President John G. Peters
President John Peters sent this letter
to the campus community Tuesday, Sept. 9.
Dear Colleagues,
On behalf of the entire campus community, I want to take this opportunity to welcome everyone back to a challenging but exciting fall semester. The campus to which we have returned is healthy and robust, brightened by the enthusiasm of new students and inspired by the many acts of kindness that have characterized our healing process. Throughout the past seven months, we have shown the world a university with clear purpose and unshakeable resolve. These are the hallmarks of a great institution with great people, and I am tremendously proud of both.
Our fortitude will continue to be tested this year as elected officials grapple with increased demand for diminishing resources. Yet we are committed to recognizing and rewarding the talent and dedication of our faculty and staff. To that end, I am announcing a salary increment program for this fiscal year that includes an across-the-board 2 percent increase, made retroactive to July 1, 2008. Depending upon job classification, employees will see that increment reflected in either the October 15 or October 31 payrolls. Beyond this increment plan, we have already instituted a significant increase in promotional raises for faculty, and will be adjusting Civil Service pay grades. Taken as a whole, the work we have been able to do this year on NIU’s compensation program reflects an unwavering commitment to making salaries as competitive as possible across all employment groups.
As always, I value your opinions and welcome your feedback on this and all of our institutional priorities. We are a united community of learners, dedicated to service and to each other. Thank you for making it so, and best wishes for a productive academic year.
Sincerely,
John G. Peters
President