DeKALB | The Stevens Building has moved once again to the forefront of the university’s attention, as discussed Thursday at the Board of Trustees’ Finance, Facilities and Operations Committee.

In its preliminary budget request for fiscal year 2008, NIU asked for about $19.2 million from the state of Illinois in order to provide new heating and ventilation systems, among other renovations, to the building.

The budget request also calls for renovations in other campus buildings, including Reavis, Watson and Montgomery Halls.

NIU also asked for about $18.4 million to renovate Gilbert Hall into potential usable office and academic space. The building originally was designed as a dormitory and would require extensive renovations, including the removal of asbestos, before it could again become usable, according to a university report.

The fiscal year 2008 budget, which would go into effect July 1, 2008, is now pending approval from the university’s full board of trustees, which meets Sept. 21. Following that, it will be sent to the Illinois Board of Higher Education and later the governor. If the request is reduced after any of those stages, the difference must be provided by NIU if it wishes to continue any potential projects.

Although NIU has been waiting for funding for the Stevens Building for almost a decade, assistant director of public affairs Joe King said it is not unusual for projects to stay on a list for state funding for quite some time.

“Every year we submit a list of projects that need to be done,” King said. “These are all very important projects; it’s getting to the point of life safety issues, and we need to make a strong case to the state that we need funding for these things.”

A new master of science degree also was given preliminary approval by the Board of Trustees’ Academic Affairs Committee. The degree would be available in family and consumer sciences, but first needs to be approved by the BOT’s full board Sept. 21.

“Many people who teach family and consumer nutrition sciences in high schools and middle schools need to keep their degrees up to date,” King said. “They can use this as a tool to earn an advanced degree.”

Desiree Smith is the Campus Editor for the Northern Star.