After hearing Gov. Rod Blagojevich announce his budget address Wednesday afternoon, NIU President John Peters quickly responded to how the pending cuts will affect NIU and that summer classes will go on as scheduled.

Peters addressed the University Council, informing it of the possibilities that may come, also branching out on a statement he sent out to the NIU community that afternoon.

“Let’s get these students registered,” Peters said.

In his statement, Peters said NIU must return nearly 2.9 percent of its fiscal year 2003 budget, or about $3.2 million.

Peters expressed relief to the council; however, he made it apparent that a lot still must be done to meet this reduction.

“While that amount is certainly preferable to the nearly $8.6 million that an 8 percent cut would have meant, it will still require us to undertake serious cost-cutting measures in the final three months of out the fiscal year,” he said.

He shared with members of the council, as well as through his statement, what he thinks will be required to accommodate the overall cuts.

Peters has asked NIU vice presidents to consider a four-day work week during the summer months, consolidating classes to allow closure of some buildings, an extended winter shutdown and a reduction in maintenance and repairs on campus, he said.

A four-day work week would allow savings in utilities such as electricity and air-conditioning, he said.

“We need to save every dime we can while protecting what we do in the classroom. I would like to see it work because it saves money and it saves jobs,” Peters said. “None of this is going to be easy, but consider the alternatives and it’s doable.”

Peters said the administration is concentrating on possibly closing down buildings this summer, including DuSable Hall.

“We’re looking at a range of buildings, but DuSable seems to be the one we can save the most money without the most disruption,” he said.

NIU’s financial situation for fiscal ’04 isn’t as promising, however.

The budget for fiscal ’04 will be cut by 8.2 percent, meaning NIU will begin the new year with $9.1 million less in state funding than the beginning of this year.

Peters said in his statement that NIU has endured budget cuts and cost increases totaling more than $13 million. With the recent announcement of cuts for fiscal ’04, NIU’s budget will be at the same level it was during the 1997-’98 school year, but now with the inflation that wasn’t present at that time.

Blagojevich said in his speech that financial aid for students will remain unaffected. He also said MAP grant funding will remain protected.

“Through all of this, I think we are going to persevere,” Peters said.

Peters also said NIU may need to limit admissions to the university in order to maintain a healthy balance between students and faculty.

“There’s a point at which we can’t take any more students or else our quality flies right out the window,” he said.

NIU already has been keeping deadlines on applications strict, Peters said.

A tuition increase for next year is inevitable; however, Peters is not sure how much of an increase will come, he said.

“We will definitely have a tuition increase this year, and we are discussing what is going to be a fair amount,” he said.

A vote on Blagojevich’s budget is expected around the end of May.