The University Council
(NIU Constitution, Article 1 and NIU Bylaws, Article 1)

Membership of the University Council 

NIU Constitution, Article 1

The University Council, in accordance with Board of Trustees Policies, has the power to:

1.1 Participate in the selection of faculty committees.

1.2 Advise the president on the appointment of administrative officers, including the selection of a president.

1.3 Participate and advise the president and the vice presidents in preparing and administering the annual budget, setting goals and priorities for the utilization of resources, and providing periodic evaluation of progress in achieving goals and priorities.

1.4 Participate and advise the president in determining basic policies with respect to campus planning and building construction and utilization.

1.5 Aid in developing basic policies for the university.

1.6 Establish such standing and temporary committees as may be necessary for the discharge of its responsibilities; to define the membership, jurisdiction, and authority of such committees; to resolve disputes among committees thus established; and to act on the reports submitted by such committees.

1.7 Advise the president, and the vice presidents, on policies affecting the quality of student life on campus.

NIU Bylaws

1.1 Composition

1.1.1 The University Council shall consist of voting representatives of the university faculty, students, staff, and administration as follows: 

Eight tenure-track faculty members, one from each degree-granting college and University Libraries. Such tenure-track faculty from each degree-granting college and University Libraries, eligible to either be elected or to elect, shall include those who hold the rank of professor, associate professor, or assistant professor, and shall exclude the president, the president's staff, the executive vice president and provost, the executive vice president and provost's staff, the deans, and the deans’ staffs.

Two instructors as defined in the instructors’ collective bargaining agreement.

One clinical faculty member selected by the Council of Deans.

Four student members selected by the Student Government Association and one graduate student member selected by the Graduate Council.

Four supportive professional staff members selected by the Supportive Professional Staff Council.

Five operating staff members selected by the Operating Staff Council.

Four administrators including: the president of the university, the executive vice president and provost, the chief financial officer; and one dean selected by and from the deans.

1.1.2. The Faculty Senate president shall serve as the nonvoting chair.

1.1.3. The University Council shall have at least one elected member who is a member of a minority racial group.

1.1.4 Subject to the call of the University Council, other persons, serving as consultants, shall have the right to participate in the deliberations of the University Council, but shall not have the right to vote. 

1.2 Terms of Office

1.2.1 Persons elected to the position of University Council voting member shall serve terms of three years, except for persons elected as student representatives and operating staff representatives who shall serve terms of one year. The university president, the executive vice president and provost, and the chief financial officer shall serve for the duration of their term of office. The dean representative and the Faculty Senate president/University Council chair shall serve terms of one year.

Meets monthly on Wednesdays during the academic year at 3 p.m.
2025-26 meeting schedule: Sep 10, Oct 8, Nov 5, Dec 3, Jan 28, Feb 25, Apr 1, Apr 29.

Membership of the University Council 

Membership

MEMBERSHIP

2024-2025

2025-2026

2026-2027

2027-2028

Faculty-BUS

Eunha Myung

Eunha Myung

 

Faculty-EDU

Steve Howell

Steve Howell

 

Faculty-EET

Kevin Martin

Jenn-Terng Gau

Jenn-Terng Gau

Jenn-Terng Gau

Faculty-HHS

Jane Rose Njue

Jane Rose Njue

 

Faculty-LAS

Carol Walther Natalie Joy

Natalie Joy

Natalie Joy

Faculty-LAW

Marc Falkoff

Matt Timko for Falkoff

Marc Falkoff

Marc Falkoff

Faculty-LIB

Dee Anna Phares

Dee Anna Phares

 

Faculty-VPA

Greg Beyer

Greg Beyer

 

Instructor

Taylor Hartman

Scott Stalcup for Hartman

 

Instructor

TBD

Matt Benning

 

Clinical Faculty

Wendy Vaughn

Wendy Vaughn

 

Student-SGA

Manny Corpuz

Nathan Gonzalez 

 

 

Student-SGA

Nathan Gonzalez

Ja'Kobe Jones

 

 

Student-SGA

 

 

Student-SGA

 

 

 

Student-GC

Fall-Yunlong Wang
Spring-TBD

 

 

 

SPS

Felicia Bohanon

Felicia Bohanon

SPS

Anthony Preston for Sutcliffe

Anthony Preston for Sutcliffe

 

 

SPS

Tom O'Grady

Tom O'Grady

 

SPS

Shannon Stoker

Shannon Stoker

 

Operating Staff

Natasha Johnson Jim Slagstad

 

Operating Staff

Jay Monteiro

Jay Monteiro

 

Operating Staff

Holly Nicholson Holly Nicholson

 

Operating Staff

Cindy Robinson

Cindy Robinson

 

Operating Staff

Patty Wallace Tiffany Morris

 

President


Lisa Freeman

Lisa Freeman

 

     

Provost


Laurie Elish-Piper
Laurie Elish-Piper

 

 

CFO

George Middlemist

George Middlemist

 

 

Dean

Bill Pitney

Bob Brinkmann

FS President (nonvoting)

Ben Creed

Ben Creed

 

 

Consultants (nonvoting)

2024-2025

2025-2026

2026-2027

2027-2028

FAC to IBHE representative

Tiffany Puckett

Tiffany Puckett

Tiffany Puckett Tiffany Puckett

Parliamentarian

Ferald Bryan

Ferald Bryan

 

 

Contact Us

University Council
Altgeld Hall 103

Benjamin Creed
President, Faculty Senate
Chair, University Council
bcreed@niu.edu

Pat Erickson
Administrative Assistant
pje@niu.edu

Tiffany Puckett
Faculty Advisory Council to the IBHE
tpuckett@niu.edu

Carrie Kortegast
Faculty Personnel Advisor
ckortegast@niu.edu