Lt. Gov. George Ryan will be at NIU today to make an announcement about the university’s funding proposals.

Ryan will hold a news conference at 3 p.m. on the outdoor plaza west of Faraday Hall about the NIU funding proposals, which will be considered by the Illinois General Assembly during this legislative session.

The proposals are part of Gov. James Thompson’s science and technology plans.

Gary Skoien, executive director of the Illinois Capital Development Board, will accompany Ryan.

Following the news conference, Ryan and Skoien will briefly tour some of the science facilities in Faraday. The chemistry and physics departments use the hall.

NIU is Ryan’s last stop on a circuit which includes visits at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. Ryan will visit each school today.

In case of rain, the conference will be held inside Faraday.