Expected to address major concerns plaguing NIU’s financial future, the Board of Trustees will meet Wednesday to discuss legislation and a student fee increase.

Melanie Magara, assistant vice president of Public Affairs, said the budget crisis the state is facing has been an ongoing issue at NIU.

“I think at this upcoming board meeting, as it has been at the past couple of board meetings, everything that the trustees will be voting on is against a backdrop of a worsening picture,” Magara said.

In a letter issued by Peters on Monday to members of the NIU staff, he stated that the university will “likely sustain additional cuts.”

Peters went on to explain one of the issues being addressed at nearly every university is the “curtailment of summer school offerings.” He went on to say how NIU has avoided layoffs; however, he doesn’t think that that will be possible anymore.

Magara said that more than 10,000 students attended summer classes at NIU last year.

“To put it in perspective, because we are three-quarters through the fiscal year already, cutting 8 percent of our total year budget would mean taking nearly half of our remaining money and making it unavailable to us. It is a dramatic action, if it happens,” Magara said. “It is clear that all of the universities have serious issues to discuss.”

The BOT also will decide whether to raise housing rates on campus, as well as student fees.

As recommended by the Finance, Facilities and Operations Committee at the beginning of March, the overall student fee would be increased 6.43 percent for undergraduate students, 6.44 percent for graduate students and 6.86 percent for professional students.

The BOT will meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Holmes Student Center’s Clara Sperling Skyroom.