NIU leadership is committed to creating and sustaining budgets that are academically responsive and fiscally responsible; that reflect our dedication to being student-centric and equity-minded; that demonstrate an ongoing investment in our faculty and staff; and that align with our mission, vision and values.
NIU’s 2025 University Goals (DOCX) codify the university’s strategic priorities. Accordingly, these annual and multiyear goals are guided by our Strategic Action Planning Framework (PDF). In no particular order of importance, the themes associated with our planning framework are:
- Empowerment and Shared Responsibility
- Student Recruitment, Student Success and Student Experience
- Academic Excellence and Curriculum Innovation
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
- Research, Scholarship, Artistry and Engagement
- Resource Development and Fiscal Responsibility.
The themes help not only to connect the goals to our university to mission, vision and values, but also ensure that they reflect our priorities and highlight opportunities for synergy and coordinated effort.
General goals and specific objectives related to resource development and fiscal sustainability are included under each theme. It is imperative that the university community work together to achieve a balanced budget in FY26 by eliminating the existing structural budget deficit. In doing this, we will recognize that the value of our teaching, scholarship and engagement cannot be described simply in financial terms, but also acknowledge that our limited resources must be directed to meet the most critical needs of our students and pressing demands of our society. The status quo is not an option. Our Huskie community must commit to change.
Incorporating recommendations from the 2022 Budget Planning Resource Group (PDF) as well as guidance from the President’s Budget Roundtable, and the ad-hoc Resource, Space and Budget committee formed in November 2024, NIU is adopting an inclusive and iterative all-funds budget planning process that aligns resources with strategic priorities over annual and multiyear time frames and fosters financial sustainability through a combination of revenue generation, expense reduction and resource reallocation. To achieve a structurally balanced budget by Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26), administrative and academic leaders are working collaboratively across campus, taking steps to manage recurring revenues and expenses and incentivize new and innovative revenue generation. Essential to achieving our goals will be the insights of shared governance and all employees recognizing that they play a role.