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News Release
Contact: Melanie Magara, Office of Public Affairs
(815) 753-1681
June 18, 2002
Final state budget cuts additional $3.3 million from NIU;
Shortfall totals nearly $13 million for FY03
DeKalb - Nearly six months since Northern Illinois University received its first round of cuts from an ailing state budget, university officials say the final tally totals nearly $13 million - the last $3.3 million of which came in the final days of the legislative session when lawmakers upheld a number of Governor Ryan's budget vetoes.
In an email sent to the campus community late today by NIU President John Peters, campus leaders are asked to cut an additional 1.5 percent from their FY03 budgets, but were urged to stop short of laying off current employees if at all possible. Peters said he would not be seeking any additional tuition hikes, and announced modifications of earlier budget controls that had prohibited any new hiring or equipment purchases.
"It is clear that the stringent controls we put in place this spring have served our campus well," Peters said. "Their modification at this point recognizes our need to prepare for a fall semester in which we expect a significant increase in student numbers. By lifting some of our current budget controls, we are reaffirming our commitment to continued institutional momentum and growth," he said.
In his last email to the campus community, NIU's president had prepared faculty and staff for about $10 million in cuts. His latest communication updated that amount to include the last round of cuts, and outlined how the university would deal with the additional $3.232 million reduction.
Under the latest guidelines for the fiscal year that starts July 1, departments may be able to fill vacancies, but only with the approval of their respective vice presidents. New equipment purchases will be permitted, but money designated for equipment cannot be used for other purposes. Salary increases have been curtailed for FY03, and department heads remain under the admonition to limit non-essential travel in their areas.
While final responses aren't expected from campus departments until next week, Peters says he's hopeful that he won't see many - if any - plans to cut existing staff.
"We continue to hope that layoffs will be unnecessary or at least minimal," the president wrote. "This is an austerity plan, but one that lets us continue to move forward."
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