NIU Google Apps/Gmail access will be discontinued Monday, Jan. 30.Existing data will be deleted shortly thereafter. NIU completed moving students to Microsoft Office 365 last August.
Office 365 is NIU’s email and document collaboration solution and should be used in place of existing university-provided Google Apps/Gmail accounts. To maintain an niu.edu email address for more than one year after graduation, consider joining the NIU Alumni Association.
For more information and instructions on electively moving data, visit the DoIT Student email page. Please visit the Technology Service Desk for in-person assistance, or call the 24-hour Service Desk at 815-753-8100.
Date posted: January 9, 2017 | Author: Jennice O'Brien | Comments Off on NIU Google Apps/Gmail access to be discontinued Jan. 30
I’m writing to you today to announce the conclusion of reviews into several complaints regarding procurement practices, employment decisions, and contractual arrangements that occurred in 2013-2014 when I first assumed the presidency and initiated plans to improve the physical campus. The allegations in these complaints have now been investigated, and I want to share the issues identified and what the Board of Trustees and I see as the way forward.
A major factor for both recruitment and retention is the attractiveness and functionality of our campus. Whether the campus fulfills the expectations of prospective students and those who influence their decisions was a question we intentionally posed in 2013. Feedback – particularly from students – indicated a desire for a much more vibrant social and academic campus core, similar to contemporary spaces at competing schools. Responding to this feedback, one of our goals became revitalizing our campus core. Importantly, we believed we should and could pursue this goal urgently.
Gilbert Hall renovations were nearly complete when I arrived, and the next steps in our residential renaissance included an assessment of improvements we could make to centrally-located Neptune Hall. Other projects that promised to alter the character and vibrancy of the center of campus included the renovation of Holmes Student Center, and limited institutional resources existed to substantially address this goal. Connecting the center of campus to the residence, recreation, and athletic complexes located on the west side of campus also emerged as an objective we could achieve at a remarkable pace by extending Lucinda Avenue – our campus’ main thoroughfare. Finally, modest but impactful improvements to the landscape were pursued within a short timeframe.
While I am confident these strategic initiatives were right for NIU and calibrated closely to our essential priorities, our progress has not been without difficulty. Investigations have substantiated that in 2013 and 2014 there were weaknesses in internal controls, some limited compliance violations, and lack of clarity of policies across multiple units. Investigation did not yield evidence of substandard work, but it did identify issues with administering certain employment, consulting, and capital works agreements.
As leader of the university, I am ultimately accountable for these issues, and I take full responsibility for them. I also make a personal pledge to the university community that they will not re-occur. To this end, in consultation with the Board of Trustees, I have supported the development of new and revised policies intended to further public trust and confidence in university employment and contracting practices and actions. These include elimination of the “affiliate employee” classification as of January 1, 2016 and corrective actions related to some of those hired into such positions in 2013 and 2014. I have also instructed my cabinet to study and implement process improvements regarding consulting, design, and other contracting arrangements.
I am also personally committed to ensuring that our employees feel confident and secure in raising future questions or concerns, and seeking clarity on procedures and policies without fear of criticism or negative consequences. Specifically, we will offer additional staff training on this matter and have adopted an upgraded Whistleblower Policy which encourages reporting and more fully protects those who choose to make good-faith reports of any suspected legal and policy violations. To be clear, even when there is urgent need for change, it is critical that policies, procedures, and protocols must be observed.
As the university engages in ongoing process improvement, I earnestly expect that our actions will demonstrate this university’s commitment to proper conduct and prudent oversight. I welcome suggestions or ideas from the campus community and will report further as our process improvements are implemented.
Sincerely,
Doug
Date posted: December 22, 2016 | Author: Jennice O'Brien | Comments Off on Baker Report: Correcting Course – new policies enhance transparency
When wintry weather takes a turn for the worst, students and employees often ask if the university will be open. As a general rule, NIU is always open until otherwise notified.
The decision to declare an emergency weather suspension of campus operations, including class cancellations, is a data-informed, consultative process involving several areas, including Public Safety, the Physical Plant, Environmental Health and Safety and other university divisions.
