Faculty Senate President Sue Willis informed faculty members at Wednesday’s meeting that Republican legislators will be on campus today for a budget meeting to discuss how NIU’s budget cuts will affect faculty.

“The budget itself is finally beginning to gel,” Willis said. “We are looking at about a 3 percent cut.”

The budget meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. at the Holmes Student Center’s Clara Sperling Skyroom.

Also, Willis said she will meet with NIU President John Peters on Tuesday to discuss NIU’s budget and tuition.

“Students should know what their tuition will be,” Willis said. “We can’t figure out the tuition without knowing the budget, but we’ll have to figure it out Tuesday.”

Patricia Henry, NIU representative to the Faculty Advisory Council to the Illinois Board of Higher Education, said NIU will endorse the Seventh Goal for the Illinois Commitment, which states “the collective efforts of Illinois colleges and universities will enhance and enrich the quality of life for all Illinois citizens.”

Jody Newman-Ryan, chairwoman of the academic affairs committee, briefed the senate about revising the faculty handbook.

“The handbook hasn’t been revised since 1990,” Ryan said, ” … and it would be nice to have some current information printed. Quite a bit has changed since 1990 with some departments not existing and others being added.”

Heavily disputed subject matter revolved around a proposed formal class cancellation policy.

Mark Cordes, chairman of faculty rights and responsibilities, said NIU does not have a written policy regarding class cancellations.

“I did mention it to the president, and he believes it is an excellent idea,” Willis said. “A statement should be available for him when talking to politicians as well as to students. It should be publicized.”

The policy gives individual faculty members their own discretion to cancel class, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the course objective.

“Whether or not we put it into the bylaws, it would be very beneficial to have it in print,” Willis said.