry Level, Annual, Full-Time Undergraduate Students
Appendix I
ILLINOIS PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES
14,960
11,413
13,938
9,251
11,528
11,182
12,472
11,435
12,726
9,116
10,930
$
11,006
FY 2013
15,258
11,776
14,338
9,666
11,942
11,766
12,853
12,015
13,010
9,386
11,144
$
11,126
FY 2014
15,602
12,195
14,588
9,738
12,056
12,217
13,510
12,609
13,296
9,386
11,108
$
11,912
FY 2015
8.8%
11.6%
8.0%
9.7%
8.5%
8.6%
9.7%
11.1%
9.7%
9.5%
8.4%
8.9%
Average
Annual
Increase
APPENDIX
AGENDA ITEM 9.a(4)
FY 2016 TUITION, FEES, AND ROOM AND BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS
This appendix includes additional information that responds to specific questions and comments that arose during
the presentation and discussion of pricing recommendations with the Finance, Facilities and Operations Committee
at its meeting on November 6, 2014. Below are the Administration’s responses, and the following pages include
other information that provides further amplification or clarification.

Is the recommended new undergraduate tuition structure too complicated? Will it be difficult to explain it to
students and parents?
Response: The Administration does not believe that the new undergraduate tuition structure is too
complicated or difficult to explain, given its discussions with current students prior to the November meeting
and extensive past feedback from parents. The new structure greatly simplifies the way in which current
undergraduate students are charged by abandoning a declining rate structure (as credit hours increase),
about which many students and parents have complained for some time. They especially find the current
structure counterintuitive because their tuition rate goes up, instead of down, after the student drops a
course. In addition, the recommended flat tuition rate is easier for parents to understand because it is more
familiar to many of them due to its widespread use by competitor institutions. The new tuition structure also
makes it readily apparent to students and parents that taking more courses than the minimum required for
full-time status will cost no more and lead to timely degree completion at a more predictable cost. This is
very easy for students and parents to see and understand. Finally, current students are also pleased with the
University’s responsiveness in addressing their current confusion, frustration, and concerns, as represented
by the new structure.
Future undergraduate students who apply and consider enrolling at NIU in FY 2016 will quickly recognize the
recommended tuition structure as one that is consistent with and more easily compares to pricing at other
universities, and we expect far fewer questions than with previous entering students. In summary, we do not
anticipate any difficulties in explaining the recommended new structure in marketing, catalogue, website,
billing, or other communication materials because it is so much less complicated than the current structure.
For further information, attached is a two-page summary comparison of the current tuition structure and the
recommended new tuition structure.

Are the FY 2016 pricing recommendations for undergraduate students presented in Table 4 of Agenda Item
9.a(4) based on assumptions that make it appear that there is a reduction in the total cost of attendance for
all new and continuing undergraduate students (i.e., a “best case” scenario), when other assumptions might
show that there is no reduction and some students might even be paying more?
Response: The answer is no. The total cost of attendance comparison for FY 2015 and FY 2016 shown in Table
4 is based on assumptions that are as equivalent as we can make them for new undergraduate students who
have entered or will enter during the current academic year (FY 2015). While tuition and fees are
recommended to increase by 2.3 and 0.3 percent, respectively, in FY 2016, a new freshman must live on
campus and enroll in a residential dining program. The reduction in room and board next year is therefore a
real reduction for new undergraduate students in FY 2016 relative to new undergraduates who enroll in FY
2015.
Continuing students, as always, are covered by Truth in Tuition, and in fact they will see a very slight
reduction in their bill as the result of the abandonment of the declining tuition rate structure and
replacement with a flat rate. Continuing students are not required to live and dine on campus, but if they
choose to do so they will find campus housing and dining to cost $800 less than last year just as new students
enrolling in FY 2016 will find these prices to be lower than those charged to new students this year.
We have also attached a new Table 4.1 on the last page of this appendix. This table shows comparisons in
total cost of attendance presented with last February’s pricing recommendations for FY 2015 (which
reflected the Huskie 90 meal plan) and also as if the new lower priced meal plan were in effect in FY 2015.
The comparison to FY 2015 is shown for both new and continuing students in FY 2016. As shown in the Table,
continuing students will see their total cost of attendance decline next year by 3.4 percent if they were in the
Huskie 90 plan this year; if they had been in the new plan this year, their total cost of attendance would be
essentially flat. (It should be recalled that the room rates approved for FY 2015 were also reduced by $235
compared to the previous year.)

It was suggested that the Board grant approval to the Administration to set graduate tuition and on-line
tuition for specific programs (versus current practice of tuition for courses) within minimum and maximum
amounts for one year only. It was further suggested that the Administration provide a report on the tuitions
that it will establish to permit the Board the opportunity to consider more fully whether continued
delegation of authority in setting these rates is appropriate.
Response: The agenda item has been revised to reflect the change to one-year approval, and the
Administration will report to the Board on the tuition decisions that will be made during the coming year as
requested.
Proposed Change to Undergraduate Tuition Rates
Current Tuition Structure:





Sliding per credit hour scale features three distinct credit hour rates
o 1 - 11 $342.88 per credit hour
o 12 - 14 $331.37 per credit hour
o 15 - 16 $308.44 per credit hour
Two separate per credit hour rates for full-time students
Students can owe more money by dropping a class and moving from 15 to 14 hours
Creates confusion, ill will among students and families
Does not incentivize timely degree completion by taking more credit hours
Credit hours
1
2
3
4
5
Part-time Students
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Full-Time
14
Students
15
16
Amt Charged
342.88
685.76
1,028.64
1,371.52
1,714.40
2,057.28
2,400.16
2,743.04
3,085.92
3,428.80
3,771.68
3,976.44
4,307.81
4,639.18
4,626.60
4,935.04
Having tuition rates that vary with the number of credit hours taken does not support transparency, student success
or a positive customer service experience.
Recommended Tuition Structure:
A good way to think of the recommended structure is that it resembles an insurance deductible. Once a certain
threshold is reached (14 credit hours for continuing students and 12 hours for new students), you do not pay any
more. In addition, the recommended structure has the following benefits:








Remains consistent with Truth-in-Tuition for continuing undergraduate students
Simplified rate structure for both new and continuing students
o $348.84 per credit hour for new students capped at $4,732 (12 credit hour price)
o $330.45 per credit hour for continuing students capped at $4626.30 (14 credit hour price)
New students gain value for any course enrollment over 12 credit hours
o 16 credit hour new student will pay $4,732.80 next year vs. $4,935.04 current year
Continuing students gain value for any course enrollment over 14 credit hours
o 14 credit hour continuing student will pay $4,626.30 next year vs. $4,639 current year
o 16 credit hour continuing student will pay $4,626.30 next year vs. $4,935.04 current year
Every continuing student will receive a slight reduction in tuition
Simplified bills for parents, students (no more sliding scale)
Simplified administration of billing and receivables that allows increased focus on actual service to students
Consistent with financial aid models based on 12 credit hour full-time student criteria
New students
Continuing students
Part-time
Students
Full-Time
Students
Credit hours
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Amt
Charged
330.45
660.90
991.35
1,321.80
1,652.25
1,982.70
2,313.15
2,643.60
2,974.05
3,304.50
3,634.95
3,965.40
4,295.85
4,626.30
Part-time Students
Full-Time
Students
Credit
hours
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Amt
Charged
348.84
697.68
1,046.52
1,395.36
1,744.20
2,093.04
2,441.88
2,790.72
3,139.56
3,488.40
3,837.24
12
$4,732.80
Action
Agenda Item 9.a.(5)
December 4, 2014
NEW FACILITY FOR CAMPUS DISTRIBUTIVE ANTENNA SYSTEM
CAPITAL PROJECT APPROVAL
Summary: The Division of Information Technology in partnership with Crown Castle, one of the nation’s
largest providers of shared wireless infrastructure, has proposed a new facility to house a Distributed
Antenna System (DAS) hub. When completed, the proposed facility will provide a central collocation
point from which Crown Castle and major wireless providers (i.e. Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint, TMobile) can expand outdoor and indoor antenna systems across NIU’s campus in order to improve
cellphone coverage for the entire campus. If approved, the new facility will be located on the west side
of campus in an area adjacent to and north of Printing Services. It will consist of a gravel surfaced open
equipment area approximately 16,000 square feet, enclosed by an 8’ high chain link fence with a privacy
screen. Within the fence area there will be a 900 square foot central precast equipment shelter for the
neutral host and space for between four (4) and ten (10) smaller precast concrete equipment shelters for
cellphone carriers. A new fiber optic infrastructure will also be built and interconnected to the
University’s main fiber optic arteries in order to provide the required transport from the DAS hub to
specific outdoor/indoor DAS deployments across campus.
All cost of all improvements, equipment, shelters and fiber optic infrastructure will be covered by Crown
Castle, the neutral host of the proposed facility. The University is currently in discussions with Crown
Castle on the terms of an equitable ten (10) year land lease agreement that may also include three (3)
additional five (5) year lease renewals.
Funding:
Crown Castle will fund all proposed improvement costs.
Recommendation: The University requests Board of Trustees authorization to establish a project for
the improvements to real property including the proposed facility and fiber optic infrastructure. The
University further requests approval to proceed with an equitable ten (10) year land lease agreement
with Crown Castle.
NIU Board of Trustees
38
December 4, 2014
Action
Agenda Item 9.a.(6)
December 4, 2014
ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS-PHASE XI
PERFORMANCE CONTRACT AMENDMENT
Summary: The university requests permission to expand the Phase XI Performance Contract Project to
include needed infrastructure improvements resulting in reduced energy consumption and maintenance in
the future involving exterior lighting upgrades campus-wide, HVAC upgrades and air handling needs and
roof replacements in various buildings on campus. As with prior Performance Contract projects the
University makes no initial capital outlay or investment to fund the project. Energy and operational
savings are guaranteed by the contractor to be at least at the level to fund the project, including finance
charges, for up to twenty years.
Original Board of Trustees approval for Energy Infrastructure Improvements-Phase XI Project was given
on December 5, 2013.
Recommendation: The University requests Board of Trustees approval to expand the Phase XI
Performance Contract Project to include these additional items as follows:
Prior amount........................................................
Amendment.........................................................
not to exceed $10.8 million
including financing $7.2 million
New total.............................................................
not to exceed $18.0 million
NIU Board of Trustees
39
December 4, 2014
Information
Agenda Item 9.b.(1)
December 4, 2014
OVERSIGHT OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Northern Illinois University engages in numerous processes to monitor the quality of its academic degree
programs and to inform planning and decision making about the programs. Processes internal to the
university include program review and the assessment of learning outcomes, which are required of all
programs by our regional accreditor the Higher Learning Commission and by the Illinois Board of Higher
Education. Processes that include external constituencies or external indicators include the reviews of
doctoral departments by outside evaluators, external reviews of dissertations, accreditation, licensure and
certification examinations and advisory committees.
Internal Processes
Program Review: NIU has a long-standing history of conducting thorough reviews of its academic
programs and research and public service centers through the program review process. Currently,
programs are reviewed every eight years on a schedule determined by the university. Departments
scheduled for review prepare in-depth self-study documents, which incorporate information from the
sources cited above as well as other data collected by the program and data provided by offices from
across the university. The program review documents are appraised first by the provost and the provost’s
staff and then by a faculty committee, the Academic Planning Council. The council makes
recommendations about the programs to the provost. The findings, recommendations and actions that
result from the university’s review of programs are reported to the departments and colleges as well as
the NIU Board of Trustees and the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
The programs in the College of Business scheduled for review in 2013-2014 were the:
B.S. in Accountancy
Master of Accountancy Science
Master of Science in Taxation
B.S. in Finance
B.S. in Business Administration
B.S. in Management
B.S. in Marketing
B.S. in Operations and Information Management
Master of Science in Management Information Systems
Master of Business Administration
The programs in the College of Health and Human Sciences scheduled for review in 2013-2014 were the:
B.S. in Family and Child Studies
Master of Science in Applied Family and Child Studies
B.S. in Nutrition, Dietetics, and Hospitality Administration
Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics
B.S. in Textiles, Apparel, and Merchandising
Master of Science in Family and Consumer Science
The programs in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences scheduled for review in 2013-2014 were the:
B.A./B.S., and M.A. in Anthropology
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B.A./B.S. and M.A. in Sociology
The IBHE also requires that the university review organized research and public service centers on a
regular schedule. During 2013-2014, the following centers were reviewed:
Business Experiential Learning Center
Center for Southeast Asian Studies
Child Development Laboratory
Couple and Family Therapy Clinic
Ellington’s and Chandelier Dining Room
The information submitted to the IBHE to meet its reporting requirement for 2014 has also been
forwarded to the Board of Trustees under separate cover.
