NIU continues to do more with less
in governor’s 2005 higher education budget

Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s 2005 budget contains cuts for public universities, but also provides some new dollars for targeted programs and a shifting of student aid funds to the neediest Illinois residents, according to NIU President John Peters.

Peters told faculty and staff in an all-campus e-mail Friday that the governor’s FY05 across-the-board 2 percent cut in operating funds for all Illinois public universities amounts to just more than $2 million less for NIU next year. That amount was mitigated, Peters said, by Blagojevich providing an additional $476,000 for enhanced NIU baccalaureate completion programs in Rockford.

“For three years now, we’ve been doing more with less,” Peters said. “Demand for an NIU education is at an all-time high, and we don’t have the dollars to meet that demand. In the case of the Rockford baccalaureate completion program, the governor has asked us to do more and has supplied the dollars to do it. We’re grateful for those funds at a time when budgets are so austere throughout the state."

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Three open meetings are scheduled today and Tuesday for members of the NIU community to learn more about, and voice their opinions on, the university’s vital accreditation process.

A 10-member accreditation team from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, representing different Midwestern colleges and universities, begins today poring over documents and gathering with various constituencies in an effort to verify information reported in NIU’s self-study.

Faculty are invited from 4 to 5 p.m. today in the Heritage Room of the Holmes Student Center. Staff can speak up from 4 to 5 p.m. Tuesday in the HSC University Suite, while students can contribute to the process from 4 to 5 p.m. Tuesday in the Heritage Room.

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NIU open house programs continued their record-setting ways Monday, Feb. 16, bringing 1,845 students and parents to the Presidents’ Day event.

“Every open house we have held this year has set a new record,” said Director of Admissions Bob Burk, noting that attendance has been growing steadily for several years. The Presidents’ Day event, historically the smallest open house of the year, is now attracting crowds to rival the largest number drawn to any open house just a few years ago. “

The 1,845 we drew this month was bigger than any of the groups that attended the Columbus Day or Veterans Day open houses as recently as 2001-02,” Burk said.

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Gifts to the NIU Annual Fund are on the rise, thanks to alumni who are answering the call – literally and figuratively.

The Annual Fund, which depends heavily upon telephone solicitations to bring in monetary gifts for the university, saw giving increase by 16 percent July through January of 2003, compared to the same period one year earlier. The fund appears on pace to reach its goal of $945,000 this fiscal year, said Meghan Marsden, director of the fund.

Marsden said the reasons for the success are many, including the increased use of direct mail appeals and personal visits to past donors. Not to be discounted, however, is the excitement among alumni over the Huskie football team last fall.

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Sharon Pflaumer’s two lifelong loves – companion animals and writing – found each other in 1985.

Pflaumer, staff secretary in Student Housing and Dining, attended many office-related parties with her then-husband. While he and his co-workers talked shop, Pflaumer regaled the spouses with amusing anecdotes about her new dog.

“They’d be rolling on the floor,” said Pflaumer, an NIU alumna and 25-year university employee. “One night on the ride home, I thought, ‘If this was funny to people in a social setting, then it would be funny to read.’ ”

And so she took pen to paper, dashing off a column she soon submitted to Dog Fancy magazine.

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NIU will host author and National Public Radio (NPR) commentator Beth Finke for a daylong series of lectures and book signings Wednesday, March 3.

Finke’s 2003 book, “Long Time, No See,” chronicles her struggles with juvenile diabetes and blindness. The memoir has been praised by the Chicago Tribune, which named the work among its top non-fiction books of the year. Finke also is a freelance writer and commentator on NPR’s “Morning Edition.”

Following a tumultuous struggle with juvenile diabetes, Finke was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy on her honeymoon at the age of 26. Over the next 13 years, she chronicled her loss of sight and other experiences – including marital challenges, her search for work and the birth of a son with severe disabilities.

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NIU will celebrate Women’s History Month in March with 19 events highlighting the 2004 theme of “Women’s Movements.”

“We’ve put together an interesting lineup of performers and guest speakers who address such diverse topics as women’s activism and women in sports and dance,” said Amy Levin, director of NIU’s Women’s Studies Program. “These include a number of inspiring women who are improving the world for others.”

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NIU’s Music Building will overflow with the sounds and sights of youth all day Saturday, March 6, as the NIU Community School of the Arts presents its sixth biannual Performathon.

Featuring around 100 young students of music and art – 78 different individuals or groups are playing – the Performathon is the Community School’s largest fundraiser. Students collect pledges from family and friends who support their playing, singing or artwork. Local businesses also support the Performathon through advertising in the event’s program booklet and by donating prizes for the raffle.

Since 1993, more than $50,000 has been raised and more than 250 scholarships have been awarded to deserving students.

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Fiscal Year 2004 soon will close, and cut-off dates must be established.

These dates are mainly pertinent to FY2004 orders using General Revenue funds, but the same dating conventions are followed for those orders using other fund sources.

Please keep in mind that the last quarter of the fiscal year is NIU’s busiest, with departments simultaneously preparing to close out FY2004 and processing, bidding and issuing orders for FY2005. State law requires that all FY2004 General Revenue orders be completed, including all payments, by the end of the lapse period.

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University Resources for Women hosts eating disorders workshops
National Eating Disorder Awareness Week is Feb. 23 through 27. University Resources for Women will host daily workshops from noon to 1 p.m. at its 105 Normal Road quarters. Call 753-0320 for more information. -- MORE

Elizabeth Allen Lecture Series
to welcome David Freedberg
David Freedberg will lecture on “Art, Emotion and the Brain: History and Neuroscience” at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, in Room 100 of the Art Building. Freedberg, professor of art history at Columbia University and director of the Italian Academy, comes to NIU as part of the Elizabeth Allen Lecture Series. Call 753-1474 for more information.

