University Council to discuss tech updates, bylaw revision

By Jackie Nevarez

A first reading of a revision to the NIU Bylaws concerning evaluation committees for the Faculty Senate president/ University Council executive secretary will be made at today’s University Council meeting.

New business

Bill Pitney, Faculty Senate president and University Council executive secretary, said the revision would make adjustments on the individuals who serve on the evaluation committees for the faculty and supportive professional staff personnel adviser and the president of the Faculty Senate/executive secretary of the University Council.

“All we are proposing is to add an [supportive professional staff] staff member to the review committee for the faculty and [supportive professional staff] personnel adviser,” Pitney said.

For the evaluation committee of the Faculty Senate president/University Council executive secretary, the Faculty Senate suggests adding a supportive professional staff member and one operating staff member, Pitney said.

The revision was introduced in the Sept. 3 Faculty Senate meeting. It will have a second reading, as well as a vote, in next month’s Faculty Senate and University Council meetings, Oct. 1 and Oct. 8, respectively.

Comments, questions

Greg Long, allied health and communicative disorders professor, is listed in the comments and questions portion of the meeting to discuss accessibility issues.

Long’s presentation on accessibility issues comes with a document on the Center on Accessible Distance Learning, a program funded by the Department of Education. The center shares materials that may be used to make distance learning courses accessible to people with disabilities, according to the University Council agenda.

President’s announcements

Brett Coryell, vice president and chief information officer, will discuss updates to the Division of Information Technology.

Information Technology provides students, faculty and staff with services like HelpDesk, a 24/7 provided service to assist with technology support. The Anywhere Lab also provides NIU with programs like Anywhere Apps, Anywhere Files, Anywhere Print and Office 365. Office 365 was made available to download for students, faculty and staff, free of cost, beginning this fall.

To see the agenda for today’s meeting, go to bit.ly/1ujvkJB.

For more information, contact administrative assistant Pat Erickson at 815-753-1732.