Assessment of Learning Outcomes: All NIU degree programs engage in the systematic assessment of
student learning, and the overall assessment process is linked to program review. All degree programs
have University Assessment Panel approved assessment plans that outline the methods, processes and
time frames for the implementation of the plans. Each year, every program prepares an annual
assessment update that provides a snapshot of the last 12 months related assessment activities, the
evidence gathered from the activities and the actions taken on the evidence. These updates are
submitted to the Office of Assessment Services that conducts a review of the updates using standardized
rubrics, provides feedback to the individual programs and prepares a consolidated report on the extent to
which the criteria for the updates were met. The assessment process also incorporates a review and/or
revision of the overall plan to ensure that the plan reflects the programs’ current practices. In year four
of the program-review cycle, the whole assessment plan is submitted for review and (re)approval by the
University Assessment Panel. The panel uses a standardized rubric and reporting form to provide
feedback to the programs.
External Processes
Accreditation: Accreditation is a “process of external quality review created and used by higher education
to scrutinize colleges, universities and programs for quality assurance and quality improvement”
(Overview of U.S. Accreditation, CHEA, 2009), and more than 25 specialized agencies accredit NIU
programs across all seven academic colleges. Accreditation is earned through a comprehensive process
that involves self-study, peer review, site visits and action from the accrediting agency’s commission
affirming that threshold standards have been met. All of NIU’s programs that have sought accreditation
are fully accredited by their specialized accrediting agency. Recently NIU’s College of Business underwent
a very positive and successful accreditation site visit by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of
Business (AACSB) International which provided an external review of all of the College of Business
programs listed above.
Licensure and Certification Examinations: Graduates from NIU’s accountancy, athletic training, clinical and
school psychology, counseling, law, teacher education and health sciences programs take licensure or
certification examinations that permit them to practice in their discipline. The results of these
examinations give programs the means to benchmark NIU graduates’ performance against state and/or
national performance rates.
Advisory Committees: Many programs and departments engage in periodic discussion with alumni,
employers and/or professionals in the discipline who comprise their advisory committees. These
individuals provide feedback related to the performance and competencies of the program’s alumni,
curricular content and new trends in the discipline, which is used in numerous ways to ensure that
programs are preparing students with contemporary knowledge and skills.
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In combination, all of these processes provide NIU with the means to provide ongoing comprehensive
and multifaceted oversight of its undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs.
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Information
Agenda Item 9.b.(2)
December 4, 2014
FY14 OFFICE OF SPONSORED PROJECTS ANNUAL REPORT
Dr. Lesley Rigg presented the following report to the Legislative Affairs, Research and Innovation
Committee on November 6, 2014.
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Information
Agenda Item 9.b.(3)
December 4, 2014
FEDERAL RELATIONS UPDATE
Prognosis for Legislative Agenda in Calendar Year 2014
Congress was in session for only twelve days during September and October and will return for a
lame duck session on November 14th. Current polling indicates that the House is very likely to
remain under Republican control while the Senate is somewhat likely to flip to Republican control.
Under this scenario, it is expected that the House will delay acting upon legislation until the start of
the 114th Congress on January 3, 2015.
Congress passed a stop-gap spending measure, called a continuing resolution, to fund the
federal government until December 11, 2014. The outcome of the November elections will
influence whether Congress passes another continuing resolution through early calendar year (CY)
2015 or if Congress musters the political will to pass appropriations bills for FY 2015.
NIU Engages Congressional Leaders
NIU continues to join the national conversation on wide-ranging issues including student
financing, manufacturing, and economic development through publicly dialoging with U.S. Senator
Dick Durbin, U.S. Senator Mark Kirk, and Representative Cheri Bustos on these issues.
x On August 18th, Executive Vice President and Provost Lisa Freeman hosted Senator Kirk
x
x
and Chairman Fed Hochberg of the Export-Import Bank of the United States for the Exporter
Forum, a half-day event at NIU-Rockford focused on regional economic development.
On August 29th, President Baker hosted Senator Durbin and three NIU students/alumni for
a
round table on student financing and potential legislative solutions to rising student debt
burdens.
On September 2nd, President Baker joined Senator Durbin, Representative Bustos, and
other
leaders on a panel to discuss manufacturing innovation and the anticipated positive
economic impact of the Digital Manufacturing and Deign Innovation Institute (DMDII) for
the Rockford region and Illinois.
NIU Builds Relationships and Fosters Student Career Success at the Industrial
Physics Forum
From September 28th to October 3rd, Dr. Anna Quider, Director of Federal Relations and a physicist,
and four NIU physics and engineer student researchers represented NIU at the Brazil-hosted
Industrial Physics Forum, a biennial conference uniting academic and private sector physical
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scientists. With over 200 global participants, NIU was the largest international contingent thanks to a
generous 6:1 cost-share from the American Institute of Physics. Outcomes from the Forum include:
x Introducing NIU research students to diverse industrial applications of their academic
research through presentations and hands-on field excursions
x Relationship-building with notable scientists and industry leaders including a Nobel prizewinning physicist, the Science and Technology Advisor to Secretaries Hillary Clinton and John
Kerry, and the Senior Manager of IBM Research-Brazil
x Sparking innovation and creative venture development within NIU students through the
Forum’s two-day Science Entrepreneurship Short-Course
x Fostering a global perspective among the NIU community via continuous social
media engagement during the Forum as well as on-campus follow-up activities
Key Legislation
Campus Accountability and Safety Act (CASA), S. 2692 and H.R. 5354: These bills, which
have identical text, were introduced in early August by a bipartisan group of legislators in the
Senate and House to address sexual assaults on campus. We expect edits to these bills and the
introduction of a “CASA 2.0” bill during the lame duck session or early in the 114th Congress.
Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act (RAMI), H.R.2996: This legislation
passed the House on September 15th. It authorizes additional manufacturing innovation hubs--like
the Digital Manufacturing Design and Innovation Institute (DMDII) of which NIU is a founding
partner--with each specializing in the production of a unique technology, material, or process
relevant to advanced manufacturing. Over half of the Illinois delegation, including Rep. Adam
Kinzinger who represents NIU, were co-sponsors.
American Super Computing Leadership Act, H.R. 2495: On September 8th, the House passed
this bill to encourage the Department of Energy to invest in high-performance computing
research and technologies. It includes a provision instructing the Department of Energy to partner
with universities, national laboratories, and industry. Six members of the Illinois delegation
supported the bill, including Rep. Randy Hultgren as the lead sponsor and Rep. Adam Kinzinger as an
original co-sponsor.
The Administration
FY16 Budget: The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 provided $63 billion in sequester relief across FY
2014 and 2015. The full budget sequester returns for FY16 unless Congress acts. The
Administration’s Office of Management and Budget is working on a proposed sequester fix to be
included in the President’s FY16 budget (expected to be released in February 2015). NIU is working
with the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, the Science Coalition, and other
organizations to shape the conversation surrounding the FY16 sequester.
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Department of Education’s College Rating System: The Department of Education is developing
a college rating system that evaluates institutions based on their affordability, access (e.g.
demographics), and outcomes. The Department plans to release a draft of the rating system for
comment in Fall 2014 with the goal of implementing the new system in Spring 2015. NIU is monitoring
this situation closely.
White House College Opportunity Summit: On December 4th, the White House will host its
second College Opportunity Summit. It will focus on building sustainable collaborations in
communities with strong K-12 and higher education partnerships to encourage college going, and
supporting colleges to work together to dramatically improve persistence and increase college
completion, especially for first- generation, low-income, and underrepresented students. NIU will
potentially be invited to participate
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Information
Agenda Item 9.b.(4)
December 4, 2014
INTERNAL AUDIT UPDATE
Northern Illinois University’s Internal Audit Director, Danielle Schultz, will provide a brief update regarding
the department and a summary of their activities for FY14.
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Information
Agenda Item 9.b.(5)
December 4, 2014
CLERY ACT
Northern Illinois University’s Police Chief, Thomas Phillips, provided a brief update regarding the Clery Act
to the Compliance, Audit, Risk Management and Legal Affairs Committee on November 6, 2014.
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Information
Agenda Item 9.b.(6)
December 4, 2014
SEMI-ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT OF ACTIVE CAPITAL PROJECTS
WITH A BUDGET OVER $100,000
All projects listed herein were previously approved by the Board of Trustees or the President and are
currently in process. The Authorization Date is identified for all NIU-funded projects; the fiscal year is
identified for all CDB-funded projects. Status reports are provided on any project, regardless of initiation
date, until all work has been completed and all payments have been made.
CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD PROJECTS
I.
Projects in the Planning Phase
A. Remodeling and Rehabilitation
1. Williston Hall - ADA Fire Alarm Upgrade
Total Project Budget:
$150,150 (estimated)
Source of Funding:
FY2004 - CDB
Architect/Engineer:
AON Fire Protection Engineering – Glenview
Status: The CDB has contracted for engineering services and 100 percent documents have
been prepared for review. Advertisement and acceptance of bids awaits release of
appropriated funding.
2. Campus Electrical Switch Gear Upgrade
Total Project Budget:
$674,500 (estimated)
Source of Funding:
FY2004 - CDB
Architect/Engineer:
Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, Inc. - Aurora
Status: The CDB has contracted for engineering services and 100 percent documents have
been prepared for review. Advertisement and acceptance of bids awaits release of
appropriated funding.
3. William R. Monat Building Total Project Budget:
Source of Funding:
Architect/Engineer:
Replace Air Conditioning
$248,864 (estimated)
FY2004 - CDB
KJWW Engineers - Rock Island
Status: The CDB has contracted for engineering services to produce bidding documents.
Advertisement and acceptance of bids awaits release of appropriated funding.
4. Founders Library – Upgrade Sunken Plaza
Total Project Budget:
$320,000 (estimated)
Source of Funding:
FY2005 - CDB
Architect/Engineer:
Wills Burke Kelsey Associates - St. Charles
Status: The CDB has closed the original professional services agreement with Wills Burke
Kelsey. Engineering and bidding awaits release of appropriated funding.
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5. East Heating Plant – Repair Main Steam Tunnel
Total Project Budget:
$1,705,000 (estimated)
Source of Funding:
FY2010 - CDB
Architect/Engineer:
Affiliated Engineers, Inc. – Chicago
Status: Affiliated Engineers has been selected as the consulting A/E for the project. CDB
will not issue a contract for engineering services until appropriated funding has been
released.
II. Projects in the Construction Phase
A. Remodeling and Rehabilitation
1. Two Buildings on Campus – Roof Repair and Replacement
Total Project Budget:
$845,072 (amended - estimated)
Source of Funding:
FY2010 - CDB
Architect/Engineer:
INSPEC - Chicago
Status: All roofing work is complete. Final payments have been made.
2. Stevens Building – Addition & Renovation
Total Project Budget:
$22,517,600 (estimated)
Source of Funding:
FY2010 - CDB
Architect/Engineer:
PSA Dewberry/BCA - Elgin
Status: River City Construction was awarded the general contract and received the
Authorization to Proceed on April 11, 2014. Site mobilization occurred on April 8, 2014.
Demolition is complete. A groundbreaking was held on September 22, 2014 with Governor
Pat Quinn in attendance. Exterior walls are complete; overall construction is now 20%
complete.
B. Site and Utilities
N/A
NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY PROJECTS
I.
Projects in the Planning Phase
A. Remodeling and Rehabilitation
1. Grant Central Core – Roof Replacement
Total Project Budget:
$2,685,000
Source of Funding:
Bond Revenue Reserves
Authorization Date:
September 2014
Architect/Engineer:
NIU A&E Services
Status: Construction documents and specifications are in process. Bidding is planned for
late fall 2014 with contract award during early 2015. Work will be scheduled as weather
allows.
2. Montgomery & Psych/Computer Science – Animal Facilities Renovation
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Total Project Budget:
Source of Funding:
Authorization Date:
Architect/Engineer:
$850,000
Institutional – Local Funds
September 20114
Wold - Palatine
Status: Professional Services Agreement with the A/E is in process. Construction documents
and specifications are planned for early 2015. Bidding is planned for spring 2015 with
contract award during early 2015.
3. NIU Naperville – Carpet Replacement for AIR Phase II
Total Project Budget:
$123,450
Source of Funding:
Institutional - Local Funds
Authorization Date:
July 2014
Architect/Engineer:
NIU A&E Services
Status: Contracts for carpet and installation are in process. The work will be planned and
scheduled to minimize client disruption; overnight shifts and weekends will be used.
B. Site and Utilities
1. Parking Lot W – Expansion
Total Project Budget:
Source of Funding:
Authorization Date:
Architect/Engineer:
$661,500
Bond Series 2010 Project
June 2011
Hanson Professional Services - Rockford
Status: Removal of the soil pile is complete and final payment to the contractor has been
made. Construction documents are complete. However, Parking Services has re-evaluated
the necessity of this project and the staff has requested that the project be cancelled. Site
restoration is complete. Final payments have been made. Final payment to the consulting
Architect/Engineer is in process.
2. Parking Lot P and PS- Reconstruction
Total Project Budget:
$1,745,000
Source of Funding:
Bond Series 2010 Project
Authorization Date:
June 2011 (confirmed March 2014)
Architect/Engineer:
TBD
Status: Planning and design are in process. Construction work will be coordinated with the
Lucinda Avenue Extension project.
3. Parking Structure- Reconstruct Four Exit Stairs
Total Project Budget:
$1,200,000
Source of Funding:
Bond Series 2010 Project
Authorization Date:
June 2011 (confirmed March 2014)
Architect/Engineer:
TBD
Status: Planning and design are in process. Construction work will be scheduled to take
advantage of semester breaks.