Short course to study
accessible Web resources
There are still a few seats open for a free short course on accessible and usable Web resources, scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 26, and March 4 and 18. Familiarity with Web browsers is a prerequisite.

The course will provide an overview of Web accessibility standards and disability legislation. Alternative browsers and their importance to people with varying abilities will be discussed. Evaluation and repair tools will be identified. During the third session, NIU Faculty Development staff will conduct a special segment on creating accessible Blackboard courses. -- MORE

Nominations sought for
Outstanding Service Award
All university employees are reminded that nominations for the 2004 Outstanding Service Award for NIU civil service employees are due in Human Resource Services no later than 4:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27. All full- or part-time civil service employees who have been continuously employed at NIU since Feb. 1, 2003 are eligible. Nomination forms and guidelines were mailed to all employees in early January and also can be found on the Operating Staff Council Web site at www.niu.edu/osc/osc.htm.

The recipients of this award will be honored at the Annual Operating Staff Service Awards Banquet held April 30, and each will receive a monetary award of $1,500.

MCTI proposals sought
The Office of the Provost and the Provost’s Task Force on Multicultural Curriculum transformation are pleased to announce NIU’s 10th annual Multicultural Curriculum Transformation Institute held May 11 to 19 at NIU.

Tenured and tenure-track faculty and Supportive Professional staff are invited to apply and participate in this intensive institute, designed to assist faculty and staff in incorporating multicultural perspectives and content into their courses, enrich their curricula and prepare our students for a diverse workplace and society.

Application deadline is Friday, March 5. For more information call task force chair LaVerne Gyant at 753-1423, send e-mail to mcti@niu.edu or check http://www3.niu.edu/mcti online. -- MORE

Convocation Center welcomes
monster trucks, motorcross
The Rolling Thunder Monster Truck Challenge is back in action at the Convocation Center, Friday and Saturday, March 5 and 6. Doors open at 7 p.m. for both shows.

Tickets are available at the Convocation Center ticket office, all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling (312) 559-1212 or visiting www.ticketmaster.com online. For information Contact the Convocation Center at 752-6800 or www.niuconvo.com. -- MORE

Bookstore to close
for inventory work
University Bookstore will closed for inventory from Monday, March 8, through Wednesday, March 10. Regular store hours resume Thursday, March 11.

Phi Beta Kappa
seeks members
NIU’s Phi Beta Kappa Association would like to identify university faculty, staff, and graduate students who were elected to Phi Beta Kappa as undergraduates at any college or university. -- MORE 

Proposals sought for
David W. Raymond grant
The David W. Raymond Grant is an annual grant to faculty working on ways to use new technologies in their teaching. The $2,500 grant is awarded to the faculty member with the best proposal for incorporating new technologies into his or her teaching. -- MORE

NIU Wellness Fair
to teach stroke avoidance
NIU’s Employee Wellness and Assistance Program will host a wellness fair Wednesday, March 24, on the main floor of the Holmes Student Center. Ninety appointments are available. Pre-registration is required. Call 1-800-407-4557 for registration, or call Karen Smith at 753-9191 for more information. -- MORE

Nominations sought
for Eychaner Award
The NIU Presidential Commission on Sexual Orientation and Prism of NIU are seeking nominations for the Eychaner Award, presented annually to recognize individuals affiliated with NIU who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and service on behalf of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender community. The nomination deadline is noon Friday, March 26. For questions, contact Margie Cook, LGBT coordinator, at 753-LGBT(5428) or via e-mail at lgbt@niu.edu. -- MORE

Local symphonic band
announces spring concerts
The Greater Kishwaukee Symphonic Band, started three semesters ago under the baton of Ronnie Wooten of the NIU School of Music, will present concerts Sunday, March 28, and Sunday, April 25. Both concerts begin at 3 p.m. in the Boutell Memorial Concert Hall in the NIU Music Building. -- MORE

Colleges Against Cancer
to host Relay for Life
NIU’s chapter of the American Cancer Society’s Colleges Against Cancer is hosting a Relay for Life April 2 and 3 in the Rec Center. Anyone interested in joining a faculty/staff team or forming one of their own for this year’s celebration should contact Mary Cozad, Department of Foreign Languages at 753-6448 or via e-mail at mcozad@niu.edu. -- MORE

Faculty invited to submit
development grant proposals
The Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center is offering grants of up to $2,500 each annually to regular, continuing tenured or tenure track faculty.

Faculty who plan to submit proposals and need more information are encouraged to register and attend the grant writing seminar held from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, April 2. To register, call 753-0595 or e-mail facdev@niu.edu. -- MORE

Convocation Center to host
comedian Dave Chappelle
Popular comedian Dave Chappelle will visit the NIU Convocation Center at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 15. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 27. For more information, visit www.niuconvo.com or call the Convocation Center at 752-6800. The show, for mature audiences only, is presented by NIU Campus Activities Board / NITELITE Promotions. -- MORE

Convocation Center to host
2004 home, leisure show
Just in time for spring, the 2004 DeKalb Area Home and Leisure Show is set to bring lots of ideas for your building, remodeling, décor and landscaping needs Friday, April 23, through Sunday, April 25, at the Convocation Center.

General admission is $5. Seniors pay $3 each, and children younger than 12 are free. Tickets are available at the Convocation Center box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling (312) 559-1212 or visiting www.ticketmaster.com.

Concert to benefit
Egyptian Theatre fund
“Just Make it Happen” presents “Sophisticated Ladies of Song,” a concert scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 24, that will benefit the Egyptian Theatre capital improvement fund. For more information about “Just Make It Happen,” call Smith at (815) 758-1093 or send e-mail to jdmusicpros@webtv.net. -- MORE

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