DeKALB | University Council discussed a contract to fix up several buildings on campus and the effects of the minimum wage increase on the university.

Paul Stoddard, president of the Faculty Senate, said the approved contract would “replace windows and doors, [and] install motion sensors, water conservation and air handling needs in various buildings on campus.” The improvements on the buildings will save the university on energy expenses.

Stoddard said the contract is win-win because the university makes no up-front payment and instead will pay off the contract with the money the university will save on energy usage from the improvements.

“After the contract, 20 to 30 years, is done, we get to keep the upgrades,” Stoddard said. “Literally, these things cost us nothing.”

NIU President John Peters said the bill to raise minimum wage will cost NIU about $1 million. Gov. Blagojevich has not yet signed the bill that will raise the minimum wage in Illinois to $7.50. Because student workemake up a large portion of minimum wage workers, the university will experience some backlash from the bill.

“Historically, NIU has been able to provide a student who needs a job with a job,” Peters said. “If you have a million-dollar shortfall across units you hire fewer students. That makes our salary commitment even more important.”

Peters said the wage increase is not accompanied with appropriations to compensate for the difference in pay.

The University Council also briefly reflected on a presentation given to the Illinois Board of Higher Education about the growing costs of higher education. The report associates the rising cost of tuition not with the rising cost of education, but rather on the state’s financial contributions to higher eduction, which dropped heavily in the ‘90s.

Peters said costs have been shifted away from the state.

“You haven’t had costs skyrocketing, but you have had a transposition on who pays for the cost,” Peters said. “That burden is now on students and parents. I think our alumni groups, our students and our parents should scream about this.”

Dan Stone is a Higher Education beat reporter for the Northern Star.