Dear Leadership Team,

I am writing today to provide an update on our ongoing efforts to advance NIU’s goals and priorities in Springfield. While engaging legislators and state officials is a year-round effort, the last several weeks have been particularly active.

In March, more than 50 students, colleagues, alumni and donors participated in NIU’s Advocacy Day, meeting with members of the House and Senate to directly share the impact NIU is having on student success. I provided testimony to the Senate Appropriations-Education Committee on March 31 and to the House Appropriations-Higher Education Committee on April 9.  Tomorrow, members of our faculty and staff will volunteer their time in Springfield for the Higher Education Advocacy Day, sponsored by the Coalition for Transforming Higher Education and led by Partnership for College Completion.

Our message is clear – enacting a more equitable higher education funding formula is critical to each university being able to serve students and deliver on mission. Small increases to appropriations do not keep pace with inflation and personnel costs while disproportionately affecting institutions that serve students who are first-generation and/or from under-resourced and underserved communities. We also call for regulatory modernization and capital projects to be funded and executed on a timely basis. 

While it is unlikely that the proposed funding formula or any equitable alternative to the current allocation method will be in place for FY27, we will remain resolute in pursuing meaningful investment. Here on campus, budget and scenario planning for FY27 continue. The submitted budget requests significantly exceeded FY25’s actuals and FY26’s submissions. Over the next few weeks, college and division leaders will recalibrate their submissions in order to meet the university goal of a balanced budget that was approved by the Board of Trustees in December. At the same time, it is imperative that leaders at all levels adhere to set FY26 budget allocations, continue to monitor and control expenditures and be judicious with university resources.  

I am grateful for your unwavering commitment to our students and our mission, and appreciate your advocacy on behalf of NIU.

Together Forward,

Lisa C. Freeman
President