NIU students now have complete representation on the University Council.

University Council Executive Secretary Norman Magden approved three student representatives Wednesday to take their seats on the UC. Previously, all eight student positions representing each college on campus were not filled.

Student representatives Jennifer Sarro, Steve Timper and John Butler were appointed by Student Association President Paul Middleton and a Student Advisory Committee made up of present UC student members.

“The SA has been working very hard all semester to fill these seats,” Magden said. Although the new representatives could not vote during the meeting, they will be able to vote in three days, he said.

Middleton said, “I am pleased that Dr. Magden accepted the nominees made by me and the committee composed of all newly-selected representatives.”

Student representatives now will be able to vote on upcoming issues, especially the proposal to expand the academic calendar, he said. The proposed adjustment to the university calendar would shove the beginning and end of both semesters back by one week. Middleton does not support the proposal because it lowers the chances of student employment over breaks.

After a suggestion from FS member Joan Greening, UC members voted to put the calendar issue before the council’s Committee C for University Affairs of which Greening is chairman.

In other business, NIU Provost J. Carroll Moody reported that the library will remain open for a total of five days over winter break, four of which are to be consecutive and fall in the month of December. The fifth day probably will be the day before classes, Moody said.

Political Science Professor Lawrence Finkelstein, who protested the original recommendation to close the library over Christmas Break, commended Moody for his revised decision. “At least that’s moving in the right direction,” he said.

After considerable deliberation and many problems with the language of the Supportive Professional Staff (SPS) Grievance Procedures, a motion was passed to send the document to NIU President La Tourette.

The document stemmed from Finkelstein’s suggestions concerning personnel policies and procedures for members of SPS who do not hold academic rank.

Also at the meeting, Moody gave UC members an update on the Illinois Board of Higher Education’s Priorities, Quality and Productivity (PQP) initiative. The PQP initiative calls for the elimination or curtailment of academic programs in public universities to lower higher education costs.

Moody reassured the council that the IBHE does not have the power to eliminate programs. “The campus will decide what programs are to be eliminated.”

Moody also said NIU will review what programs should be shrunk or cut this month. This process will be completed and a draft report will be written by late February to be presented to the Faculty Senate on March 3, 1993.

The Board of Regents will react to that report in July of 1993, and the final revisions for the IBHE are due by Oct. 3, 1993.

Greening, vice chairman of the Joint University Advisory Committee (JUAC) to the Board of Regents, said the PQP initiative was the main issue under discussion at the last Regents meeting.

She said faculty must be involved in the evaluation program. “The campus should also be looking at improving programs, not just eliminating them,” she said.

David Ripley, NIU representative of the Faculty Advisory Committee to the IBHE, reported that the PQP initiative also played a major role in the last IBHE meeting. Ripley said the IBHE predicts level funding in Fiscal Year 1994 after NIU pulls through FY 92 and FY 93.

“A major effort in FY 94 might be to pay off bills that have accumulated in the past,” he said.