NIU President John Peters shared the lack of information available with the University Council yesterday regarding Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s plans for higher education.

“The information is a little sparse,” Peters said. “The governor is still putting together his team, which is why it’s a late start. Not much of it is any good news, regarding the new governor and legislatures decisions, but these are the facts.”

Peters said that the previous night he considered what to include in the afternoon meeting, and he conjured up three As: access, accountability and administrative efficiency; revolving around the faculty and administrative roles in the upcoming decisions that would be coming their way.

“What we do know, what is fact, is that there is a $4.8 billion deficit, with $1.25 billion for the current fiscal year of 2003, which could possibly grow,” Peters said. “The budget for 2004 is still up in there air, but it is a reality that there will be a several billion dollar gap to look forward to.

“Another relevant fact for us is that the governor appointed a new budget director, John Filand, who has a strong background in accounting,” Peters said. “He is very smart, and I have heard good things about his ability; he will do his job, though.”

Peters also mentioned that there will be a link on NIU’s Web site, www.niu.edu, regarding the budget issue, clarifications of rumors, Peters’ own thoughts, as well as other issues as they unfold.

“I do believe we’re in for a challenge,” Peters said. “I think we will have to call upon fluid funds from alums, students, faculty and friends.”

Patricia Henry, NIU representative to the Faculty Advisory Council to the Illinois Board of Higher Education, spoke about the FAC’s proposed shared governance with the faculty and administrators in order to meet the demands of the university.

“Basically, there is layer upon layer of assessing assessment,” Henry said. “What the FAC wants is full cooperation with everyone to meet these needs.”

There are four key areas to consider that include clarifying administrators’ roles, identifying rights and responsibilities in appropriate governance roles, helping to develop budget priorities and contributing to the decision-making process, Henry said.

“Cuts seem to come out of the sky and we do not want to see that,” Henry said.