Two committees from the Board of Trustees will discuss the approval of academic and financial decisions for fiscal year 2005 at 9 a.m. today at the Holmes Student Center’s Regency Room.

Although the full BOT will not meet until March 18, the preliminary meetings can be just as important, said Melanie Magara, assistant vice president of public affairs.

“A committee approval usually signals a full board agreeing to the proposal,” Magara said.

While anyone can attend the meeting, speaking on a topic in front of the committees requires prior approval.

Requests to speak must be made 24 to 48 hours in advance of the meeting, Magara said.

The BOT’s academic affairs, student affairs and personnel committee will look to move the master of science education degree program from NIU-Naperville to Region 10 in Chicago. It also will review requests to add three new emphases to the bachelor of science in technology degree and will review 31 faculty members’ requests to take sabbaticals during the 2004-’05 academic year.

An update on the Higher Learning Commission’s reaccreditation visit will be presented, and the annual report on oral English proficiency for 2002-’03 will be reviewed.

The finance, facilities and operations committee will review room and board rate recommendations, international programs division contract renewals and Douglas Hall’s capital project, among other topics.

Reviews of the state-mandated undergraduate tuition policy requirements, adjustments to salary bases and purchases from October to December 2003 also are on the agenda.