U.S. comptroller general praises NIU

NIU recently played host to David M. Walker, comptroller general of the United States.

In that role, Walker heads up the Government Accountability Office (formerly known as the Government Accounting Office), which is charged with improving the performance of the federal government by conducting fact-based, nonpartisan reviews of government issues and operations.

The agency has a lengthy history of recruiting top students out of NIU’s highly regarded programs in accountancy and public administration. Also, NIU has been represented on the agency’s Educators Advisory Panel since the inception of that group five years ago.

Accountancy Professor Donald Tidrick currently serves on that panel. He is one of only two accounting educators named to the group, which is comprised mostly of deans from some of the best public administration programs in the nation. It was Tidrick who extended an invitation to Walker to visit campus.

“It’s a special day when you can get Mr. Walker to come to campus. He is one of the most influential people in the accountability profession and a very engaging person,” Tidrick said.

Over the course of the day, Walker met with faculty and students in Public Administration, had an opportunity to spend some time with NIU President John Peters, held an informal question and answer session with accountancy faculty and concluded his day by giving a formal presentation to a Barsema Auditorium packed with students and faculty.

Walker’s topic was restoring fiscal responsibility to the federal government, and what he had to say surprised many students.

“I think the students were extremely impressed. Several expressed concern after hearing him talk about the growing fiscal imbalance in Washington,” Tidrick said. “It was eye-opening to some of the students who didn’t realize what an enormous tab they will be handed for benefits enjoyed by generations that preceded them.”

Following his visit, Walker said his visit to campus made good business sense for his agency.

“It is important for GAO to maintain a strong relationship with Northern Illinois University. After all, Northern Illinois has one of the top accounting programs in the United States. It’s consistently ranked very high and it has been moving up in the national rankings,” he said.

“In addition, we are fortunate to have Don Tidrick, a professor at NIU, as a member of our Educators Advisory Panel, and I value his advice and counsel on a variety of issues. GAO expects to have a presence at NIU for the foreseeable future.”

11-1-04