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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student media since 1899

 

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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Laurie Elish Piper provides an update to the University Council about the university’s efforts to trim its budget deficit. According to Elish Piper, NIU is not the only university reigning in its spending. (Grace Kilbreath | Northern Star)

NIU vice president addresses concerns around student visas, budget implementation

By Joseph Ndu, Senior News Reporter | April 3, 2025

DeKALB - University Council met Wednesday to address federal crackdown on visa students by the Trump administration and the implementation of NIU’s proposed budget plans. CONCERNS ABOUT VISA STUDENTS NIU Vice President and Provost Laurie Elish-Piper...

Tiffany Puckett speaks at the University Council Meeting Wednesday. Puckett updated the council on Illinois Board of Higher Education activities and pending legislation that would affect higher education institutions. (Joseph Ndu | Northern Star)

University Council reestablishes resources space and budget committee

By Joseph Ndu, Senior News Reporter | February 27, 2025

DeKALB - Amid attempts by the university to reduce its budget deficit, the University Council proposed reestablishing the Resources, Space and Budget committee at its meeting on Wednesday. BUDGET GOALS NIU Provost and Executive Vice President Laurie...

A photo shows Chief Financial Officer George Middlemist speaking at a University Council meeting Wednesday. At the meeting, the council discussed plans to achieve a balanced budget. (Katie Follmer | Northern Star)

University Council discusses plans to achieve a balanced budget

By Joseph Ndu, Senior News Reporter | January 30, 2025

DeKALB – The first University Council meeting of the year discussed NIU’s budget deficit along with various capital projects on Wednesday. BUDGET DEFICIT NIU Executive Vice President and Provost Laurie Elish-Piper began with an updated timeline...

William Martin, assistant professor of biology, asks a question to John Acardo, senior associate vice president and chief human resources officer, Laurie Elish-Piper, executive vice president and provost, and George Middlemist, chief financial officer, during the University Council’s meeting Wednesday. Acardo, Middlemist and Elish-Piper gave a joint presentation about NIU's deficit and mitigation strategies to members of University Council. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

University Council holds last meeting of fall 2024 semester Wednesday

By Emily Beebe, Opinion Editor | December 5, 2024

DeKALB – Members of the NIU administration discussed NIU’s deficit at the last University Council meeting of the semester. The meeting was held at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Altgeld Hall Room 315. NIU President Lisa Freeman started the meeting by discussing...

NIU President Lisa Freeman addresses the members of University Council at its meeting Wednesday. Freeman discussed NIU’s university goals for 2025 which will be presented at the Dec. 12 Board of Trustees meeting. (Emily Beebe | Northern Star)

2025 university goals discussed at University Council meeting Wednesday

By Emily Beebe, Opinion Editor | November 7, 2024

DeKALB – NIU’s $32 million deficit and ways to decrease the deficit were again the topic of discussion at Wednesday’s University Council meeting. NIU President Lisa Freeman’s announcements contained a presentation about the 2025 university...

NIU President Lisa Freeman sits at a table and talks during the University Council meeting Wednesday. Freeman expressed her gratitude for the $40 million donation that was given to NIU by the Baustert Family Foundation. (Emily Beebe | Northern Star)

NIU’s Division of Information Technology to kick off new project

By Emily Beebe, Opinion Editor | October 9, 2024

DeKALB – At the University Council meeting Wednesday, NIU President Lisa Freeman expressed her appreciation of a $40 million donation given to NIU by the Baustert Family Foundation for the creation of the Health Technology Center. In partnership with...

Clint-Michael Reneau, vice president of student affairs, gives a presentation at the University Council meeting Wednesday. Reneau gave a presentation on NIU’s strategic plan regarding health and well-being. (Emily Beebe | Northern Star)

University Council discusses enrollment numbers

By Emily Beebe, Opinion Editor | September 11, 2024

Correction: This piece was updated at 2:34 p.m. Monday Sept. 16, to remove incorrect information regarding the host of the event on Oct. 24. The event will be hosted by the Coalition for Transforming Higher Education Funding, not the Partnership for College...

Zac Gill, city engineer for the City of DeKalb spoke at University Council Wednesday. Gill spoke about the construction occurring at the Normal Road and Lucinda Avenue intersection. (Emily Beebe | Northern Star)

FAFSA packages to be sent out next week

By Emily Beebe, Opinion Editor | May 1, 2024

DeKALB – NIU President Lisa Freeman announced at Wednesday’s University Council meeting that, barring any other issues, financial aid packages should be sent out to first-year students by the end of next week and to returning students within the next...

President Lisa Freeman sits at a table with members of University Council at their meeting Wednesday. NIU has taken measures to support students struggling with the financial aid process. (Emily Beebe | Northern Star)

FAFSA frustrations expressed at University Council

By Emily Beebe, Opinion Editor | April 3, 2024

DeKALB – The Student Government Association announced Wednesday at the University Council meeting that election results should be released late Thursday night.  The SGA elections had 1,999 votes total, according to Deputy Speaker Chris English.  At...

Altgeld Hall, the meeting place for University Council, sits under a cloudy sky. Tim Paquette, director of Counseling and Consultation Services, and Kelly Olson, associate vice president for Student Development and dean of students, discussed the progress of the mental health early action act on campus update. (Northern Star File Photo)

Peer counseling, technology updates for mental health

By Michael Mollsen, Former Written Managing Editor | October 11, 2023

DeKALB – An update of the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act’s utilization at NIU was discussed at Wednesday’s University Council meeting. MENTAL HEALTH EARLY ACTION ON CAMPUS ACT UPDATE The Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act is...

Altgeld Hall sits under a cloudy sky. Enrollment is down for another fall semester. (Northern Star File Photo)

University Council: Enrollment down, ‘painful’ budget changes

By Michael Mollsen, Former Written Managing Editor | September 13, 2023

DeKALB – NIU President Lisa Freeman has revealed some of the numbers from this year’s 10-day enrollment report and discussed plans for NIU’s multi-year budgeting. On Wednesday during the first University Council meeting of the semester, Freeman...

(From left) University Advisory Committee member Brad Cripe, Administrative Assistant Pat Erickson, University Council Chair and NIU associate professor Ismael Montana and NIU President Lisa Freeman sit at the council table during the University Council meeting Tuesday. (Christian Quevedo | Northern Star)

University Council discuss plans to introduce AI, virtual reality to classrooms

By Kaitlyn Lee-Gordon, News Reporter | April 10, 2023

DeKALB – New technology may be introduced to NIU classrooms in the upcoming years following the University Council meeting addressing Gov. J.B. Priztker’s proposed budget for Illinois universities.  BUDGET UPDATE While addressing the budget update,...

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