NIU President Calls Public University Model Outdated

Observations and comments about state government by State Representative Robert W. Pritchard.

Saying the public university model of the 20th century no longer fits, Northern Illinois University (NIU) President John Peters outlined a bold plan for reshaping NIU to the House Higher Education Committee last week.  He said the NIU Vision 2020 planning now underway will help the university evolve into an even more efficient, fiscally sustainable institution less dependent on the state.

Peters said the combination of reduced and delayed state funding for NIU combined with nearly $92 million in unfunded mandates in the last decade have forced the university to cut academic programs, faculty and equipment expenses while also raising student fees.  Students have changed dramatically from the past; many are working adults, nearly 40 percent transfer from a community college, and a growing number of high school graduates are unprepared for college.

State funding for NIU now totals less than a quarter of its operating budget and payments are unpredictable.  As a result, Peters said NIU must look for other sources of revenue.  The Vision 2020 program will help the university become more innovative and entrepreneurial.

Despite this, Peters acknowledges that the challenges that lie before NIU and the state, if not addressed adequately, will result in irreversible damage to not only NIU but all of higher education.