NIU is one step closer in getting a campus extension in Rockford.

Under a bill signed last Friday by Gov. James Thompson, NIU is authorized to study sites for a branch campus in Rockford upon the completion of a study of Rockford’s educational needs.

Ken Beasley, assistant to the president, said the site study will begin when the study to determine Rockford’s educational needs is completed some time this semester. The educational needs study is being conducted by NIU, Rockford College and Rock Valley College.

Marti Keeker, a legislative aid to Sen. Joyce Holmberg, D-Rockford, the bill’s sponsor, said the senator felt “good” about the governor’s support of the bill.

The bill has been directed to the site committee to first consider available space and buildings in Rockford, including Rock Valley College. After recent Rockford public school closings, Haight Elementary School and neighboring Kennedy Middle School also are possible sight considerations, Keeker said.

Holmberg’s interest is to provide easy access to classes not available in Rockford. Keeker said Holmberg wants to avoid “duplicating” services available at RC or RVC.

This was the second bill sent to Gov. Thompson’s desk about an NIU branch in Rockford. The first bill, authorizing $500,000 for the site selection and downpayment on the property, was vetoed because it was not in the higher education budget and because of lobbying efforts by the Federation of Independent Colleges and Universities of Illinois, a group of private colleges.

Beasley said the educational need study is funded through a grant from the Illinois Board of Higher Education and is called a HECA —higher education cooperative act—grant.

“Hopefully, the money will come from the state in the future,” to continue the site selection process, Beasley said.

Student Association President Huda Scheidelman said the move is “definitely a plus. Any extension is a positive move,” she said.

Holmberg’s office has launched a campaign to override Thompson’s earlier veto at the fall veto session of the General Assembly. “We are urging the callers to our office to send letters and to call their own legislators,” to show their support, Keeker said.