Minutes of the 
Board of Trustees of 
Northern Illinois University 
March 19, 2001

The Chair asked Board Parliamentarian Kenneth Davidson if any members of the public had registered a written request to address the Board in accordance with state law and Board of Trustees Bylaws. Mr. Davidson noted that no timely requests had been received for public comment at that Board meeting.

Academic Affairs, Student Affairs and Personnel Committee
Committee Chair Barbara Vella reported that the Academic Affairs, Student Affairs and Personnel Committee met on March 7 at 9:00 a.m. in the Clara Sperling Sky Room. Recommendations for faculty promotion and tenure and recommendations for faculty and support staff sabbaticals were presented at that meeting. A lively discussion was held regarding sabbaticals, she said, and it was very interesting. Also heard were requests for new degree programs, new minors, a new emphasis within a degree and a request to delete programs. All of these items were included in the President's Report to the Board in this meeting. Also heard at the Committee meeting was a report on oral English proficiency.

Finance, Facilities and Operations Committee
Committee Chair Manuel Sanchez reported that the Finance, Facilities and Operations Committee also met in the Clara Sperling Sky Room on March 7, 2001. At that meeting, the Committee considered and approved the following action items: Fiscal Year 2002 tuition fees and room and board recommendations; a federal grant supporting Physics Department research and development; the north forth utility tunnel, stadium turf replacement and computer laboratory upgrade projects; a lease renewal for the Chicago exhibition center and art gallery; several annual contract renewals and purchases; and authorization to investigate debt refinancing. These actions and several informational items accepted by the Finance, Facilities and Operations Committee were included in the President's Report, which President Peters presented for Board of Trustees approval at this meeting.

Legislation, Audit and External Affairs Committee
Committee Chair Myron Siegel reported that the Legislation, Audit and External Affairs Committee also met on March 7 in the Clara Sperling Sky Room to review current legislation and to present the Michael J. O'Malley Award for Promoting Access to Higher Education to Mayor John Pradel of Naperville. He asked Ms. Kathy Buettner to expand on some of the legislative matters covered at that meeting.

At that meeting, Ms. Buettner said, we talked about substantive legislation and the changes in the capital budget. It was announced that the campus chilled water production and distribution facility and the remodeling program for Altgeld Hall were included in the Governor's budget, representing about $12.8 million in capital that is slated to come to the university, if this budget is upheld.

President Peters and I extended our thanks, Ms. Buettner said, to the members of the Committee. I want to also extend my thanks to the full Board for the tremendous support and involvement we have had from each and every one of you as we have tried to move these projects, which were not funded at the IBHE level, for consideration. The final action item presented to the Committee was the approval of the Physics Department research project. This project was also approved in the Finance Committee. It provides for $4.2 million in federal funding to come to the Physics Department, in large part due to Speaker Hastert's support for our Physics program and our connections with Fermilab, and we are very grateful to the Speaker.

Illinois Board of Higher Education
There was no report from the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

University Civil Service Merit Board
There was no report from the Civil Service Merit Board.

Northern Illinois University Foundation
Trustee Boey deferred to the new Chair of the NIU Foundation. It is our pleasure to welcome the new Foundation Chair, Trustee Boey said. He is here to give a presentation on strategies that he and the board have formulated.

Since I have taken over the responsibilities of Chair of the Foundation, Mr. Nelson said, it has become very obvious to me that we were lacking a couple of things, in particular, a strategic plan. A handout was given to the Board members summarizing the major strategic imperatives of the Foundation. In the course of the last six months, we have dedicated a lot of time to strategic planning and trying to position the Foundation as a difference maker for the university. The Foundation has existed for 50 years, but mostly in a fairly passive capacity. We see the Foundation going forward as a major difference maker for the university in terms of its fundraising role, he said. And to that extent, our new mission statement indicates that our objective is to provide leadership to the university community and constituents in building financial resources and supporting excellence at NIU. So, in that sense, we intend to be a difference maker in providing excellence. Where state funding and support leave off, the Foundation feels it has a role to pick up.

Another thing that is been missing has been a collaboration between the various constituents of the university, Mr. Nelson said. Most recently we met with the Alumni Association Board to try to create a new set of joint initiatives with them. That is the first time that has ever happened. One of those initiatives is advocacy and support for a new publication for the university that will supplant Northern Now and represent a new image for the university. We are also looking to support the Alumni Association initiatives for the Alumni House. Early planning and feasibility studies are underway. Longer term, we would really like to work with them very closely to develop a Chicago presence as well.