4. DeKalb Campus- Electrical Infrastructure Replacement Phase III
Total Project Budget:
$2,550,000 (estimated)
Source of Funding:
Appropriated Funds
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Authorization Date:
Architect/Engineer:
Bond Series 2010 Project
March 2014
NIU A&E Services
Status: Planning and design are in process. Construction work will begin in late 2014 and
will be scheduled to take advantage of semester breaks.
II. Projects in the Construction Phase
A. Remodeling and Rehabilitation
1. Stevenson Towers – Fire Sprinkler Phase III
Total Project Budget:
$2,685,000 (estimated)
Source of Funding:
Bond Series 2010 Project (amended)
Authorization Date:
September 2010
Architect/Engineer:
AON Fire Protection Engineering – Glenview
Status: All work has been completed. Final payments have been made.
2. Holmes Student Center – College Grind
Total Project Budget:
$1,100,000 (amended)
Source of Funding:
Bond Series 2010 Project
Authorization Date:
June 2011
Architect/Engineer:
Cordogan Clark and Associates - Aurora
Status: Construction is complete, the Grind officially opened on February 10, 2014. The
contractor is completing punch list work. Change Orders and final payments are in process.
3. Gilbert Hall – Building Renovation
Total Project Budget:
$22,266,000
Source of Funding:
Bond Series 2010 Project
Authorization Date:
June 2011
Architect/Engineer:
Cordogan Clark and Associates - Aurora
Status: All work has been completed. Final payments have been made.
4. Grant Towers – Tower D Renovation
Total Project Budget:
$18,000,000
Source of Funding:
Bond Series 2010 Project
Authorization Date:
June 2011
Architect/Engineer:
BLDD Architects - Chicago
Status: All renovation and construction work has been completed. Final payments are in
process.
5. Thirteen Buildings on Campus – Campus Alerting System Phase III
Total Project Budget:
$385,000
Source of Funding:
Appropriated Funds – Administrative Support
Authorization Date:
December 2011
Architect/Engineer:
NIU A&E Services
Status: All work is complete. Final payments have been made.
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6. Naperville/Hoffman Estates
Total Project Budget:
Source of Funding:
Authorization Date:
Architect/Engineer:
Status:
process.
- New Emergency Generators
$238,700
Local Funds - ITS NIUNet
February 2012
NIU A&E Services
Generators have been installed, hooked up and tested. Final payments are in
7. Huskie Stadium – New Score Board and Video Boards
Total Project Budget:
$3,300,000
Source of Funding:
Local Funds & Bond Revenue Funds – Stadium
Authorization Date:
April 2012
Architect/Engineer:
Wold - Palatine
Status: All work is complete. Change orders and final payments are in process.
8.
West Heating Plant – Replace Emergency Generator
Total Project Budget:
$142,000
Source of Funding:
Revenue Bond Funds – Housing and Dining
Authorization Date:
May 2012
Architect/Engineer:
NIU A&E Services
Status: Construction is complete. Final payments have been made.
9.
Physical Plant – Drafting Room Renovation
Total Project Budget:
$177,910
Source of Funding:
Local Funds – Physical Plant
Authorization Date:
March 2013
Architect/Engineer:
NIU A&E Services
Status: Work is complete. Final payments have been made.
10. DeKalb Campus – Campus Alerting System Phase IV
Total Project Budget:
$1,250,000
Source of Funding:
Appropriated Funds
Authorization Date:
March 2013
Architect/Engineer:
NIU A&E Services
Status: This project will encompass the final phases of the campus alert system. Work is
approximately 10% complete. The construction work will be planned and scheduled to take
advantage of semester breaks, weekends and summer schedules.
11. Residence Halls - FY14-Rotation Painting
Total Project Budget:
$245,000
Source of Funding:
Bond Series 2010 Project
Authorization Date:
June 2011 (confirmed August 2013)
Architect/Engineer:
NIU Physical Plant
Status: All work is complete. Final payments have been made.
12. Campus Recreation Center - FY14-Rotation Painting
Total Project Budget:
$123,790
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Source of Funding:
Authorization Date:
Architect/Engineer:
Bond Series 2010 Project
June 2011 (confirmed August 2013)
NIU Physical Plant
Status: All work is complete. Final payments have been made.
13. Evans Field House - FY14-Rotation Painting
Total Project Budget:
$175,000
Source of Funding:
Bond Series 2010 Project
Authorization Date:
June 2011 (confirmed August 2013)
Architect/Engineer:
NIU Physical Plant
Status: All work is complete. Final payments have been made.
14. Campus Recreation Center - Replace Skylights
Total Project Budget:
$149,100
Source of Funding:
Bond Revenue Funds
Repair and Replace Reserves
Authorization Date:
August 2013
Architect/Engineer:
NIU A&E Services
Status: All work is complete. Final payments have been made.
15. Graham Hall - Room 237 & 241 Remodel
Total Project Budget:
$139,630
Source of Funding:
Appropriated Funds – Academic Program Support
Authorization Date:
October 2013
Architect/Engineer:
NIU A&E Services
Status: Construction is complete. Final payments have been made.
16. Graham Hall- Renovate Offices 429, 431 and 431A
Total Project Budget:
$152,000
Source of Funding:
General Revenue Funds- Provost Office- Academic Program
Support
Authorization Date:
December 2013
Architect/Engineer:
NIU A&E Services
Status: Work is complete. Final payments have been made.
17. East Heating Plant Remodel - Renovate Room 239
Total Project Budget:
$171,000
Source of Funding:
Local Funds- Building Maintenance
Authorization Date:
March 2014
Architect/Engineer:
NIU A&E Services
Status: All work is complete. Final payments have been made.
18. DuSable Hall – Concrete Beam Repair at Main Entry
$414,500
Total Project Budget:
Source of Funding:
Institutional - Local Funds
Authorization Date:
June 2014
Architect/Engineer:
AltusWorks - Chicago
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Status: The work to repair the exposed concrete beams at the main entry doors is near
completion. The contractor is working on punch list items.
19. DeKalb Campus – Security Improvements for Nine Academic Buildings
Total Project Budget:
$211,316
Source of Funding:
Grant Funds- Sponsored Projects
Authorization Date:
July 2014
Architect/Engineer:
NIU A&E Services/Student Affairs
Status: The entry doors on nine buildings are being upgraded with new electronic security
locks. The project is approximately 25% complete; work will be planned and scheduled to
take advantage of semester breaks, weekends and class schedules.
20. Residence Halls - FY15-Rotation Painting
Total Project Budget:
$249,000
Source of Funding:
Institutional – Revenue Bond Reserves
Authorization Date:
July 2014
Architect/Engineer:
NIU Physical Plant
Status: Work will be scheduled when feasible and will be scheduled to take advantage of
semester breaks to minimize disruptions. The majority of the work will be done in May 2015.
21. DeKalb Campus – 2014 Campus Initiatives – Founders Library Clean Limestone
Total Project Budget:
$165,000
Source of Funding:
Appropriated/Income Funds
Authorization Date:
July 2014
Architect/Engineer:
NIU A&E Services
Status: The contractor has completed cleaning the limestone at Founders Library. Final
payments are in process.
B. Site and Utilities
1. Parking Lot 24 - Reconstruction
Total Project Budget:
$325,000
Source of Funding:
Bond Series 2010 Project (amended)
Authorization Date:
June 2011(amended)
Architect/Engineer:
Wills Burke Kelsey Associates – St. Charles
Status: All work is complete. Final payments have been made.
2. West Campus - Track & Field Facility - Install Lighting
Total Project Budget:
$941,500
Source of Funding:
Bond Series 2010 Project
Authorization Date:
June 2011
Architect/Engineer:
NIU A&E Services
Status: Construction is complete. Final payments are in process.
3. DeKalb Campus – Outdoor Intramural Recreational Facility
$6,200,000 (estimated)
Total Project Budget:
Source of Funding:
Bond Series 2010 Project
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Authorization Date:
Architect/Engineer:
June 2011
Upland Design - Plainfield
Status: Work is complete. Change orders are in process and final payment is in process.
4. Parking Lot 25 - Reconstruction
Total Project Budget:
$155,250
Source of Funding:
Bond Series 2010 Project
Authorization Date:
June 2011
Architect/Engineer:
Wills Burke Kelsey Associates - St. Charles
Status: All work is complete. Final payments have been made.
5. Parking Lot 13 – Resurface
Total Project Budget:
Source of Funding:
Authorization Date:
Architect/Engineer:
$733,200 (amended)
Bond Series 2010 Project
June 2011 (amended July 2013)
Knight E/A - Chicago
Status: All work is complete. Final payments have been made.
6. Parking Lot 2/E – Resurface
Total Project Budget:
$1,217,700
Source of Funding:
Bond Series 2010 Project
Authorization Date:
June 2011
Architect/Engineer:
Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, Inc. - Aurora
Status: Contractor work is complete. Landscape work will be completed by the University.
Final payments are in process.
7. Parking Lot N1 – Reconstruction
Total Project Budget:
$508,950
Source of Funding:
Bond Series 2010 Project
Authorization Date:
June 2011
Architect/Engineer:
Christopher B. Burke Engineering - Rosemont
Status: All work is complete. Final payments have been made.
8. Parking Lots K & L – Reconstruction
Total Project Budget:
$1,417,000
Source of Funding:
Bond Series 2010 Project
Authorization Date:
June 2011
Wight and Company - Darien
Architect/Engineer:
Status: All work is complete. Final payments have been made.
9. Neptune North – Renovate South Courtyard
Total Project Budget:
$101,840
Source of Funding:
Revenue Bond Funds – Campus Parking
Authorization Date:
July 2012
Architect/Engineer:
NIU A&E Services & Physical Plant
Status: Construction work is complete. Final payments have been made.
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10. DeKalb Campus – Electrical Infrastructure Replacement Phase II
Total Project Budget:
$2,580,000 (estimated)
Source of Funding:
Bond Series 2010 Project
Appropriated Funds – Administrative Support
Authorization Date:
March 2013
Architect/Engineer:
NIU A&E Services
Status: Construction started in fall 2013 and is approximately 60% complete. Work will
continue to be scheduled to take advantage of semester breaks and as schedules allow.
11. Naperville- Parking Lot Replacement- Phase I
Total Project Budget:
$172,265
Source of Funding:
Local Funds- NIU Naperville Operations
Authorization Date:
November 2013
Architect/Engineer:
Engineering Resource Associates, Inc. - Warrenville
Status: The consulting engineer is completing the engineering documents for construction.
Construction work scheduled for 2014 has been delayed due to budget concerns.
12. Lucinda Avenue Extension
Total Project Budget:
Source of Funding:
Authorization Date:
Architect/Engineer:
$4,500,000 (estimated)
Bond Series 2010 (amended)
March 2014 (amended June 2014)
Knight E/A, Inc. - Chicago
Status: Building environmental clean-up is complete. Building and site demolition contracts
are in process with an anticipated start in late fall 2014. Road construction work will bid in
early 2015. Completion is anticipated for late fall 2015.
13. Huskie Stadium – Replace Water Main for West Stadium
Total Project Budget:
$143,000
Source of Funding:
Appropriated Funds
Authorization Date:
June 2014
Architect/Engineer:
NIU A&E Services
Status: Phase I of the project provided a new water main to the building. Construction
work will resume next spring when weather permits.
14. DeKalb Campus – Huskie Tram – Phase I
Total Project Budget:
$450,000
Source of Funding:
Institutional Local Funds
Authorization Date:
May 2014
Architect/Engineer:
Cordogan Clark - Aurora / NIU A&E Services
Status: Four electric trams are now in service as a part of Phase I. One tram is enclosed
and provides for wheelchair access, three have inclement weather shades. The sidewalk
improvements and terminus area at Holmes Student Center is complete. The contractor is
completing punch list work. Final payments are in process.
15. DeKalb Campus – 2014 Campus Initiatives – Core Lighting
Total Project Budget:
$193,000 (amended)
Source of Funding:
Institutional Local Funds
NIU Board of Trustees
80
December 4, 2014
Authorization Date:
Architect/Engineer:
July 2014 (amended September 2014)
Cordogan Clark - Aurora
Status: The contractor has completed 75% of the lighting work for Founders Library, Swen
Parson and Holmes Student Center. Completion is anticipated late fall 2014.
16. DeKalb Campus – 2014 Campus Initiatives – HSC Transit Plaza
Total Project Budget:
$222,100
Source of Funding:
Bond Series 2010 Project
Authorization Date:
June 2011 (confirmed July 2014)
Architect/Engineer:
Cordogan Clark - Aurora
Status: The contractor has completed the transit plaza work on the east side of Holmes
Student Center. Final payments are in process.
17. DeKalb Campus – 2014 Campus Initiatives – Founders Library Sunken Terrace
Total Project Budget:
$230,100 (amended)
Source of Funding:
Appropriated Income Funds
Authorization Date:
July 2014 (amended September 2014)
Architect/Engineer:
Cordogan Clark - Aurora
Status: The contractor has completed 75% of the work on the clean-up of Founders Library
Sunken Terrace. Completion is anticipated late fall 2014.
