Increasing enrollment and statements from the Illinois legislature were the major topics of discussion as the Higher Learning Commission gave NIU faculty the chance to offer feedback as part of the ongoing reaccreditation process at a meeting Monday night.

Nancy Talburt, vice provost for Academic Affairs at University of Arkansas-Fayetteville; Cherly Casper, professor of economics at Kent State University; Peter Kasvinsky, dean of graduate studies at Youngstown State University; and John Haeger, president of Northern Arizona University, listened as 20 faculty members offered opinions on NIU at meeting at the Holmes Student Center’s Heritage Room.

The commission is part of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, which is the group that accredits NIU.

Talburt, chair of the panel, said she was impressed by NIU’s sensitivity to the needs of the region, the organization of human resources and the faculty grievance process.

Peter Gutierrez, an NIU associate psychology professor, said increased enrollment has proven to be a double-edged sword.

“We are benefitting from the increased enrollment,” he said. “However, we have all the students we need. At some point, I think we are going to be drowning in undergrads.”

Several faculty members expressed concern over comments made by James Kaplan, chairman of the Illinois Board of Higher Education, in a recent Chicago Tribune article. Kaplan said faculty should attend conferences on their own time and questioned the need for some research grants.

Beth Miller, an NIU professor of family and child studies, said she was saddened by what Kaplan and members of the Illinois legislature have been saying in the media.

“I am bothered by the external perception by the legislature that faculty aren’t pulling their weight,” she said.

Talburt said she understood the frustration, but cautioned those in attendance not to take the criticism too seriously.

“You can’t take the name-calling to heart,” she said.

Joe Jeffery, an NIU professor of computer science, said he wasn’t worried about criticism.

“It’s not my heart that I am concerned about,” he said. “It’s my pocketbook.”

Other concerns the faculty had were staff diversity and assessment tests imposed on primary and second education.