DeKALB – Faculty Senate discussed concerns around budget implementation and NIU’s commitment to its international students at the last meeting of the semester on Wednesday.
SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Faculty Senate President Benjamin Creed reiterated NIU’s commitment to supporting its international students, referring to a rally held on campus hours earlier which saw faculty and students come together in support of the five NIU international students who had their visas revoked.
This is in the midst of the Trump administration revoking international student visas nationwide.
“This is part of a broad national pattern where hundreds of students have lost their visas without rationale or due process,” Creed said.
Additionally, Creed referenced a letter drafted by various faculty members who urged faculty senate to sign on in support of NIU’s international students and its call to action. The letter was not included in the agenda by Faculty Senate due to it not complying with OMA (Open Meetings Act) time constraints.
“It asks that we’re aligned with the actions that the AAUP (American Association of University Professors) recommends higher institutions,” Creed said. “I want to share that I am in general agreement with the sentiments and commitment outlined in the letter and from where I sit, I believe that NIU is already taking actions in alignment with much of what is detailed in the call for action.”
The AAUP is a nonprofit organization whose stated goal is to advance academic freedom by promoting equity and democratic values in higher education.
Creed’s comments are in reference to a public statement released by the AAUP criticizing “unprecedented government overreach” by the current administration.
Creed expressed pride in NIU’s response to the outpouring of support for NIU’s international students, which was met with a round of applause.
Vice President and Provost Laurie Elish-Piper explained that NIU’s goals align with those asked for in the draft letter, including providing affected international students with immigration lawyers who offer pro-bono, or free, legal services.
“We’ve been connecting those folks (international students) with immigration lawyers who provide pro-bono legal services and we’ve been doing that in collaboration with the governor’s office and other immigration advocacy organizations and agencies across Illinois to make sure those students have access to the legal representation that they need in this situation,” Elish-Piper said.
FACULTY CONCERNS AROUND BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION
Virginia Naples, a professor of Biological Sciences at NIU, expressed her concern over the current process of budget cutting at NIU and what she sees as a lack of communication between NIU faculty and administration.
“I’m speaking today to ask for an increase in transparency, an increase in communication in both directions, and I’m also asking for an increased amount of faculty input prior to major budgetary decisions being made,” Naples said.
RESULTS OF FACULTY SENATE VOTING
Benjamin Creed retained his position as the only nominee for Faculty Senate President for 2025-26 in a 47-0 vote.
Carrie Kortegast prevailed in the election of the Faculty Personnel Advisor against Virginia Naples, claiming 20 votes to Naples’ 18.
Tiffany Puckett retained her position as the only nominee for NIU representative to the Faculty Advisory Council to the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) in a 44-2 vote.
ANNUAL ACADEMIC PROGRAM REPORT
The Annual Academic Program Report, presented by Benjamin Creed and Academic Planning Council Assistant Chair Marc Falkoff, detailed the staffing headcount, student enrollment hours, credit hours and degrees conferred from Fiscal Year 2022 to 2025.
Associate Professor of Philosophy at NIU Alicia Finch expressed her concerns with the Board of Trustees having access to NIU’s academic report data.
“I guess I’m a little bit uncomfortable if the Faculty Senate– if we as a body– don’t think that the Board of Trustees should be doing much with this snapshot of data,” Finch said. “Maybe we shouldn’t be the body that signs it.”
Creed explained that the Board of Trustees has the right to obtain this information.
“The Board of Trustees has the right to ask for this report, regardless of what we feel about it. My understanding is this is well within their scope,” Creed said.
