NIU looks at purchase of Wesley Foundation building

by Joe King

NIU’s Academic and Advising Center might soon have a new home if and when the university negotiates the purchase of a key piece of real estate.

The NIU Board of Trustees last Thursday authorized university staff to enter into negotiations for the purchase of the former Wesley Foundation, located at 633 W. Locust Street, just north of the campus parking deck and south of the Founders Memorial Library.

If the university acquires the property, it will be remodeled and become home to the Academic and Advising Center, which assists students who have yet to select a major, as well as those who are in the process of changing majors.

In other business, the Board of Trustees also:

• Approved a mid-year salary enhancement for faculty and staff. Following the same general guidelines for eligibility as the increase granted at the start of the fiscal year, regularly appointed employees will receive an additional 1 percent salary hike beginning with the January 2007 payroll period. “Keeping salaries competitive has been, and remains, one of our top priorities,” NIU President John Peters said.
• Authorized staff to issue a request for proposals seeking vendors to provide equipment for the Proton Therapy and Research Center, which will be built in West Chicago. With approval in hand, staff will begin soliciting bids for the technical and medical infrastructure needed for proton acceleration and beam delivery to patients. They also will seek bidders to provide the accelerator, gantries, imagers and other required equipment.
• Heard an update from representatives of Collegiate Development Services, NIU’s partner in developing the Northern View Community, which will provide housing for married and non-traditional students. The board viewed typical floor plans and an animated overview of what the community will look like when completed. Developers said the project remains on schedule to open in August.
• Approved improvements for Parking Lot W. The lot, which is currently gravel, will be upgraded with a paved surface, curbs and gutters, water retention, lighting and other improvements. The approved budget for the work is $1.4 million.

12-11-06