You have in your handouts, Mr. Nelson continued, a sheet that indicates interesting benchmarks for the university in terms of where we rank with the other MAC schools. You will see that relative to the other Mid-America Conference schools Northern Illinois University is near the top in academic quality and certainly at the top in terms of the number of addressable, reachable, identifiable alums in our alumni body. However, we are near the bottom in virtually every measure of giving, including total giving from alumni, alumni participation rate and the average size of gifts. Our goal is to move into the upper tier of the MAC, he said, and to do that we will need the commitment of the university and the university leadership for more resources in the Development area. Gifts are rolling in at a pretty good rate. In terms of the total level of the endowment, we are 28% ahead of last year. We are, so far this fiscal year, at about $25 million, which includes the Barsema gift and the $5.5 million software gift from Unigraphics. Speaking of the Barsema gift, he said, the Executive Committee in its role as developer, has just approved the contracts for Barsema Hall, and we are looking forward to the groundbreaking this Friday, which you are all encouraged to attend.

Lastly, we are very interested in collaboration, Mr. Nelson said, and would welcome any questions, suggestions or concerns you may have to help us further the goodwill and objectives that we have for the Foundation. We are really happy, Dave, that you are chairman now, Chair Moser said, and with your vision and energy, we are sure you are going to do a great job. I am very excited about working with Dave and the Foundation, President Peters said. I have found them progressive, supportive and aggressive, and we are ready to go. I attended the last board meeting, Trustee Boey said, and I am very impressed with all the strategies Mr. Nelson referred to and the way the organization is now structured. My compliments to both of you.

Trustee Sanchez commented that he was startled to learn that this was the first time the Foundation and the Alumni Boards have met. As a Trustee for five years, he said, I assumed there was more of a marriage there and that there was more communication. I am delighted to see that is already being addressed, and maybe the synergies from that union will enure to the benefit of the entire university.

Agenda Item 8.b. - Personnel Matter
After a national search, President Peters said, campus interviews with four candidates, and evaluation and feedback received from the campus community, I am pleased to seek your concurrence in the appointment of Dr. Ivan Legg, who is currently Provost at the University of Memphis, to the position of Executive Vice President and Provost with academic rank of Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, which has the concurrence of that department, to be effective July 1, 2001, at a salary of $200,000. Let me just add that this was an outstanding process, he said, and a very good search committee. Chair Moser asked for a motion to approve the appointment of Dr. Ivan Legg to serve as Executive Vice President and Provost at the annual salary of $200,000 to become effective July 1, 2001, with the rank of Professor and tenure in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Student Trustee Barr so moved, seconded by Trustee Sanchez. The motion was approved.

University Recommendations Forwarded by the Board Committees

Agenda Item 9.a.(1) – Fiscal Year 2002 Student Fee Recommendations
These recommendations are developed through a representative process involving subcommittees consisting of student representatives and staff for each major fee category. The university requests approval of these fee rates as presented on page 10 of your Board materials, President Peters said. There, a chart indicates the increases that have been requested through our very extensive process and approved by the Board Finance, Facilities and Operations Committee. After speaking with student leaders at other public universities in Illinois, Student Trustee Barr said, I am convinced that we have the healthiest system because it includes ongoing input and recommendations from students. We have many projects to which students as a campus are already committed. Although we must always be careful about the cost of higher education at Northern, he said, I think these fees are necessary to continue to increase the quality of education and the value of our degrees in the future.

Chair Moser asked for a motion to approve the Fiscal Year 2002 student fee recommendations. Trustee Sanchez so moved, seconded by Student Trustee Barr. The motion was approved.

Agenda Item 9.a.(2) – Fiscal Year 2002 Room and Board Rate Recommendations
Board rate recommendations address a reduction in total food costs as a result of meal plan modification for FY02. The Room and Board Rate Review Committee is recommending an increase in room rates varying from 7.9 percent to 14.2 percent and a decrease in board rates of 16.67 percent. The change in rates applies to all residence halls, assuming purchase of the minimum board plan buy-in (Gold Plan). When combined, these changes represent a zero percent net effect in room and board rates, President Peters said. Therefore, I recommend approval of the FY02 room and board rates and university apartment rates as presented on page 15 of your report. Chair Moser asked for a motion to approve the FY02 room and board rates. Trustee Sanchez so moved, seconded by Trustee Vella. The motion was approved.

