Three members of NIU’s governing board still are serving even though their terms expired over six months ago.

Clara Fitzpatrick, James Wright and Jerome Bender had terms that expired Jan. 21.

Gov. Jim Edgar has not renewed the Regents’ terms or declared what he is going to do about them.

“To the best of my knowledge, Gov. Edgar has not made any decisions about these positions,” said Dianne Taylor, Regents office.

The Regents whose terms expired will stay in office until they are replaced. “Anyone who serves as the Regent serves until they are replaced,” said Regent Joe Ebbesen.

When the governor makes a recommendation, each candidate is subject to a lengthy approval process.

Any recommendations by the governor are subject to confirmation by a committee which checks out each candidate and then makes recommendations to the senate, said Roderick Groves, Regents Chancellor. The senate makes the final decision.

“The senate will not be in session until late fall,” Ebbesen said. Edgar can’t appoint any new Regents until this time.

However, the Regents will not be left with any empty seats because any Regent whose term expires remains an active part of the Regents until he is replaced, said Groves.

This way there are never any empty seats on the Board of Regents, and in effect the Regents are always able to serve in a full capacity, Groves said.