Budget cuts, the search for a new athletic director and discussion of the summer workweek were highlights of Wednesday’s University Council meeting.

While most state universities will receive a 2 percent decrease to its 2005 budget, NIU will face only a 1.5 percent decrease because Gov. Rod Blagojevich allocated $500,000 to the Rockford campus.

Funding for building improvements has not been reviewed yet by Blagojevich, and NIU President John Peters said not to expect much.

“The governor is not in a position to put large amounts into capital improvements,” Peters said.

Stevens Building renovations currently are at No. 12 on the Illinois Board of Higher Education’s priority list, but NIU administrators said they wish it were higher.

University Council Executive Secretary Sue Willis encouraged students, faculty and staff to write letters to contact legislators about the importance of not decreasing the budget.

Peters said he is looking for a replacement for Athletic Director Cary Groth, who will leave NIU for an athletic director position at the University of Nevada at Reno. Peters said he will use a consultant when choosing a new director to help benchmark characteristics of the program so it continues to grow.

“This is a national search, but it doesn’t mean it’s not open to people who made our program what it is,” Peters said.

Provost Ivan Legg said the search for the vice president of Student Affairs is going well. Two prospects will be brought on campus for interviews, he said.

Legg said a search committee spent some time at O’Hare International Airport this week conducting “airport interviews” with prospective candidates.

Continuing a four-day summer workweek also was discussed. The Resources, Space and Budget Committee reported that the university community welcomed the change last year. However, Peters insists the decision is not a standard university policy.

“It was a budgetary emergency strategy,” Peters said.