The Faculty Assembly will meet with NIU Provost Kendall Baker Wednesday to discuss the second draft of his “Working Priorities” paper.

“He has received input from various faculty groups as well as the academic planning committee and the deans,” University Council Executive Secretary Judith Bischoff said. Baker will be addressing the assembly to obtain additional faculty input, she said.

The paper was written by Baker in response to the university budget and might be used to determine resource allocations across campus. “It (the paper) will be his position on academic priorities,” Bischoff said.

A major concern expressed by faculty members about the paper’s first draft was it did not appear to be very specific in regards to reallocation.

Other concerns included to what degree the provost’s office intends to consult with elected faculty representatives about the priorities and the issue of faculty increments for professional activities, former UC executive secretary Jim Giles said.

Giles suggested to Baker that he present his paper to the Faculty Assembly and the University Council for “faculty morale and goodwill” and to gain additional input.

In other matters, NIU President John LaTourette will share with the assembly his scope statement concerning NIU’s plans to alleviate parking problems on campus, Bischoff said. “He will outline the direction NIU is going and the timelines involved,” she said.

In addition, the council will discuss the four-day work week during the summer semester. “This has been an ongoing concern throughout the university community. …When first initiated, there was concern about cost-saving measures such as air-conditioning and so forth,” Bischoff said.

In addition, Bischoff said questions were raised as to whether the university needed to be open on Fridays to conduct business with the public.

Bischoff said the operating staff has conducted polls about the four-day work week, but the university wants to see how faculty feel about it.