At least two husband and wife teams work at NIU in possible violation of Board of Regents’ regulations cited by an Auditor General’s report.

The situation is among key findings regarding NIU from the 1990 Office of the Auditor General report for the Illinois House Appropriations Committee.

The report stated “The wife of a college dean is currently employed in the department in which her husband works. The dean has a considerable influence over the wife’s employment status. University policy allows this practice because there is a level of supervision between the two related employees.”

According to a review of the NIU telephone directory, the wives of two deans work in areas headed by their husbands.

Nancy Norris works as a research associate in the Center for Governmental Studies, which is attached to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. James Norris is the dean of LA&S.

Carol Brown is an instructor in the Management Department of the College of Business. Richard Brown is dean of the College of Business.

James Norris said he thinks the auditor general could be wrong because the rule actually states that spouses who work in the same unit can’t participate in joint decisions.

Trying to enforce such a rule might even infringe on women’s rights because “you cannot even ask a woman if she’s married,” Norris said.

Norris added NIU likes to hire husbands and wives because it might influence them to stay at the school longer.

Wives of two other deans work at NIU but not in the colleges or divisions headed by their husbands. They are:

Vera Lankford, wife of James Lankford, dean of the College of Professional Studies. Vera Lankford is a secretary in the office of Educational Services and Programs.

Carol Zar, wife of Jerrold Zar, Dean of the Graduate School. Carol Zar is a research associate in the Center for Governmental Studies.