Next Fiscal Year

Budgeting for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27)

Achieving a structurally balanced, sustainable budget for FY27 requires divisions and colleges to build on FY26 efforts and continue to carefully and strategically consider all of its activities, outcomes, and resources. Rather than assuming FY26 funding will automatically carry forward, university goals require that we evaluate what we do, why we do it, and how well it supports the university’s mission and institutional priorities. Doing so will help divisions:

• Clarify core functions by identifying what services are provided, who they serve, and which external partners are required to carry them out.
• Assess effectiveness and impact by presenting both key quantitative outcomes (metrics, participation levels, compliance measures, revenue generation) and qualitative impact (contributions to student success, inclusive excellence, faculty excellence, research, community engagement etc.).
• Understand true costs by summarizing financial impact, noting whether expenses are recurring or one-time, and providing divisional recommendations related to core functions.
• Prioritize strategically by ranking functions according to their alignment with NIU’s institutional priorities, ensuring that resources are directed toward what most advances our mission.

NIU Timeline and Process for FY27 Budget Development and Approvals

NIU leadership is committed to achieving an academically responsive and fiscally responsible budget and doing so in a manner that is collaborative and transparent. NIU senior leaders will continue to communicate and engage with university leadership; shared governance groups, including Faculty Senate, Resource, Space and Budgeting (RSB), the councils and the President’s Budget Roundtable; at board meetings; and in all-employee communications.

The information below details the process, including steps taken and anticipated steps to come.

Timeline and Process

• •

  October 21

  Provost Elish-Piper and CFO Middlemist present FY27 process and timeline to NIU’s administrative and academic leaders.

• •

  Week of Nov 3

   Preliminary Budget guidance sent to Vice Presidents.

• •

  November 13

  NIU submits proposed FY27 appropriation budget requests to the NIU Board of Trustees and the IBHE; FY25 Actuals presented at Board of Trustees’ Finance, Audit, Compliance, Facilities and Operations Committee meeting.

• •

  Week of Nov 24

  Divisions submit core functions summaries; budget training sessions offered to each division and college.

• •

  Weeks of Dec 1 and 8

  Shared governance engagement and progress discussions.

• •

  Feb 1–13, 2026

  Divisions submit proposed FY27 budgets.

• •

  Week of Mar 16

  Divisional budget meetings & possible revisions.

• •

  Week of Apr 27

  Budget options/scenarios presented to senior leadership and committees.

• •

  Week of May 4

  Shared governance feedback session.

• •

  Week of May 11

  Leadership develops final budget recommendation for Board of Trustees.

• •

  June 4, 2026

  NIU submits FY27 budget to Board of Trustees for consideration during public meeting.