18. DeKalb Campus – 2014 Campus Initiatives – Carroll Avenue Upgrade
Total Project Budget:
$103,500
Source of Funding:
Institutional Local Funds
Authorization Date:
July 2014
Architect/Engineer:
Cordogan Clark - Aurora
Status: The contractor has completed the upgrade to sidewalks and bike path at Carroll
Avenue and is following up with punch list items. Final payments are in process.
19. DeKalb Campus – 2014 Campus Initiatives – Lucinda Avenue Bikeway
Total Project Budget:
$196,800
Source of Funding:
Bond Series 2010 (amended)
Authorization Date:
June 2011 (confirmed July 2014)
Architect/Engineer:
Cordogan Clark - Aurora
Status: The contractor has completed the upgrade to sidewalks and bike path along Lucinda
Avenue and is following up with punch list items. Final payments are in process.
20. DeKalb Campus – 2014 Campus Initiatives – Davis Hall Terrace
Total Project Budget:
$110,300
Source of Funding:
Appropriated Income Funds
Authorization Date:
July 2014
Architect/Engineer:
Cordogan Clark - Aurora
Status: The contractor has completed the work and is following up with punch list items.
Final payments are in process.
21. DeKalb Campus – 2014 Campus Initiatives – Orientation Path
NIU Board of Trustees
81
December 4, 2014
Total Project Budget:
Source of Funding:
Authorization Date:
Architect/Engineer:
$163,200
Appropriated Income Funds
July 2014
Cordogan Clark - Aurora
Status: The contractor has completed the work and is following up with punch list items.
Final payments are in process.
NIU Board of Trustees
82
December 4, 2014
Information
Agenda Item 9.b.(7)
December 4, 2014
QUARTERLY SUMMARY REPORT OF TRANSACTION IN EXCESS OF $100,000
FOR THE PERIOD JULY 1, 2014 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2014
Purchase
Amount
No. of
Transactions
Appropriated
Non-Appropriated
Total
$100,000
to
$250,000
22
$779,600
$2,604,826
$3,384,426
TRANSACTIONS DETAIL:
Purchases:
1. Information Technology Services – Novell License Agreement – Information Technology
Services requests permission to renew maintenance and support of Novell software
licenses. These licenses include Groupwise (the Enterprise email system), universitywide and departmental file servers, IDM (Identity Manager) which is used to
automatically provision both staff and student computing accounts, ZenWorks which is
used to manage servers and image lab desktops, Cluster Services which are used to
group servers to protect against hardware failures for critical applications such as
Groupwise, Vibe which is a collaboration product and Directory services which are used
to authenticate/logon to enterprise applications such as Blackboard, PeopleSoft and
LDAP. This purchase is exempt from posting on the Illinois Public Higher Education
Procurement Bulletin as it is covered by an MHEC contract. (Novell Contract
Management, Provo, UT )
185,000*
2. Campus Parking Services - Parking Management System - Campus Parking Services
requested permission to issue an order for a new campus parking management system
to replace the custom-built system that has been utilized for the past 15 years. This
purchase was the result of RFP #KMC145373 that opened December 19, 2013. The
intent to award this contract was advertised in the Illinois Public Higher Education
Procurement Bulletin and has been waived by the PPB. (Electronic Data Collection Corp.,
Syracuse, NY)
230,000
3. Northern Public Radio - Programming and Affiliation Fees - Permission was requested to
establish orders for programming and affiliation fees required for the operation of
Northern Public Radio. These orders were advertised as sole sources in the Illinois
Public Higher Education Procurement Bulletin and have been waived by the PPB.
(American Public Media, St. Paul, MN)
100,000
4. Northern Public Radio - Programming and Affiliation Fees- Permission is requested to
establish an open order for programming and affiliation fees required for the operation
of Northern Public Radio. The intent to award this contract as a sole source was
advertised in the Illinois Public Higher Education Procurement Bulletin and was waived
by the PPB. (National Public Radio, Washington, DC)
249,000
NIU Board of Trustees
83
December 4, 2014
5. NIU Outreach P-20 - Services - The Department of Outreach P-20, Illinois Interactive
Report Card (IIRC), requested permission to subcontract with Collaborative
Communications Group Inc., for work on an Illinois State Board of Education grant titled
“IIRC Design Work”. The vendor will provide services related to the IIRC web site. This
order is exempt from the Illinois Procurement Code because the vendor is named in the
grant. (Collaborative Communications Group Inc., Washington, DC)
129,000
6. Health Services - Radiographic System - Health Services requested permission to
purchase a new radiographic system to replace an old system. The new system will be
easier to navigate for patient ease, less time consuming to operate, and less expensive
to maintain. Pricing is based on a bid opened August 13, 2014. The intent to award this
contract was advertised in the Illinois Public Higher Education Procurement Bulletin and
has been waived by the PPB. (Central Illinois X-Ray, Bloomington, IL)
123,560
7. International Affairs - Travel Services - International Affairs requested permission to
purchase air travel, lodging, land transfers, coach arrangements, sightseeing tours,
meeting rooms, group dinners, optional day trips, travel insurance and cancelation
insurance for a trip to Santiago, Chile, and Lima, Peru. On March 6 – 16, 2015,
approximately 25 students in the Evening MBA Program will participate in this mandatory
trip. Pricing is based on a sealed proposal opened on August 12, 2014. The intent to
award this contract will be advertised in the Illinois Public Higher Education Procurement
Bulletin (Southbridge Access, Newark, DE)
130,000
8. International Affairs - Travel Services - International Affairs requested permission to
purchase air travel, lodging, land transfers, coach arrangements, sightseeing tours,
meeting rooms, group dinners, travel insurance and cancelation insurance for a trip to
Beijing and Shanghai, China. On May 15-25, 2015, approximately 25 students in the
Evening MBA Program will participate in this mandatory trip. Pricing is based on a
sealed proposal opened on August 19, 2014. The intent to award this contract will be
advertised in the Illinois Public Higher Education Procurement Bulletin. (Lukas Marketing,
Wayne, IL)
100,000
9. Office of General Counsel – Legal Services - The Office of General Counsel requested
permission to establish open orders for Fiscal Year 2015 to these vendors for outside
general legal services including police discharge services and legal representation of
senior staff in regards to civil complaints filed 10/16/2012. This order is exempt from
advertising on the Illinois Public Higher Education Procurement Bulletin in accordance
with Section 4.10(d)(7) of the Procurement Code. (Pugh, Jones & Johnson, PC, Chicago,
IL)
220,000
10. Office of General Counsel – Legal Services - The Office of General Counsel requested
permission to establish open orders for Fiscal Year 2015 to these vendors for outside
general legal services including police discharge services and legal representation of
senior staff in regards to civil complaints filed 10/16/2012. This order is exempt from
advertising on the Illinois Public Higher Education Procurement Bulletin in accordance
with Section 4.10(d)(7) of the Procurement Code. (Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP, Chicago,
IL)
249,000
NIU Board of Trustees
84
December 4, 2014
11. Office of the President - Search Services - The Office of the President requested
permission to enter into a contract with this vendor in order to conduct a search for the
position of Vice President of University Advancement. Services include, but are not
limited to, travel expenses, advertising, committee interviews, candidate travel and
miscellaneous office expenses. Approval to hire a search firm for this position was
received from the Board of Trustees on June 19, 2014. This vendor is exempt from the
Illinois Procurement Code because the selected vendor is an IPHEC pre-approved
vendor. (Witt/Kiefer, Oak Brook, IL)
120,000
Capital Improvement Projects:
1. Residence Halls – Fiscal Year 2015 Rotation Painting – There are areas in NIU’s
residence halls that require painting as part of a regular maintenance program to keep
the building and facilities in good condition. Rotation painting will include those areas
that are in the poorest condition. Generally, when areas are clean and aesthetically
pleasing they are less likely to be vandalized and will encourage members of the
university community to take pride in their surroundings. Physical Plant crafts will do the
work. Existing surfaces will be cleaned and properly prepared prior to painting.
Preparation will include the removal of chipping paint as well as patching and sanding.
Where appropriate, masons will be brought in for the repair of wall surfaces.
249,000
2. NIU Naperville – Carpet Replacement in 2nd Floor Office Suite for American Institute for
Research (AIR) - Phase II – Division of Outreach, Engagement and Information
Technologies had requested carpet replacement in the second floor office suite occupied
by American Institute for Research (AIR) at the NIU Naperville facility in the fall of 2013,
which comprised Phase I. AIR has rented this space for 13 years and would like to recarpet the remaining office areas that were not updated during Phase I. Approximately
56% of the lease space will be updated with new carpet. The AIR has agreed to pay for
this improvement.
123,450
3. DeKalb Campus – Security Improvements for Nine Academic Buildings – The University
applied for and received an “Illinois School Security Grant” to improve the security at the
primary entrances of nine (9) academic buildings on the main campus in DeKalb. This
project will use the grant funds received to upgrade and replace existing door locks with
technologically current remote locking devices. When installed, the remote locking
devices will allow the building entrance to be securely locked electronically from a
remote location. The new upgrade will enhance the security of the building during
emergency situations and in day-to-day operations. The work will be completed by a
combination of NIU Media Services, ITS, Physical Plant crafts and outside contractors
under the supervision of an NIU project manager.
211,316
4. DeKalb Campus – 2014 Campus Initiatives – Orientation Route – This small project was
identified while working on several of the President’s initiatives. Updating of several
areas that are used for the campus orientation route would be in keeping with the
President’s goal of improving student retention and recruiting. This project will include
concrete sidewalk replacement, new lighting, landscaping clean-up, selected shrub and
hedge removal, tree trimming and removal, and planting new decorative flowering trees.
Several paving brick areas will be repaired and leveled. The work will be completed by
an outside contractor under the supervision of Cordogan Clark, the consulting project
manager.
163,200*
NIU Board of Trustees
85
December 4, 2014
5. DeKalb Campus – 2014 Campus Initiatives – Davis Terrace Upgrade – This was one of
several small projects that had been identified and prioritized as a part of the President’s
initiative for “A Campus RE:ENVISIONED” to update campus in pursuit of improving
student retention and recruiting. Davis Terrace is on the east side of Davis Hall that
serves as the west terminus of the classic grass plaza framed by Faraday Hall, Davis
Hall, Lowden Hall and the East Lagoon. This project will include landscaping clean-up,
selected shrub removal, trimming, and new shrubs will be added. The fountains will be
cleaned and repaired, the concrete paving will be repaired and new tables and chairs will
be added to the terrace. The work will be completed by an outside contractor under the
supervision of Cordogan Clark, the consulting project manager.
110,300*
6. DeKalb Campus – 2014 Campus Initiatives – Carroll Avenue Update – This was one of
several small projects that had been identified and prioritized as a part of the President’s
initiative for “A Campus RE:ENVISIONED” to update campus in pursuit of improving
student retention and recruiting. Carroll Avenue is the current “campus transportation
hub” and turnaround for the Huskie Bus Line. The transit hub will be relocated to
Normal Road on the east side of HSC allowing Carroll Ave to become a pedestrian and
bicycle way that will tie Neptune courtyard into the MLK plaza.
Scope of this project:
x New bicycle and pedestrian path
x Identify a “food truck Friday” area
x Repair and update the center island landscaping
The work will be completed by a combination of Physical Plant crafts and outside
contractors under the supervision of Cordogan Clark, the consulting project manager.
103,500
7. DeKalb Campus – 2014 Campus Initiatives – Founders Library Sunken Terrace – This
was one of several small projects that had been identified and prioritized as a part of the
President’s initiative for “A Campus RE:ENVISIONED” to update campus in pursuit of
improving student retention and recruiting. The exterior sunken terrace on the north
side of Founders Library is in disrepair and in need of cleaning, updating and restoration.
This terrace will enhance and become an integral feature of MLK plaza. Scope of this
project:
x Improve ADA Access to the space.
x Improve Drainage
x Replace Paving, Trim trees, Update / Change landscape
The work will be completed by an outside contractor under the supervision of Cordogan
Clark, the consulting project manager.
199,100*
8. DeKalb Campus – 2014 Campus Initiatives – Founders Library Clean Exterior Limestone This was one of several small projects that had been identified and prioritized as a part
of the President’s initiative for “A Campus RE:ENVISIONED” to update campus in pursuit
of improving student retention and recruiting. The exterior limestone wall elements of
the north and east façades will be cleaned of the accumulated dirt and lichen growth and
then sealed. This will enhance new façade lighting that will define MLK commons and
create a great public space. The work will be completed by an outside contractor under
the supervision of an NIU A/E Services project manager.
165,000*
NIU Board of Trustees
86
December 4, 2014
9. DeKalb Campus – 2014 Campus Initiatives - Core Lighting – This is one of several small
projects that have been identified and prioritized as a part of the President’s initiative for
“A Campus RE:ENVISIONED” to update campus in pursuit of improving student retention
and recruiting. Martin Luther King Plaza serves as a symbolic center of campus; to
create a great public space at night, new lighting will be introduced to illuminate the
facades of Holmes Student Center, Founders Library, and Swen Parson Hall.
