Rockford College, a four-year liberal arts and science school north of DeKalb, asked the state of Illinois for $500,000 to stay afloat before students — with tuition checks in hand — arrive for the fall semester.

In mid-June, The Rockford Register Star reported that Rockford College owes $10.4 million to various lenders, and needs $1.6 million to make payments. According to the Register Star’s report, Gov. Rod Blagojevich plans to award the half million dollar grant to the private college, but first wants to know exactly what the funds will be used for.

The publication also stated that Rockford College is exploring partnerships with several area institutions and possibly a merger with NIU to keep it financially stable.

NIU president John Peters released a statement to the Northern Star Monday, pointing out that NIU and Rockford College have enjoyed “institutional relations that are collegial and mutally supportive” for some time, but did not say whether NIU plans to engage in a a merger with the school.

Peters said he recently met with Rockford College’s new president, Richard Kneedler, and discussed “NIU’s commitment to the partnership in the Rockford region.”

Kneedler did not return numerous calls to his office since June 19.

NIU already has an Outreach Center in Rockford. The facility, NIU-Rockford, is located several miles east of Rockford College and holds 13 classrooms and a 250-seat lecture hall that are used for meetings and classes that target non-conventional students.

Peters addressed recently-published reports of Rockford College’s financial woes and the idea of a merger by stating, “This is certainly not the first time NIU’s name has been linked with that of other colleges and universities; in fact, we have over the years been approached by numerous entities interested in such arrangements.”

Peters added that he believed Rockford College’s financial troubles were temporary.

“We have great confidence in Rockford College and look forward to many more years of enduring partnership with this unique institution,” Peters said.

What kind of partnership both schools engage in, if any at all, remains to be seen.

Peters’ statement:

Northern Illinois University is proud to count Rockford College among its many academic partners. Joined both by proximity and shared membership in the Higher Education Alliance of the Rock River Region (HEARRR), NIU and Rockford College have long enjoyed institutional relations that are collegial and mutually supportive.

In that spirit, I recently met with Rockford College’s new president, Dr. Richard Kneedler. I was extremely impressed with Dr. Kneedler and his understanding of the role Rockford College plays in our region. He is committed to improving the institution’s financial standing and long-term viability, and has begun that effort by reaching out to College partners for advice and counsel. I reaffirmed NIU’s commitment to the partnership and the Rockford region, and offered my personal assistance to Dr. Kneedler as he continues Rockford College’s move toward greater financial sustainability.

Published reports about Rockford College and its current financial challenge mentioned the possibility of more formalized partnerships with various institutions, up to and including institutional mergers. This is certainly not the first time NIU’s name has been linked with that of other colleges and universities; in fact, we have over the years been approached by numerous entities interested in such arrangements. Yet the challenges faced by Rockford College appear to be temporary, and its support among students, alumni and community appears strong. We have great confidence in Rockford College and look forward to many more years

of enduring partnership with this unique institution.