NIU is proposing a four-day work week for the summer to save money because of budget cuts.

Sue Willis, president of the Faculty Senate and executive secretary of the University Council, said summer classes run Monday through Thursday already, so the change will not affect summer classes.

The proposed change, however, will affect faculty and staff, she said. But no one will take a pay cut.

Faculty and staff work 37 and one-half hour work weeks, she said. The four-day work week will require them to work longer days.

The physical plant, police service and food service in residence halls will not be affected, Willis said.

Beverly Espe, assistant director of the University Health Service and supportive professional staff council president, said the Health Service may be impacted.

The proposal is intended to save on operational costs for keeping buildings open, Espe said. The university also is looking at other operational cost-saving measures, such as closing buildings at certain times of the night and closing buildings altogether during the summer months.

The proposal was presented to Espe by Steven Cunningham, associate vice president of administration for Human Resources, she said.

Cunningham was unavailable for comment.

David Ballantine, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, said he doesn’t foresee a significant impact on the professors and instructors of NIU.

Some of the faculty comes in Monday through Thursday and choose to work longer days, Ballantine said.

Doris Macdonald, associate professor of English, said some problems that may arise could be day care arrangements for the children of faculty and staff or employees who are unable to work longer days because of health problems, she said.

“I don’t think it’s going to affect the research mission of individual departments,” she said.

Espe said the details have not been completely worked out, but an official statement may be made on Monday.