Agenda Item 9.a.(3) – Fiscal Year 2002 Off-Campus Course Delivery Fee
We are requesting the following rates, President Peters said, an increase of $90 dollars in graduate programs in business, where the rate is currently $175 per credit hour; a $120 per credit hour delivery fee for programs in the health sciences; a $40 per credit hour delivery fee for nursing; and an increase in the basic outreach delivery fee from $35 to $40 per credit hour. The justification for these increases is to permit us to continue to offer courses at our remote sites. Even with these increases, the President said, we will remain well below the market for these courses. Chair Moser asked for a motion to approve the off-campus course delivery fees as proposed. Trustee Vella so moved, seconded by Trustee Boey. The motion was approved.

Agenda Item 9.a.(4) – Fiscal Year 2002 Tuition Recommendations
By Illinois state statute, the Northern Illinois University Board of Trustees is charged with the responsibility for setting the university's tuition rates. After careful consideration, President Peters said, we recommend a 4.5% increase in all tuition rates – undergraduate, graduate and law – for Fiscal Year 2002. I appreciate the discussions Dr. Peters and Dr. Williams have held with me and other student leaders for the last several weeks, Student Trustee Barr said. Again, always being sensitive to the cost of education here at Northern, I think the tuition increase is necessary to remain competitive in the area of faculty salaries, to make sure that we have the most advanced technology possible on campus and so that students and faculty receive the necessary training to use that equipment. Chair Moser asked for a motion to approve the FY02 tuition recommendations. Student Trustee Barr so moved, seconded by Trustee Sanchez. The motion was approved.

Agenda Item 9.a.(5) – Fiscal Year 2002 Athletic Sports Camp Housing and Meal Expenditure
Agenda Item 9.a.(7) – Physics Department Research Project
Agenda Item 9.a.(8) – Division of Continuing Education Hotel Workshops
Agenda Item 9.a.(9) – Document Services Copier and Controller System Contract Renewal
Agenda Item 9.a.(10) – International Programs Division Contract Renewals
Agenda Item 9.a.(11) – Academic Computing Services Annual Upgrade of Computer Laboratories
The Consent Agenda covered Agenda Items 9.a.(5), 9.a.(7), 9.a.(8), 9.a.(9), 9.a.(10) and 9.a.(11) from the Board Committees.

Agenda Item 9.a.(6) – Fiscal Year 2002 Student Accident and Sickness Insurance Contract
University Health Services provides group health insurance, funded by student fees, to students and their families. The semester rate of $165.70 is included in the FY02 fee recommendations. Approximately 40% of NIU students purchase this insurance. If they have proof of other comparable health insurance, students may cancel their participation in this plan. President Peters recommended approval of FY02 expenditure authority not to exceed $4 million for Mega Life of St. Petersburg, Florida, for group health insurance. Trustee Sanchez so moved, seconded by Trustee Skoien. The motion was approved.

Agenda Item 9.a.(12) – Chicago Exhibition Center Lease
For 15 years, President Peters reported, we have had a presence for our School of Art in the Chicago area. It is time to renew our lease, which expires on July 31, 2001. The university has negotiated a new five-year lease to run from August 1, 2001 through July 31, 2006. Therefore, I recommend approval of the art gallery five-year lease renewal with Urban Innovations. When this came before my committee, Trustee Sanchez commented, I was pleasantly surprised to hear that we had this facility right there in the hot section of the near north side of Chicago located between Wells and LaSalle on Superior Street. Just for the record, he said, I want the Northern Star and the other media people following this meeting to help get out the word and let people know that NIU has a presence there on the near north side of Chicago. Chair Moser asked for a motion to approve the Chicago exhibition center lease. Trustee Boey so moved, seconded by Trustee Sanchez. The motion was approved.

Agenda Item 9.a.(13) – North Forty Utility Tunnel - Capital Project Approval
President Peters stated that the university was requesting Board of Trustees authorization to establish a total budget of $642,500 for design and construction of a utility tunnel extension from the existing tunnel at the Engineering Building, sufficient to serve the north forty, including the Barsema Hall site. The university further requests approval to execute professional service agreements and construction contracts and issue work orders as necessary to design and construct the utility tunnel. Chair Moser asked for a motion to approve the capital project for the north forty utility tunnel. Trustee Vella so moved, seconded by Trustee Skoien. The motion was approved.

