Students returning to campus for the 2016 spring semester may want to bring extra sweaters.

The University Council approved the 2015-2016 academic calendar until the summer of 2016. The university will start the spring semester a week later than normal to cut money usually spent to heat buildings.

During that week, most buildings will remain unheated until students return.

President John Peters’ announcements included budget updates from time spent in Springfield. He also said the new student information system would “require a great amount of effort.”

The first stage of implementing the system will evaluate what needs to be improved for the new system’s success. Actual implementation of the database would occur in its second stage.

“We’re all looking forward to this implementation,” Peters said.

Executive Secretary Paul Stoddard said the Board of Trustees is in talks to replace Zulauf Hall’s elevators and to repair College Avenue.

Student evaluation forms, those filled out at the end of each course, underwent scrutiny by council members. Colin Booth, geology and environment professor, proposed a revised copy of the evaluation form for council review.

Booth said the Academic Policy committee “eliminated outdated instructions” for paper evaluations, but has yet to revise online versions.

Questions regarding guidelines for evaluation forms included how to submit completed forms following night classes that are let out after normal business hours, whether instructions stood out clearly to students and possibilities for using Smart Classroom technology rather than traditional “writing on the white board” fashion.

Shey Lowman, assistant Human Resources administrator, was bid the best of luck by the council after 32 years of service to the NIU community as she embarks on retirement.