NIU has seen a change in the types of diplomas being issued at commencement.

Statistics taken from Board of Regents Chancellor Roderick Groves’ July report show an increase in the number of education and liberal arts and sciences degrees awarded, while degrees issued in professional studies and business have slightly decreased.

The report was based on the number of degrees issued by NIU, Illinois State University at Normal and Sangamon State University at Springfield during 1984 and 1990.

Education degrees increased by 25 percent, from 837 issued in 1984 to 1,046 last year. Al Thurman, associate dean of the College of Education, said there are more jobs open in education.

“There have been a larger number of retirements in education,” he said.

Thurman also attributed the increase in degrees to the national reform movement going on in education. The movement’s goals are to improve salaries and working conditions for teachers, he said.

Degrees from the liberal arts and sciences college jumped from 1,682 to 1,836, a 9 percent hike.

Assistant Dean of the College of LA&S Sue Doederlein said the increase reflects national trends of increasing LA&S enrollment.

Doederlein said the increase represents a “return to the time when people didn’t look at college as an employment credential.”

More companies indicate they like LA&S students because of the need for employees with good verbal, writing and analytical skills, she said.

“These are things to build on in a changing corporate world,” Doederlein said.

ISU saw its number of LA&S degrees increase by 47 percent in the same period.

Meanwhile, the number of business degrees awarded fell by about 3 percent, or 30 degrees, during the period.

The amount of professional studies degrees dropped from 636 degrees in 1984 to 610 in 1990, a 4 percent fall.

SSU had a 60 percent jump in the number of business and management degrees issued.