Scope of this project:
x provide controlled / diffused lighting to illuminate existing building facades
x define the MLK plaza nightǦtime boundaries
x create a safe, warm, and welcoming nightǦtime environment
The work will be completed by a combination of Physical Plant crafts and outside
contractors under the supervision of Cordogan Clark, the consulting project manager.
180,500
10. Amendment - DeKalb Campus – 2014 Campus Initiatives – Founders Library Sunken
Terrace – The President originally approved this project on July 25, 2014 with a budget
of $199,100. Unforeseen conditions discovered during demolition work included hidden
concrete slab and large amounts of unanticipated grout and mortar setting beds for the
original paving bricks, increasing the cost of demolition. The project budget will need to
increase to ensure that the project can be completed and meet the approved scope. The
work will be completed by an outside contractor under the supervision of Cordogan
Clark, the consulting project manager. Original Amount $199,100; Amendment Amount
$31,000
31,000*
11. Amendment – DeKalb Campus – 2014 Campus Initiatives - Core Lighting - The President
originally approved this project on July 25, 2014 with a budget of $180,500. After the
initial approval, the actual pricing for the light fixtures and associated controls from
outside vendors came in higher than estimated. The existing contingency will not be
sufficient to cover the increase in costs. In order to continue and complete the project,
the budget will need to be increased. The work will be completed by a combination of
Physical Plant crafts and outside contractors under the supervision of Cordogan Clark,
the consulting project manager. Original Amount $180,500; Amendment Amount
$12,500
12,500
Total
$3,384,426
*Appropriated Funds
NIU Board of Trustees
87
December 4, 2014
Information
Agenda Item 9.b.(8)
December 4, 2014
PERIODIC REPORT ON INVESTMENTS
FOR PERIOD JULY 1, 2014 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2014
In accordance with the approved University Investment and Cash Management policy, this report on
investments is submitted at the end of each calendar quarter to the Board of Trustees.
The following schedules are included with this report:
x
x
Investment Holdings as of September 30, 2014
Investment Earnings by Investment Type and Duration for the three months ending
September 30, 2014
NIU Board of Trustees
88
December 4, 2014
NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
INVESTMENT HOLDINGS AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2014
For Fiscal Year 2015
Bond
Investment
Type
Local Funds:
Treasury
Treasury
Treasury
Treasury
Treasury
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Treasury
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Project Funds:
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Treasury
Treasury
Treasury
Treasury
Treasury
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Federal Agency
Money Markets:
IL Funds-Operations
Amalgamated Bank
Maturity
Date
11/15/2014
05/31/2015
07/15/2015
10/15/2015
12/15/2015
01/15/2016
04/29/2016
06/27/2016
07/29/2016
09/21/2016
10/11/2016
11/15/2016
11/21/2016
11/29/2016
12/09/2016
12/19/2016
12/30/2016
01/11/2017
01/30/2017
03/06/2017
04/11/2017
05/16/2017
05/26/2017
06/13/2017
06/19/2017
07/25/2017
08/07/2017
08/21/2017
09/15/2017
10/10/2017
11/28/2017
12/11/2017
12/18/2017
01/30/2018
03/12/2018
04/24/2018
04/30/2018
05/25/2018
06/20/2018
06/26/2018
10/10/2018
11/26/2018
02/19/2019
08/15/2019
09/30/2014
09/30/2014
Purchase
Date
04/16/2013
05/31/2013
05/31/2013
09/27/2013
09/25/2013
04/16/2013
04/29/2013
01/31/2014
01/30/2013
03/21/2013
10/11/2012
01/31/2014
11/21/2012
11/30/2012
12/11/2013
09/25/2013
01/09/2014
10/24/2012
02/26/2013
03/13/2013
10/24/2012
05/16/2013
09/26/2014
06/26/2013
12/11/2013
04/25/2013
02/26/2013
11/21/2012
09/15/2014
10/10/2012
05/28/2013
09/12/2014
12/18/2013
01/30/2013
03/13/2013
02/21/2014
05/31/2013
05/30/2013
06/21/2013
09/12/2014
01/10/2014
12/13/2013
02/21/2014
09/27/2013
$
2,000,000
2,000,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
1,500,000
1,000,000
2,500,000
2,000,000
3,000,000
1,500,000
2,500,000
1,500,000
1,425,000
2,000,000
3,500,000
2,000,000
1,500,000
3,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
2,500,000
1,000,000
2,000,000
3,000,000
2,000,000
1,500,000
3,500,000
3,000,000
1,000,000
2,000,000
3,000,000
1,500,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
3,000,000
2,000,000
2,000,000
3,000,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
2,812,500
93,737,500
11/30/2012
10/05/2012
05/16/2013
10/29/2013
05/30/2013
08/22/2013
09/30/2013
09/24/2014
07/30/2014
08/13/2014
09/12/2014
09/12/2014
$
2,000,000
1,500,000
2,500,000
1,500,000
3,000,000
3,000,000
3,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,000,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
24,500,000
11/19/2014
11/25/2014
12/31/2014
01/31/2015
01/31/2015
02/15/2015
03/31/2015
10/02/2015
10/15/2015
11/02/2015
11/30/2015
01/25/2016
TOTAL INVESTMENT HOLDINGS
NIU Board of Trustees
Maturity
Value
$
$
18,980,220
14,034,131
33,014,351
$
151,251,851
09/30/2014
09/30/2014
89
Book
Value
$
2,000,477
1,999,740
1,999,303
2,497,321
998,258
1,504,626
2,001,317
1,499,729
1,000,154
2,500,000
1,999,744
2,998,928
1,500,000
2,500,000
1,500,000
1,417,416
2,000,000
3,497,727
1,998,452
1,500,000
3,497,420
1,998,688
2,499,378
2,465,918
1,000,000
2,000,000
2,997,592
2,000,000
1,497,781
3,500,000
3,000,000
999,754
2,002,011
2,998,998
1,500,000
1,506,413
1,991,258
3,000,000
1,984,169
1,997,533
2,994,910
2,000,000
2,503,845
2,736,752
93,585,612
$
1,999,994
1,501,087
2,499,711
1,500,456
3,000,352
3,000,538
3,000,313
1,500,458
2,000,619
2,000,981
999,856
1,500,723
24,505,088
$
Market
Value
Equivalent
Rate
0.184%
0.270%
0.294%
0.353%
0.394%
0.410%
0.460%
0.510%
0.540%
0.580%
0.626%
0.642%
0.600%
0.640%
0.679%
0.994%
0.800%
0.669%
0.733%
0.750%
0.730%
0.715%
1.010%
1.330%
1.000%
0.740%
0.878%
0.800%
1.176%
0.900%
0.800%
1.258%
1.218%
1.040%
1.030%
1.376%
1.130%
1.050%
1.470%
1.484%
1.780%
1.700%
1.713%
2.140%
$
2,003,633
2,004,280
2,003,660
2,505,636
1,001,138
1,502,238
2,000,582
1,496,348
998,207
2,485,978
1,996,076
3,004,682
1,490,935
2,489,897
1,493,753
1,419,492
2,000,525
3,477,118
1,991,832
1,491,766
3,474,889
1,979,655
2,499,481
2,474,150
994,953
1,976,093
2,965,305
1,970,458
1,499,190
3,468,308
2,950,270
994,624
1,992,193
2,962,576
1,473,320
1,502,058
1,965,869
2,952,525
1,978,874
2,002,313
3,009,015
1,995,866
2,485,504
2,738,167
93,163,432
0.273%
0.274%
0.170%
0.159%
0.215%
0.202%
0.229%
0.220%
0.200%
0.180%
0.222%
0.303%
$
2,002,560
1,505,572
2,501,290
1,486,665
3,018,380
3,003,358
3,003,021
1,500,476
2,000,851
2,001,344
1,000,116
1,501,175
24,524,808
0.010%
0.010%
$
18,980,220
14,034,131
33,014,351
$
$
18,980,220
14,034,131
33,014,351
$
151,105,051
$
150,702,591
December 4, 2014
NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
INVESTMENT EARNINGS BY TYPE AND DURATION
For Fiscal Year 2015
July 1, 2014 - September 30, 2014
Average Daily
Investment
Balance
Percent
of
Portfolio
Income
Earned
Annualized
Rate of
Return
Short-Term Investments
Illinois Funds
$
32,320,769
17.27%
$
1,027
0.013%
Investment Accounts - Financial Institutions
$
25,007,606
13.36%
$
3,271
0.052%
Investment Accounts - Project Funds
$
15,935,998
8.51%
$
456
0.011%
$
73,264,373
39.14%
$
4,754
Short-Term Total
Short-Term Average Yield
0.026%
Intermediate/Long-Term Investments
Local Funds
$
90,991,748
48.62%
$
195,777
0.861%
Project Funds
$
22,914,301
12.24%
$
15,871
0.277%
$ 113,906,049
60.86%
$
211,648
Intermediate/Long-Term Total
Intermediate/Long-Term Yield
COMBINED TOTAL
0.743%
$ 187,170,422
AVERAGE ANNUALIZED RATE OF RETURN
NIU Board of Trustees
100.00%
$
216,402
0.46%
90
December 4, 2014
Information
Agenda Item 9.b.(9)
December 4, 2014
AD HOC ON GOVERNANCE WORK PLAN
November 17, 2014 AD HOC COMMITTEE ON GOVERNANCE MEETING
x
Ad Hoc Committee on Governance selected Bylaw reform areas for immediate review (labeled
Category “A” items 1-8 [see attached list]).
x
The Office of General Counsel, after consultation with the President and the Senior Cabinet, plans
to submit for first reading, at December 4,, 2014 meeting, initial draft of recommendations for
Category “A” items; full Board will review and provide direction; Ad Hoc Committee will revise on
or before January 15, 2015 committee meeting; Board review and approval will be scheduled for
March 12, 2015 Board Meeting.
December 4, 2014 FULL BOARD MEETING
x
First Reading of Category “A” reform recommendations.
January 15, 2015 AD HOC COMMITTEE ON GOVERNANCE MEETING
x
The Ad Hoc Committee on Governance meets to review and amend Category “A”
recommendations in light of full Board discussion.
x
Ad Hoc Committee reviews Category B Bylaw Reform proposals.
x
Ad Hoc Committee provides direction for Board review for first reading of Category “B” items for
the March 12, 20151 Board Meeting.
x
Ad Hoc Committee to determine process for addressing Category “C” items.
March 12, 2015 FULL BOARD MEETING
x
First Reading of Category “B” items and Action on Category “A” items.
June 18, 2015 FULL BOARD MEETING
x
Action on Category “B” items.
NIU Board of Trustees
91
December 4, 2014
Board of Trustees Governance Reform
Governance Bylaw Reform Recommendations
A. Board of Trustees Administrative
1. Presidential Succession Policy
2. Naming Rights Policy
3. Update Record Retention Policy
4. Update University Insurance & Employment Benefits Policy
5. Update Indemnification Policy
6. Board and Senior Management Professional Development and Travel and Expense Policy (Risk
Management)
7. Presidential House (mandate living or not)
8. Officer Election Policy and Procedure (clarify the number of votes necessary to continue balloting
when no candidate for office obtains the minimum requirement of 5 votes)
B. Board of Trustees Business Items
9. Officer Election Policy and Procedure (consider/determine legislative initiatives, minimum voting
requirements and accountability, standards and expectations)
10. Update Conflict of Interest Policy
11. Establish/Clarify Administrative Leave Policy
12. Reform of all Standing Committee Charter/Charges (to include purpose, powers, duties, and the
establishment of Committee benchmarks and other measures – as indicated for CARL committee)
13. Orientation and Continuing Professional Development
14. Review of Criteria and Establish/Clarify Appeal Rights for Appeals to the Board in personnel
matters
15. Consider additional Bylaw provisions appropriate to implementing recommendations emerging
from Board Assessment
NIU Board of Trustees
92
December 4, 2014
C. NIU Constitutional Reform
16. NIU Constitutional Review and Recommendation
a. Review Terms of Appointments
b. Presidential Evaluation
c. Revise Grievance Procedure
d. Other
NIU Board of Trustees
93
December 4, 2014
Information
Agenda Item 9.b.(10)
December 4, 2014
AD HOC ON ENROLLMENT UPDATE
Report to the Board of Trustees of Northern Illinois University
Enrollment Ad Hoc Committee
November 14, 2014, 3:45 p.m., Holmes Student Center Skyroom
Submitted by: Eric A. Weldy, Ed.D., Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management, with
input from the Office of the Provost via Anne Birberick, Ph.D., Vice Provost
As requested, information in this report includes the following: a) Enrollment Background/ Trends; b)
Recruitment & Retention Efforts; and, c) Scholarship Information.
a) Enrollment Background/Trends
(Appendix A – Fall 2014 Student Profile)
Northern Illinois University Total Headcount Enrollment
Fall 1968 - Fall 2014
27000
25000
23000
21000
19000
17000
Notes: During the 1980s a strong interest in Business contributed to increased enrollment. But as that
interest declined, so did overall enrollment. The upsurge in enrollment during the late-1990s was due to
an increase in the number of students graduating from high school. There were more students in the
education pipeline. Today there are fewer students in the pipeline posing many challenges for the
University in its efforts to recover once again.