Agenda Item 9.a.(14) – Stadium Turf Replacement Project
We are requesting Board of Trustees authorization to establish a Stadium Turf Replacement project budget of $1.1 million for replacement of the current turf system with a simulated grass turf system, President Peters said. Plans and specifications are to be prepared by the NIU staff. The university further recommends approval to seek and take bids, execute contracts, purchase equipment and issue work orders as necessary to complete this project. This is a rather innovative turf that should also be a safer turf. The current turf has not been replaced in 11 years. Chair Moser asked for a motion to approve the stadium turf replacement project. Trustee Sanchez so moved, seconded by Trustee Boey. The motion was approved.

Agenda Item 9.a.(15) – Authorization to Investigate Debt Refinancing
In view of the fact that interest rates have fallen dramatically over the last few months and with current projections that rates may fall again in the near future, it is prudent for the university to review outstanding bond issues, to explore the potential for substantial savings that could result from refinancing existing debt. President Peters asked Board of Trustees authorization to investigate the potential for debt refinancing. Should such exploration indicate favorable conditions that would benefit the university, the specific authorization expected to be required is provided in the resolution. After such investigation, the university will report back to the Board regarding specific recommendations, if any, concerning debt refinancing options. Chair Moser asked for a motion to approve the request to investigate debt refinancing. Trustee Sanchez so moved, seconded by Trustee Skoien. The motion was approved.

Agenda Item 9.a.(16) – Recommendations for Faculty Promotions, Tenure and Promotion with Tenure for 2001-02
The names of the individuals for whom we are recommending promotion with tenure, promotions from associate to professor and assistant to associate professor, and for tenure only appear on pages 31-32 of your Reports, President Peters informed the Board, and we bring them forward for your approval. Chair Moser asked for such a motion. Trustee Sanchez so moved, seconded by Trustee Boey. The motion was approved.

Agenda Item 9.a.(17) – Recommendations for Faculty and Supportive Professional staff Sabbatical Leaves for the 2001-02 Academic Year
Recommendations for faculty and supportive professional staff sabbatical leaves for the 2001-02 Academic Year appeared on pages 33-35 of the Board Report. These individuals are recommended by the President for sabbatical leave. This is a very good process, he said, and it results in many interesting projects and renewals on the part of faculty. Their projects work their way into curricular reform and research and scholarly products. It is a very good system and a very rigorous process, the President said, and I am pleased to request Board of Trustees endorsement for the university's decisions to grant this list of individuals sabbatical leave for 2001 and 2002. Chair Moser asked for a motion to approve the recommendations for faculty and supportive professional staff sabbatical leaves for the 2001-02 Academic Year. Trustee Boey so moved, seconded by Trustee Skoien. The motion was approved.

Agenda Item 9.a.(18) – Request for a New Degree Program
We are requesting Board of Trustees approval to endorse a new Master of Science in Sport Management degree, President Peters said, and the description and rationale are included. This proposal comes from the Department of Leadership in Educational and Sport Organizations. It is a 39-semester hour program, and is designed to meet national standards of the North American Society of Sport Management. It is a very solid program, and this is a growing area of interest. We have expertise here, he said, and this program makes a lot of academic sense. Chair Moser asked for a motion to approve the request for a new Master of Science in Sport Management degree. Trustee Sanchez so moved, seconded by Trustee Vella. The motion was approved. 

Agenda Item 9.a.(19) – Request for a New Minor
Agenda Item 9.a.(20) – Request for New emphases within Degree Programs
Agenda Item 9.a.(21) – Request to Delete Existing Program and Emphasis
The Consent Agenda covered Agenda Items 9.a.(19), 9.a.(20) and 9.a.(21) from the Board Committees.

University Reports Forwarded from the Board Committees and Item Directly from the President 

Agenda Item 9.b.(1) – Periodic Summary Report of Transactions in Excess of $100,000
Agenda Item 9.b.(2) – Periodic Report on Investments
Agenda Item 9.b.(3) – Fiscal Year 2002 Budget Overview - Operating
Agenda Item 9.b.(4) – Fiscal Year 2002 Budget Overview - Capital
Agenda Item 9.b.(5) – Substantive Legislation - 92nd General Assembly Report
Agenda Item 9.c.(1) - Summary of Grant and Contract Awards
The Consent Agenda included Agenda Items 9.b.(1), 9.b.(2), 9.b.(3), 9.b.(4), 9.b.(5) and 9.c.(1) from the Board Committees.

Dan Griffiths, University Advisory Committee Representative and Executive Secretary of the Faculty Senate, stated that he would like to endorse the Board's approval of President Peter's selection of Ivan Legg for Provost. I also want to thank President Peters and the committee. We worked very well together, he said, and I think Dr. Legg is a great choice.

Respectfully submitted,

Sharon M. Mimms
Recording Secretary