A Board of Regents committee might have violated the Illinois Open Meetings Act by failing to notify the public of an unscheduled Oct. 6 proposed policy changes discussion.

The act states, in part: “Public notice of any special meeting except a meeting held in the event of a bona fide emergency, or of any rescheduled regular meeting, or of any reconvened meeting, shall be given at least 24 hours before such meeting.”

The Regents govern NIU, Illinois State University in Normal and Sangamon State University in Springfield.

In an interview the week of the meeting, board chairman Carol Burns said the meeting, to be held over the phone, would be “later this week.” Drafts of modifications to the changes were sent to committee consultants Oct. 4 in order to prepare for the Oct. 6 meeting. Although the day of the meeting was known, it was not officially announced and no meeting time was set.

Regents Chancellor Roderick Groves said “based on legal interpretation” the meeting was not official because there was no vote taken.

However, the act does not require a vote be taken in order to an official meeting. The board’s attorney could not be reached for comment.

Burns said the meeting was conducted over the phone because of time and financial constraints.