NIU Board of Trustees
94
December 4, 2014
NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
20-Year Enrollment History, Fall 1995 (FY 96) to Fall 2014 (FY 15)
Official - Tenth day Count
Headcount Enrollment
Undergrad.
Graduate
Law
FTE
Total
Enrollment*
Fall Semester
1995
15,760
6,158
300
22,218
17,460
1996
15,387
5,928
294
21,609
17,013
1997
15,855
5,947
280
22,082
17,518
1998
16,341
5,850
282
22,473
17,962
1999
16,893
5,674
276
22,843
18,364
2000
17,151
5,800
297
23,248
18,603
2001
17,468
6,012
303
23,783
19,103
2002
18,104
6,513
331
24,948
19,958
2003
18,275
6,651
334
25,260
20,348
2004
18,031
6,463
326
24,820
20,092
2005
18,467
6,408
333
25,208
20,501
2006
18,816
6,182
315
25,313
20,758
2007
18,917
6,012
325
25,254
20,630
2008
18,431
5,669
297
24,397
19,947
2009
18,277
5,838
309
24,424
20,022
2010
17,886
5,633
331
23,850
19,592
2011
17,306
5,365
319
22,990
18,817
2012
16,552
4,984
333
21,869
18,033
2013
15,814
5,020
304
21,138
17,324
2014
15,435
4,900
276
20,611
16,940
NIU Board of Trustees
95
December 4, 2014
CHANGE
Fall 06 - Fall
14
#
%
(3,381)
-17.97%
(1,282)
-20.74%
(39)
-12.38%
(4,702)
-18.58%
(3,818)
-18.39%
* FTE: Full-Time Equivalent, Undergraduate 15 Sem. Credit Hours, Graduate & Law 12 Sem. Credit
Hours.
SOURCE: NIU DATA BOOK TABLE A-2A
Notes: Declining enrollment has occurred not just at the undergraduate level but among graduate and
law students as well.
NIU Retention Rates of New Freshmen Cohorts
82
80
79
80
78
78 78
79
77
77
77
77 77
78
76
76 76
76
75
78
76
74
74 74
73
74
72
72
71 72
72
70
70
68
66 66
65 65 65 65
65
66
64
64
64 64
64
64
62
62
62
61
61
61
62
60 60
60
59
63
62
60
58
58
62
61
61
61
61
58 60
56
60 60
60
55
59
58 59 58
56
56 56
57
57 56 56
54
55
52
54
53
52
50
71
66
Starting Fall Term Year
Notes: Our highest retention rates occurred during the late-1990s and continued for about ten years.
Since then, there has been a steady decline.
NIU Board of Trustees
96
December 4, 2014
1 Year
2 Years
3 Years
b) Recruitment & Retention Efforts
Recruitment
Recruitment occurs most broadly through the collaborative efforts of each faculty, staff, student, alumni,
and community partner of NIU. Specific recruitment activities for most freshmen and transfer students
are coordinated through Undergraduate Admissions. Major marketing efforts of this recruitment are
conducted through a strong partnership with the Division of Marketing & Communications. Many
Colleges and programs also participate in individualized recruitment activities in a variety of ways. New
and/or expanding recruitment activities in which the Division of Student Affairs & Enrollment Management
has been directly involved include the following:
x Expand recruitment initiatives beyond the northern Illinois region.
x Establish new articulation agreements (2-plus-2 and 3-plus-1) with community colleges through
the new NIU Bound initiative and others.
x Establish MOUs with charter schools in Chicago (e.g., KIPP Charter Schools, Perspectives Charter
Schools, etc.) to attract and recruit underrepresented students.
x Re-examine our current merit scholarship structure to attract more high performing students.
x Enhance relationships with both the Latino and Asian American communities in Chicago,
surrounding suburbs, and beyond.
x Develop new initiatives that will utilize NIU alumni and friends in Illinois and across the country in
recruitment efforts.
Retention
Student retention is a highly complex and challenging issue for many colleges and universities, including
NIU. According to one model developed by NIU’s Testing Services in the Division of Academic Affairs, the
following items are predictors of retention:
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Good academic standing
ACT score
High school GPA
Percentile in high school
High school average ACT
Application days (number of days after September 1st)
Math placement exam score
Credit load
Problematic course units
For the purposes of this report, a number of recent projects will be highlighted below. Additional
information about these activities and other retention efforts led by the Academic Colleges will be shared
in future meetings.
Chicago Collaborative for Undergraduate Success
(Appendix B – Chicago Collaborative for Undergraduate Success)
NIU is participating in the Chicago Collaborative for Undergraduate Success. Initiated by the University of
Illinois at Chicago, the mission states, “The Chicago Collaborative for Undergraduate Success builds
connections among Chicago-area non-profit institutions of higher education, who work together with high
schools and other community organizations on evidence-driven initiatives to ensure increased postsecondary student success and degree completion” (Retrieved from
http://collaborative.uic.edu/documents/Chicago_Collaborative_Description.pdf).
NIU Board of Trustees
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December 4, 2014
MAP-Works
(Appendix C – MAP-Works)
MAP-Works is a survey-based tool that helps students start off on the right track. Incoming freshmen and
new transfer students who participate in MAP-Works have shown the ability to:
x Earn a higher GPA,
x Successfully complete additional courses,
x Reduce the risk of academic probation, and
x Benefit from additional NIU support and resources.
Students will receive an email in their NIU student email account inviting them to participate in the MAPWorks survey. Once the survey is completed, students will receive a personalized report summarizing
their strengths and possible challenges, as well as related campus resources. Pertinent faculty and staff
(success specialists, advisors, etc.) will also have access to this information so they can provide additional
assistance.
According to data available through Map-Works, the factors that have the strongest relationships to
persistence include the following:
x Commitment to the institution
x Homesickness
x Financial means
x Satisfaction with institution
x Social integration
Those
x
x
x
x
x
factors with the strongest relationships to fall GPA include the following:
Basic academic behaviors
Academic integration
Time management
Academic self-efficacy
Financial means
The top five issues students are experiencing this fall according to MAP-Works include the following:
x Homesick
x Plan to study five hours or less
x Test anxiety
x Not confident about finances
x Struggling in at least two courses
First Year Composition
Retention strategies employed by the First Year Composition program included the following:
x Individual conferences with students to increase instructor and peer advocate connections with
students
o Peer Advocates attended class once per week on average, helped students become engaged
at NIU, and researched and presented on NIU resource. Almost half of PA’s chose internship
credit.
x Increased instructor participation in MAP-Works to help instructors understand more about
individual students’ experiences at NIU
x Classroom condition upgrades to enhance the student experience during their first year
x Electronic portfolio integration in order to connect the pieces of students’ learning and writing in
a coherent narrative and help promote students’ academic and professional identity
NIU Board of Trustees
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December 4, 2014
High Impact Practices (HIPs)
Students who participate in high-impact practices experience positive student retention and engagement
outcomes. High-Impact practices include the following types of activities: First Year Seminars, Learning
Communities, Writing Intensive Courses, Collaborative Learning, Common Intellectual Experiences, UG
Research, Global Learning, Service/Community Based Learning, Internships, and Capstones.
At NIU, some examples of HIPs which are offered through the Office of Student Engagement &
Experiential Learning include the following:
x Research Rookies – freshman paired with faculty, competitive, student stipend
x USOAR – funded research open to all students
x UG Research Assistantships
x Themed Learning Communities
x Huskie Service Scholars
x UG Research & Artistry Day
A recent study on the impact of HIPs on retention conducted by NIU’s Office of Assessment Services, the
Office of Student Engagement & Experiential Learning, and Testing Services achieved the following
results:
x Those who participate in HIPs are less likely to drop out
x The relationship between HIPs and retention remains even after controlling for other retention
predictors
x We can’t rule out self-selection effects
x The relationship between HIPs and Retention is not simply additive
x Effects of HIPs are not conditional on minority status
Student Success Collaborative
(Appendix D – Student Success Collaborative)
The Student Success Collaborative (SSC) is a rapidly growing membership of nearly 100 colleges and
universities working together to better understand the drivers of student attrition and measurably impact
success.
At the core of the Student Success Collaborative is an innovative predictive modeling platform that mines
university data to provide NIU administrators, advisors, and academic support services professionals with
actionable insights, identifying systemic and individual risk, and illuminating what steps can be taken to
improve graduation likelihood across all groups. The SSC strives to enhance three things: 1) Executive
Visibility: Identifying and drilling into areas of risk within individual colleges, majors, and specific
populations, 2) Advisor Effectiveness: Supporting data-driven advising efforts and enabling proactive,
informed interventions with students, and 3) Student Decisions: Delivering insight into majors, courses,
and careers best suited to each student’s interests and abilities.
Early Alert Referral System (EARS)
(Appendix E – Early Alert Referral System/EARS)
The Early Alert & Referral System is a collaborative effort between faculty and the Office of Student
Academic Success (OSAS) that picks up where Absence Tracking leaves off. The purpose of the E.A.R.S.
is to partner with select faculty at critical points during each academic semester to help identify students
who may need additional support.
NIU Board of Trustees
99
December 4, 2014
The Office of Student Academic Success targeted 117 different courses during the fall 2014 semester and
realized a 600% increase in faculty referrals from fall 2013. Faculty put forth an unprecedented 3,000
referrals for 2,500 students.
The OSAS team spoke to 1,100 students over the phone, left 1,200 voice mails, and sent numerous
personalized emails to students for whom there was not accurate contact information in MyNIU.
Additionally, Student Success Specialists have been meeting with students referred through E.A.R.S. nonstop during the months of October and November.
Absence Tracking Pilot Program
(Appendix F – Absence Tracking Pilot Program)
The Divisions of Academic Affairs, Student Affairs & Enrollment Management, and Information
Technology partnered together to launch a large scale student success and retention initiative during the
first few weeks of the fall 2014 semester.
Attendance is one of the greatest predictors of student success. A coordinating committee comprised of
student services professionals and administrators developed a plan to focus on a specific retention
strategy during the initial weeks of the fall semester by utilizing a centralized, systematic process. The
main objectives of the pilot included centralizing fragmented student outreach efforts, developing a
process to identify absent students; creating a software system to record and report student absences;
designating the closest logical point of contact to reach out to particular groups of students; and,
developing consistent messaging and information.
Faculty and instructors from 329 sections of 100 and 200 level undergraduate courses monitored
attendance and provided the name of students who were absent from each class session during the first
two weeks of the semester. Persistence data for all students involved in the pilot will be measured at the
end of the fall semester and again on the fall 2015 census date.
Lois Hobart Retention Scholarship Program
(Appendix G – Lois Hobart Retention Scholarship Program)
New for the 2014-2015 academic year, The Office of the Vice Provost and the Office of Student Academic
Success (OSAS) created the Lois Hobart Retention Scholarship Program in an effort to retain students
nearing graduation who have exhausted all possible financial resources and are in danger of leaving NIU.
Once awarded a Lois Hobart Retention Scholarship, recipients work with a Student Success Specialist to
address any additional challenges or issues that could impede the students’ progress to graduation.
During the fall 2014 semester 20 students were awarded $27,000.
Retention Summits
These campus-wide meetings first started during fall 2013. Four separate meetings, culminating in a
meeting in October 2014, highlighted select retention initiatives, student experiences with NIU, and
participant suggestions for how to set and achieve specific university retention targets. Initial meetings
focused on communicating to the university community the current data and programs related to
retention and to develop an action plan for improving retention. With each summit, the goal of creating a
common retention language across campus is also being realized. Moving forward, these cross campus
conversations will inform future, integrated plans focused on maximizing students’ ability to persist.
NIU Board of Trustees
100
December 4, 2014
Residential Academic Coaching Program
Beginning this fall, Housing & Dining Services began a new collaborative partnership with the Academic
Advising Center to pilot a new program in the residence halls. The Residential Academic Coaching
Program was established in an effort to encourage new freshmen students to take advantage of all of the
academic support resources made available to them through the Academic Advising Center. Students
living in Neptune Hall and the Health Professions Living Learning Community located in Stevenson Tower
A are able to take advantage of facilitated study groups, take part in individual and group advising
sessions, as well as participate in other academic success initiatives that will help students succeed in the
classroom.
Weekend Behavior Assessment Project
(Appendix H – Weekend Behavior Survey, GPA & Retention Follow-Up)
The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management, through the Planning &
Assessment unit undertook a GPA & Retention Follow-Up Study to a spring 2014 Weekend Behavior
Survey. Data were collected during spring 2014 about students’ weekend behaviors, level of campus
involvement, and their sense of belongingness on campus. During fall 2014, a follow-up study was
conducted in order to determine if a relationship existed between the behaviors and beliefs measured by
the survey and the students’ GPA and/or retention.
Select recommendations from the executive summary of the study revealed the following: 1) Future
programming efforts should emphasize the importance of investing in college life as a student success
strategy and 2) NIU should provide resources and training to staff with high student contact about the
importance of students finding their community.
