Below are profiles of people in this story, all according to Steve Cunningham and the NIU Working Papers from FY00 to FY08.

Though the Fiscal Year 2009 Working Papers are not yet available, Cunningham provided the most current salary figures.

KAREN BAKER is currently the assistant vice president for human resource administration. She was hired, through a search, by Steve Cunningham in March 1999, as the assistant director for investigations. Cunningham chaired the search for Baker’s position. He said there were 20 candidates. Prior to that, Baker was as a financial aid counselor from 1988 to 1996.

Cunningham said Baker’s $17,000 increase from FY03 to FY04 came from a title change, though the working papers show no title change for Baker.

“Sometimes a title change is made later,” Cunningham said. “The title was not put in the system until after the close of that fiscal year. They put in the salary change but not the title change. That’s just the people who do the inputting.”

When Cunningham gave Baker extra responsibilities, her salary changes went from temporary to permanent, he said.

Baker’s salary is consistent with the market and other assistant vice-presidents, Cunningham said.

FY00: $48,780

FY01: $63,288

FY02: $71,204

FY03: $80,000

FY04: $97,440

FY05: $104,400

FY06: $122,220

FY07: $125,892

FY08: $139,512

FY09: $142,296

JAMES BRUNSON has been the assistant vice-president for diversity and equity in student affairs since July 2005. He reports to Brian Hemphill and was hired by Hemphill in his current position. Prior to that, Brunson was the assistant director of residential life. He was originally hired as a residence hall advisor in August 1980. His wife, Kathleen Brunson, also works at NIU, as the director of financial aid. (FY08: $87,780)

(as assistant director of Stevenson Hall operations)

FY03: $54,240

FY04: $55,054

FY05: $58,416

(as assistant vice president for diversity and equity in student affairs)

FY06: $80,004

FY07: $84,084

FY08: $89,868

FY09: $95,892

THOMAS KREPEL has been the assistant to the president since August 2005. He was brought in by Peters at that time, without a search. Prior to his accepting the job at NIU, Krepel was the president at Chadron State College in Nebraska.

FY07: $139,056

FY08: $146,064

FY09: $148,980

RANDI NAPIENTEK has been a research associate for enrollment services since January 2008. She reports to Brent Gage, who reports to Earl Seaver. Gage hired Napientek. She was temporary for two months.

FY09: $35,004

CRAIG WILLIAMS is currently the associate director of operations for ITS. He reports to Kim Hensley, who reports to Wally Czerniak, who reports to Anne Kaplan. He was hired in 1999 as an information technology coordinator by Al Mueller.

FY01: $56,988

FY02: $70,000

FY03: $70,000

FY04: $76,125

FY05: $81,156

FY06: $85,248

FY07: $89,040

FY08: $94,632

FY09: $98,460

DAVE LaBANC has been the interim director of housing and operations since August 2008. He reports to Michael Stang who reports to Hemphill, Cunningham said. Hemphill selected him. A search is being conducted currently for a permanent appointment.

FY09 (as a temporary employee): $75,000