NIU Provost Kendall Baker will meet with the Faculty Assembly today to discuss his “Working Priorities” paper which was written in response to the university budget and funding priorities across campus.

In addition, Baker will be discussing the physics doctorate withdrawal from the Illinois Board of Higher Education, University Council Executive Secretary Judith Bischoff said.

“Baker will be answering questions from assembly members and also will be receiving their reactions on his paper,” Bischoff said.

The purpose of the paper is to stimulate discussion across campus about funding priorities, Baker said. Baker recently asked college deans for budget proposals within their colleges in order to determine the resource needs of the colleges. Bischoff said Baker also will present his paper to the faculty at a forum Nov. 10.

Upon request of Gordon Dorn, NIU’s chapter president of the American Association of University Professors, the Faculty Assembly also will discuss the possible formation of a faculty senate, Bischoff said. Dorn spoke to University Council members about the possible faculty senate at their Oct. 21 meeting. However, council members determined that more information was needed about the senate’s structure before furthur discussion could be held.

Bischoff said the assembly also will discuss NIU’s parking situation. “We have developed a list of about 15 suggestions concerning parking. Hopefully, we will come up with some feasible recommendations to present to James Harder, interim vice president for business and operations, and NIU’s parking committee,” Bischoff said.

In addition, the assembly will discuss three items which are scheduled to come up for action at the Nov. 11 UC meeting. These include changing the name and duties of the Grants-in-Aid Committee, the change in wording of two bylaws in NIU’s constitution and bylaws and the graduate reinstatement policy.