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December 4, 2014
c) Scholarship Information (Submitted by Anne Hardy, Director, Scholarship Office)
History of Scholarship Strategy:
In 2011, NIU committed to setting aside $10 million towards merit scholarships. Aligning our priorities
with those outlined in the enrollment management strategic plan, several new categories of merit
scholarships were established. These categories targeted students from the top 10% of their high school
class. An Out-of-State Scholarship (50% tuition for students from Iowa, Indiana, and Wisconsin)
scholarship was also established to help meet the strategic enrollment goal of more out-of-state students.
NIU’s four-year merit scholarship was increased to accommodate more offers, and the new scholarship
categories that were added were for two years or one year. This "front-loading" of recruitment
scholarships was not meant to be a permanent plan.
This plan continues to the current day. However, a one-year scholarship called VIP or Lead NIU was
eliminated. VIP/Lead NIU was offered late in the year to bump up yield rates, and usually only went to
students who were planning to attend NIU anyway. The funds are now spread out over all merit
scholarship categories allowing NIU to offer all of its scholarships to incoming students as early as
possible. We now have a priority deadline that is extended only as budget remains available.
Attached is a document (Appendix I – Merit Scholarships for New Incoming Students) with NIU’s current
merit scholarship offerings for students. There are currently strict ACT/GPA criteria that considers those
two factors equally. However, the current merit scholarship model is under review.
Moving forward:
Over the past year, NIU has worked closely with Noel-Levitz to propose significant changes to the
scholarship awarding structure, including the use of an academic index that would weight GPA at 65%
and ACT at 35%. The rationale behind this is that our data proves that GPA is a higher predictor of
academic success, and thus, retention, than the ACT score. There is also consideration to increase twoyear scholarships to four-years.
Enrollment Management is also working closely with Academic Affairs (as well as the NIU Foundation) to
holistically use all scholarship awards offered through the academic departments as well when
determining other means of gift aid. Currently, Financial Aid implements a formula that was developed
with Noel-Levtiz that takes into consideration need, merit, geographical location of the student, among
other factors, to determine the percentage of gift aid that NIU should provide. If all departments/units
are able to submit their scholarships awards sooner, the University will have a more consistent and
effective use of its scholarship dollars in this calculation, and thus, NIU will be able to spread its limited
resources among more students. (Note: A proposal for a software system to assist the University with its
scholarship strategy is being considered.)
NIU Board of Trustees
102
December 4, 2014
Action
Agenda Item 9.c.(1)
December 4, 2014
LIPMAN HEARNE ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT CONTRACT
Summary: The Division of Student Affairs & Enrollment Management recently conducted a national
search to fill the Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management vacancy with the assistance of a
hiring firm—William Spelman & Associates. However, the search proved unsuccessful after several
months of seeking out viable candidates. The University is now entering the height of the student
recruitment season without someone to serve in this very strategic position. As a result, an effort has
been made to seek out someone who could provide the University strategic and operational direction in
enrollment management and admissions in the service of helping the University achieve its enrollment
and retention goals, focusing on Spring 2015, Fall 2015, and Fall 2016. Lipman Hearne (LH), a Chicago
based marketing and communications firm, has been identified as a company with the expertise to assist
the University in such efforts.
Lipman Hearne serves the nonprofit sector, specializing in enrollment and philanthropic solutions. Areas
of expertise include branding, strategy and communications. For 45 years Lipman Hearne has worked
with educational institutions of every size and scope. LH has delivered on boosting enrollment, engaging
donors, and reinvigorating institutional brands. It has served many public and private institutions in
higher education including SIU Carbondale, Ball State University, University of Cincinnati, University of
Chicago, University of Miami, Bradley University, College of Du Page and over 700 other institutions.
Lipman Hearne is able to provide the following areas of work and deliverables:
a) Strategy-Focused Activities: leadership in enrollment planning and goal setting; creation of an
enrollment growth Playbook (with detailed tactics, budgets, and financial projections on
investment and return on investment) for Spring 2015 and Fall 2015; guidance on enrollment
metrics, reporting and analysis; assessment and refinement of Fall 2015 and 2016 prospect poolbuilding strategy both in-state and out-of-state; new market cultivation strategy; enrollment
influence strategy; identification of new audiences and development of audience-specific
strategies; assessment and identification of retention-enhancement opportunities; guidance on
event strategy; seek opportunities to refine or reframe offerings for new market segments;
develop clear understanding of enrollment brand and identity; and provide leadership and
troubleshooting regarding the functions and processes of the enrollment management are to
streamline operations.
b) Operational or Tactical Activities: assess communications flow and identify key communications—
both traditional and digital—that are needed or need to be redeveloped; insure consistent and
compelling brand messaging throughout communications touch points; analyze enrollment
metrics and provide tactical recommendations; lead prospect pool building efforts both in-state
and out-of-state; support development of new segment strategies; identify tactical approaches to
reach enrollment goals; insure adherence to enrollment marketing and communications
strategies; assess current communications flow elements; provide communications strategy to
guide in-process print and digital communications; lead initiatives to redevelop communications
(emails, print, landing pages, etc.) as needed; ensure consistent messaging across platforms;
seek new media opportunities to communicate with enrollment audiences (social, video, etc.);
identify opportunities to leverage paid media for enrollment objectives; and provide leadership
NIU Board of Trustees
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December 4, 2014
and troubleshooting regarding the functions and processes of the admissions area to streamline
operations.
The cost to the University in obtaining the services of Lipman Hearne include the following:
a) Consulting fees totaling $150,000. This includes development of the Playbook, along with
reasonable and customary out of pocket expenses to be preapproved in writing by the University.
b) An estimated cost of $664,000 for all deliverables if performed by Lipman Hearne and based on
justification of all amounts. The University may perform implementation of some or all of the
deliverables, at its sole discretion, providing coordination with Lipman Hearne on any deliverables
Recommendation: Board of Trustees approval is requested for the expenditure of $814,000, which
includes $150,000 in consulting fees and an estimated cost of $664,000 for all deliverables for a contract
with Lipman Hearne to provide strategic and operational leadership in enrollment management and
admissions. This includes providing consulting services, plus the development and implementation of a
marketing campaign with the goal of increasing enrollment and retention. The terms affected are Spring
2015, Fall 2015 and Fall 2016.
NIU Board of Trustees
104
December 4, 2014
Chair's Report
No. 68
December 4, 2014
Action
Agenda Item 10.a.
December 4, 2014
BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2015 MEETING DATES
Following the general pattern of meeting dates for previous years and input from Board members, the
following dates and campus locations are offered for consideration by the Board.
March 12th
(2nd Thursday)
June 18th
(3rd Thursday)
September 17th
(3rd Thursday)
December 10th
(2nd Thursday)
The Northern Illinois University Law and Article III of the Bylaws of the Board of Trustees of Northern
Illinois University state that the Board shall convene at least once each quarter. These dates would meet
those requirements. All Board meetings will convene in the Board of Trustees Room, Altgeld 315,
beginning at 9:00 a.m. unless indicated differently in future meeting notifications.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
COMMITTEE MEETING DATES FOR 2015
Academic Affairs, Student Affairs and Personnel Committee
Compliance, Audit, Risk Management and Legal Affairs Committee
Finance, Facilities and Operations Committee
Legislative Affairs, Research and Innovation Committee
February 26th
(4th Thursday)
May 28th
(4th Thursday)
August 27th
(4th Thursday)
November 12th
(2nd Thursday)
All BOT Standing Committees will convene in the Board of Trustees Room, Altgeld 315, beginning at 9:00
a.m. unless indicated differently in future meeting notifications.
NIU Board of Trustees
105
December 4, 2014
Ad Hoc Committee on Governance
Ad Hoc Committee on Enrollment
The meeting dates for these ad hoc committees will be determined on an as-needed basis by the
Committee Chairs and the Committee Liaisons. The dates, times and locations will be announced in
accordance with Illinois Open Meetings Act notice requirements (next meetings set as listed below).
NIU Board of Trustees
January 15th (1:00 p.m., AL315)
Ad Hoc Committee on Governance
January 16th (10:00 a.m., AL315)
Ad Hoc Committee on Enrollment
106
December 4, 2014
Action
Agenda Item 10.b.
December 4, 2014
AD HOC COMMITTEE ON GOVERNANCE FIRST READING ITEM
D. Board of Trustees Administrative
1. Presidential Succession Policy
PROPOSED PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION POLICY
The Board of Trustees of Northern Illinois University is responsible for the appointment and oversight of
the President of Northern Illinois University and has the responsibility of assuring that the President is
able to discharge the powers and duties of the office of the President. From time to time, a President
may find it necessary to be absent from the position and unable to discharge the powers, duties, and/or
responsibilities (hereinafter “Authority”) of the office. This Presidential Succession Policy (hereinafter
“Succession Policy”) is created, and adopted by the Board of Trustees, to ensure the continued operation
of the University during times when the President is unable to exercise the authority of the office and to
define the circumstances under which this may occur vary.
Temporary Succession Designation by the President
The President has the authority to temporarily designate the Executive Vice President and Provost to
carry out the duties and responsibilities of the Office of President during a temporary absence of no more
than thirty (30) days. This designation shall be subject to change by a majority vote of the Board of
Trustees. The President shall notify each member of the Executive Committee of the Board, in writing, of
any designation under this Succession Policy that will exceed fourteen (14) days.
Succession Designation by the Board of Trustees
In the event that the President is unable to discharge the duties and responsibilities of the Office of
President to designate the Executive Vice President and Provost for absences that last more than thirty
(30) days, the Executive Vice President and Provost shall assume the role of Acting President.
Circumstances under which this may occur include, but are not limited to:
x
x
x
Incapacitation1, as determined by the President or by a super-majority (2/3) vote of the Board of
Trustees;
Incapacitation, as certified by an appropriate medical provider or judicially declared by a court of
competent jurisdiction;
Abandonment of the position2, as determined by a super-majority vote (2/3) of the Board of
Trustees;
1
Incapacity shall mean the President is unable to receive and evaluate, make or communicate, or understand the
nature and effects of decisions to such an extent that the President lacks the ability to meet the essential elements
of the agreement between the Board of Trustees and the President. A Board determination of incapacity is final
and non-appealable.
NIU Board of Trustees
107
December 4, 2014
x
x
x
An extended or prolonged absence3, as determined by a super-majority vote (2/3) of the Board
of Trustees;
Resignation of the President;
Removal from office for cause or any other relevant provision of the agreement between the
Board and the President by super-majority (2/3) vote of the Board of Trustees.
The Acting President, shall have the full authority of the Office of the President and shall assume the
critical functions of the NIU Presidency.
Nothing in this provision shall diminish or otherwise authorize the Acting President to take any actions
exclusive to the Board of Trustees or not otherwise authorized to the Office of the President.
The line of succession for the role of Acting President shall be:
Alternate A
x Executive Vice President and Provost
x The most senior Vice President
x The next most senior Vice President
Alternate B
x Executive Vice President and Provost
x Vice President for _______________
x Vice President for _______________
Such succession shall occur by operation of law and does not require formal Board approval. The Board
may establish protocols for the swearing in of an acting President. This line of succession and the
designation of an Acting President are subject to change at any time by a majority vote of the Board of
Trustees.
The Acting President shall notify the full Board and the Office of General Counsel upon assuming this role
under this Succession Policy. The Vice President and General Counsel shall, independent of the Acting
President, notify the full Board.
The Acting President will serve in such capacity until:
x
x
x
x
The conditions impeding the President from exercising the responsibilities and duties of the Office
of President have ceased. The determination of changes of conditions leading to the appointment
of an Acting President shall be determined by a majority vote of the Board;
An individual of higher order on the succession list becomes available to assume the role of
Acting President;
The Acting President becomes absent, in which case this Succession Policy is again applied; or
The Board of Trustees appoints an Interim or new full-time President.
Interim Presidents under this Succession Policy shall assume the critical functions of the Office of the
President and perform such powers, duties and/or responsibilities in a manner to continue the business
and operations of the University with minimal disruption until a permanent new President is appointed by
the Board of Trustees.
2
Abandonment of the position shall mean the willful, continued, and unjustified abandonment of the duties and
obligations of the Office of the President. A Board determination of abandonment of the position is final and nonappealable.
3
In determination of an extended or prolonged absence, the Board shall consider: the reason for and nature of the
absence, the length of the absence, the effect the absence has on the President’s ability to perform the duties and
obligations of the Office of the President, the impact of such inability of the President to perform the duties and
obligations of the Office of the President on the University, and the best interests of the University.
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The invocation of this Succession Policy, or any action taken by the Board of Trustees, in relation to a
permanent succession of the President automatically terminates the former President’s employment with
the University and all associated powers, duties and/or responsibilities. If a President is permanently
replaced under this Succession Policy, and the conditions that led to the permanent replacement of the
president cease to exist, the former President has no right to reassume the position or Authority of
President of Northern Illinois University.
2. Naming Rights Policy
Additional materials to follow.
3. Update Record Retention Policy
Additional materials to follow.
4. Update University Insurance & Employment Benefits Policy
Additional materials to follow.
