NIU President John La Tourette will give an update on how NIU waded through last year’s choppy fiscal waters.

La Tourette will be giving his 1992-93 “State of the University” address Thursday at 4 p.m. in the Carl Sandburg Auditorium located in the Holmes Student Center.

La Tourette is expected to talk about the current state financial picture and its effect on the coming year.

Last year NIU was forced to juggle its spending as Gov. Jim Edgar imposed a 3 percent midyear recision.

He will also have to deliver some academic psychotherapy to professors. The Illinois Board of Higher Education has now forced all universities to streamline with so-called “hit lists.” With talk of massive program cuts being bandied about, professors will be in need of some reassurance from La Tourette.

The speech will also serve to welcome new faculty and staff and gives La Tourette a chance to officially open NIU’s 94th academic year.

La Tourette was born in Perth Amboy, N.J. and moved to NIU as provost and vice president for academic affairs in 1979. In May 1986, he was named as NIU’s tenth president by the Board of Regents.

La Tourette will be delivering his seventh fall semester State of the University address. La Tourette has three degrees from Rutgers University and served as an academic administrator at state universities in New York and Ohio before coming to NIU.

Following the speech, an open reception will be held in the Blackhawk Dining Room at the student center. The address is being sponsored by La Tourette and the NIU Faculty Club.