5. Update Indemnification Policy
ARTICLE IX. INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 1. Subject to applicable federal and state law, the availability of funds and the terms and
conditions of the Board's Self-Insurance Plan, the Board of Trustees shall indemnify each present or
former Trustee, officer, employee, student, and agent (“Covered Person”) of the Board, except
independent contractors, against all reasonable expenses which may be incurred or paid in connection
with any claim, or actual or threatened action, suit, proceeding or investigation (civil, administrative,
or other non-criminal proceedings) and appeals in which the Covered Person may be involved by
reason of being or having been a Trustee, officer, employee, student, or agent.
In matters concerning criminal investigations or proceedings, the Board shall not be responsible for
the payment of expenses where there is a criminal conviction. In the event a conviction is later
successfully appealed, the Board shall be responsible for the payment of expenses up to the point of
the resolution of the successful appeal. A conviction or the entry of any plea in a criminal case shall in
and of itself be deemed an adjudication that the Covered Person engaged in misconduct in the
performance of his or her duties to the Board.
In those matters wherein there is a criminal investigation which might result in an indictment and
conviction, the Vice President and General Counsel is authorized to offer indemnification where there
is a good faith belief that a criminal conviction is not likely. Such indemnification shall be subject to
reimbursement of expenses in the event there is a conviction. In such cases, the University shall seek
reimbursement for any expenses related to the matter.
SECTION 2. In cases where an action, suit or proceeding advances to final adjudication and there is
a finding that the covered person acted outside of the scope of their employment, indemnification
shall not be provided.
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SECTION 3. For those settlement matters that are in the exclusive purview of the Board, the
determination whether a settlement is reasonable and in the interest of the Board or whether the
Covered Person acted in good faith for a purpose which the Covered Person reasonably believed to be
in the best interests of the Board and was not aware that the conduct was unlawful may be made by
a majority of the disinterested Trustees acting on the proposal.
SECTION 4. As used in this Article of the Bylaws, the term "expenses" includes without limitation,
attorneys' fees, costs, judgments, fines, penalties and other liabilities.
SECTION 5. The rights of indemnification provided for are severable, are not exclusive of other rights
to which any Trustee, officer or agent may now or hereafter be entitled, and continues in effect
notwithstanding the fact that the individual ceases to be a Trustee, officer, employee or agent at the
time the action is instituted, while it is pending or after the judgment is rendered.
SECTION 6. The indemnification referred to above covers the conduct of the Trustee, officer,
employee or agent which occurred both before and after the adoption of this Article of the Bylaws and
shall inure to the benefit of their estate.
SECTION 7. If any part of these Bylaws or any payment made pursuant to it is for any reason held
invalid, the provisions of this Article of the Bylaws are not otherwise affected but remain in full force
and effect.
6. Board and Senior Management Professional Development and Travel and Expense
Policy (Risk Management)
Additional materials to follow.
7. Presidential House (mandate living or not)
ARTICLE VII. PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY
Proposed Language:
Section 4. Mandate of Presidential Housing and Full Time Commitment
The Board shall determine on a case by case basis whether to require the primary place of residency for
the President be provided by the University. Such determination shall be made as part of the initial term
of a presidential agreement and reviewed periodically by the Board and the President, but not less than
every three years.
The President shall devote his full time and loyalties to the University and service on any boards and
commissions unrelated to Presidential duties and responsibilities shall be approved by the Board of
Trustees.
8. Officer Election Policy and Procedure (clarify the number of votes necessary to
continue balloting when no candidate for office obtains the minimum requirement of
5 votes)
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ARTICLE V. OFFICERS AND OTHER LEADERSHIP POSITIONS OF
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
SECTION 1. Elected Officers and Terms of Office
The officers of the Board shall consist of a Board Chair, Board Vice-Chair and Board Secretary. All
Members of the Board may be eligible for service as an officer with the exception of an undergraduate
Student Member who may not serve as Chair or Vice Chair. The Board Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary
shall be elected annually; however, as long as they continue to serve as a Member of the Board, they
shall retain their office until a successor is elected. In addition to the officers of the Board, the Board
shall also elect a Board delegate to the State Universities Civil Service Merit Board.
The Chair is hereby authorized to fill by appointment vacancies that may arise in any of the elected
offices (Board Vice-Chair, Secretary or State Universities Civil Service Merit Board). Such appointment
shall be for the remainder of the term of the particular office. When there is a vacancy in the position
of Board Chair, the Vice Chair automatically becomes the Chair for the remainder of the term and
shall have all of the powers, duties and responsibilities as proscribed by these Bylaws. The positions
of Board Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary may be held by the same Board Member for no more than
two consecutive terms.
SECTION 2. Appointed Officers, Fiduciary Roles and Terms of Office
The appointed officers of the Board shall consist of Treasurer, Assistant Secretary/Assistant Treasurer,
Second Assistant Secretary, and General Counsel/Parliamentarian. The appointed officers shall be
University staff members appointed by the Board on the recommendation of the President to serve
as ex-officio corporate officers and not as Members of the Board. These officers shall have a fiduciary
duty to faithfully discharge their responsibilities to the Board of Trustees. Where the Board determines
it is necessary or appropriate, the appointed officers may be directed to serve the Board of Trustees in
special roles and may have occasional responsibilities or duties that relate exclusively to the Board of
Trustees and be separate from their roles and reporting relationships as employees of the University.
Once appointed, these officers shall hold office until removal, resignation or termination of
employment with the University.
SECTION 3. Removal from Office
Any elected or appointed officer may be removed from office by operation of law or a vote of six of
the voting Members of the Board. A motion to remove an officer can only be made at a regular or
special meeting of the Board, and must be preceded by the conveyance of notice to each Board
Member and to the officer ten days prior to the meeting.
SECTION 4. Other Board Leadership Positions
In addition to the above officers, other Board leadership positions shall be the elected delegate to the
State Universities Civil Service Merit Board, appointed chairs of the Board standing committees, and
appointed representatives to various public and private entities as needed. The Chair is hereby
authorized to fill by appointment, after consultation with Members of the Board, the Chairs and
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committee members of each of the standing committees of the Board, any Ad Hoc Committees of the
Board, or the Chair of a Committee of the Whole of the Board. Such appointment shall be for the
remainder of the term of the particular Committee or as proscribed by the Chair. When there is a
vacancy in the position of Committee Chair or a Committee Member is absent or has vacated their
committee position, the Board Chair may appoint a replacement who shall automatically assume the
position with all of the powers, duties and responsibilities as proscribed by these Bylaws.
SECTION 5. Election of Officers
The Board shall elect Officers and other elected positions at the meeting preceding July 1 of each
year. The Board may, upon an affirmative vote of a super majority of the Board and for established
good reason, postpone the election to either the next regularly scheduled meeting after July 1 or a
special meeting of the Board called prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board.
The Board shall conduct its election of officers by secret ballot. The manner of the elections shall be
the prerogative of the Board Chair. The Recording Secretary in conjunction with the General Counsel
shall tally the results of each election attempt, advise the Chair and Board of the results and maintain
the ballots as required by law or Board rule.
Procedures for the election of officers shall be as follows:
1. The Chair shall provide an opportunity for Members to make public expressions of interest,
vision or acknowledgements of willingness to serve as elected officers. The General Counsel shall
provide ballots for each office consisting of all eligible members for that office. The method and
manner of voting shall be determined by the Chair after consultation with the Board..
2. Only the voting Members of the Board shall be entitled to cast votes in officer elections. A
Student Member, who is an undergraduate student, shall not be eligible to serve as the Chair or Vice
Chair.
3. If a majority of votes cast is not achieved by one Member for the office in the first balloting,
the Member(s) with the fewest number of votes shall be dropped on the succeeding ballot. This
process shall continue through three successive ballots. If at the conclusion of voting no Member shall
have achieved a majority of the full Board, the Board Chair shall declare the election at an impasse. In
the event of an impasse, expressions of interest, vision and willingness to serve are re-opened and
the next election will be conducted at the next Regular Business Meeting or special meeting;
4. The votes of a majority of the Board shall be required to be elected, even if fewer than all
eligible Board Members choose to vote;
5. Board Members shall be entitled to vote by written absentee ballot for good reason with prior
notification to the Board Chair, Vice Chair or General Counsel in writing one week prior to the
elections. Absentee ballots must be filed with the General Counsel in writing prior to the meeting at
which the elections are to occur.
SECTION 6. Duties of Officers
A. Board Chair
The Board Chair shall:
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1. Preside at all Board meetings, with full power to discuss all matters before the Board and to
vote in roll calls, secret ballots, and when necessary to break a tie if no vote has otherwise been cast
by the Chair;
2. Serve as member and presiding officer of the Board Executive Committee, and at the discretion
of the Chair, may serve as a voting member of all Board standing committees and be included as part
of a committee's quorum if attending and serving as a voting member;
3. After consultation with Members of the board, the Chair is authorized to appoint the chairs,
vice chairs and Members of the Board Standing Committees or Ad Hoc Committees. Such
appointment authority shall include the appointment of members to serve for purposes of quorum as
a member of any standing or ad hoc committee. Such quorum appointments shall be for the duration
of that specific committee meeting. In the absence of a committee chair and vice chair, the Board
Chair may appoint a Member to serve as the temporary committee chair and/or vice chair;
4. Appoint Board representatives to various public and private entities. The Chair shall determine
whether to appoint Members of the Board to serve as liaisons to various entities, including, but not
limited to, the NIU Foundation and the NIU Alumni Association.
5. Coordinate Board business with the President and foster communications among Board
Members;
6. Assist new Board Members in becoming familiar with the operations of the Board and the
University and identify and develop potential Board leadership;
7. Engage in external activities in behalf of the Board and the University, and represent the Board
and the University in a ceremonial capacity at public functions.
B. Board Vice-Chair
The Board Vice-Chair shall:
1. Serve as presiding officer of the Board in the absence of the Board Chair with full power to
vote on and discuss all matters before the Board;
2. Serve as a member of the Board Executive Committee;
3. Assist the Board Chair in facilitating communications among Board Members and in identifying
and developing Board leadership;
4. Assist the Board Chair in external relations and in representing the Board and the University in
a ceremonial capacity at public functions.
C. Secretary
The Secretary shall:
1. Serve as a member of the Board Executive Committee;
2. Sign as attesting official, with the Board Chair, any contracts and other legal documents
approved by the Board, provided others delegated by the Board may sign such documents in
accordance with their respective delegations.
3. Determine that the minutes and records of the proceedings of the Board are kept, published
and distributed as required by law;
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4. Maintain a record of the names of all Members of the Board, the dates of their appointments,
and the dates of the expiration of their terms of office. The Secretary shall also maintain a record of
Board officers and terms of elective office.
D. Treasurer
The Treasurer shall:
1. Be the chief custodian of all funds held in the name of the Board of Trustees and Northern
Illinois University and be responsible for overseeing the issuance and sales of revenue bonds and
other financial instruments on behalf of the Board;
2. Be responsible for complying with various financial requirements of bond resolutions, oversight
of investment and banking relationships, and coordination and development of information for
bondholders. Make a financial report to the Board reflecting securities held and all receipts and
disbursements on an annual basis, or as required;
3. Provide for the orderly reimbursement or payment, consistent with state law, for Board
Member travel and expenses, and establish necessary procedures incident thereto;
4. Exercise direct or facsimile signature authority, as authorized and appropriate on necessary
certificates or contracts and other documents approved by the Board on behalf of the Board Chair or
the Secretary.
E. Assistant Secretary-Assistant Treasurer
When the Board Chair, Secretary or Treasurer are not practically available to perform one of their
ministerial duties, the Assistant Secretary-Assistant Treasurer may provide an authorized signature on
necessary certificates or contracts and other documents approved by the Board on behalf of the Board
Chair, the Secretary, or the Treasurer, and shall provide such other assistance to the Secretary or
Treasurer as either may request and shall carry out such other functions as the Board may assign.
F. Second Assistant Secretary
When the Board Secretary or Assistant Secretary-Assistant Treasurer are not practically available to
perform one of their ministerial duties, the Second Assistant Secretary may provide an authorized
signature on necessary certificates or contracts and other documents approved by the Board on
behalf of the Board Chair, or the Secretary, and shall provide such other assistance to the
Secretary as may be requested and shall carry out such other functions as the Board may assign.
G. General Counsel and Parliamentarian
The General Counsel and Parliamentarian shall be a member of the University staff who serves as
chief legal officer and advises the Board Chair, Committee Chairs and the University President on
matters of law and parliamentary procedure.
SECTION 7. Duties of Appointed Leadership Positions
A. Standing Committee Chairs
Standing Committee Chairs shall:
1. Preside over committee meetings with full power to discuss all matters before the Committee
and to vote in roll calls, and when necessary to break a tie if no vote has otherwise been cast by the
Chair;
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2. Prepare reports of committee meetings to be presented to the Board, such reports to include
notation of the committee members present, description of the agenda covered, and a summary of
decisions and recommendations of the committee;
3. Keep informed of the major issues, actions and needs of the University in the areas of
responsibility covered by the committee;
4. Work with the President and staff in formulating agendas and preparing for meetings;
5. Maintain communications with other members of the committee and work to keep them
informed of issues and needs.
B. Standing Committee Vice-Chairs
Standing Committee Vice-Chairs shall:
1. In the absence of the Committee Chair, perform the duties of the Committee Chair.
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