Decisions concerning class cancellations are finalized by the provost, and emergency weather closures require presidential authorization.
“Weather information can change quickly, but it is the overall intention to avoid making short-notice closure decisions as much as possible,” says John Heckmann, associate vice president for Facilities Management and Campus Services. “The overall intention of the review process is to reach a closure decision well enough in advance to execute an effective notification effort.”
So what are factors that go into determining the status of university operations and whether to cancel classes?
To help to make the decision, NIU uses data from its staff meteorologist to assign a numerical value to the following weather-related criteria contained within the NIU Severe Weather Model for School Closures:
Temperatures of -10, -15, -20 and -22 degrees
Winds, with gusts ranging from 10-80 miles per hour
Snow or snow mixed with sleet in process or accumulating; snow/sleet just ended as of 8 a.m. on a business day
Freezing rain and ice accumulation ranging from trace amounts to more than .25 inches
Other issues, including dense fog and low visibility
Score totals above 50 but below 100 mean that a closure should be discussed by university officials.
A score at or above 100 means a complete closure of the university during the time of the forecast should be recommended to leadership. Scores of 100 are automatically given if the following circumstances take place:
The low temperature reaches -22 degrees Fahrenheit or colder (without wind chill)
Any of the following roads are closed in DeKalb for weather-related reasons:
Route 38/Lincoln Highway
Route 23/4th St.
I-88/Reagan Tollway
Annie Glidden Road
Other major roads leading in and out of the city, such as First Street, Fairview Drive or Malta Road
Widespread, impassable side streets
A blizzard warning is issued by the National Weather Service
An ice storm warning is issued by the National Weather Service
A state of emergency is declared by the governor or other local, state or federal officials
NIU Grounds Maintenance is unable to open roads, sidewalks, parking or facilities for safe campus operations
Buses are inoperable
This model serves as a guide but is not the only criteria considered in determining a campus closure. By using data to inform its decisions, NIU tries to make the best decision possible with regard to overall campus needs.
It also is the personal responsibility of all students, faculty and staff to make their own decisions and judgments concerning travel conditions.
Two members of the university leadership team have announced their departures.
Vice President for Administration and Finance Alan Phillips will retire March 1, 2017, from a 40-year career serving in senior government and higher education leadership and management positions to spend time with his family, including a new grandchild. Vice President of Student Affairs Eric Weldy has accepted a position as vice chancellor for student affairs at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis effective January 1, 2017.
Alan Phillips
Alan Phillips
“In my time at NIU I have greatly enjoyed working with the excellent faculty, staff, administrators and students as we worked to put NIU and our students on the path to success,” said Phillips. “But it is time to step aside and turn things over to others who continue to carry the mission of the university forward.”
Phillips arrived at NIU in March of 2015 and immediately set to work helping the university navigate through a difficult financial environment.
As part of those efforts, he and his finance and budget team implemented an ongoing overhaul of the NIU budgeting process, with the ultimate goal of shifting the university to a multi-year budget planning process. Perhaps most significantly, he and his staff worked hard to implement a more comprehensive budget oversight and management process. Thanks to those efforts, the university was able to weather a more than 70 percent reduction in state funding in 2016 with limited impact to NIU daily operations.
During his tenure, Phillips also implemented a number of process reengineering efforts, including those aimed at improving and streamlining the procurement and contracting processes, revamping institutional and financial aid and improving web site management and support.
To guide longer-term spending, Phillips and his team also developed a capital development and prioritization plan, implemented enterprise risk management techniques that will help the university better anticipate and prepare for potential emergencies and worked to develop a long-term housing master plan.
“Al’s expertise and strategic work has had an extraordinary impact on the university,” said NIU President Doug Baker. “He and his team have put in place policies and procedures for cost controls and long-term budgeting that will serve us very well going forward. Al will be missed, and we wish him all the best in his well-earned retirement.”
As he leaves, Phillips says he takes pride not only in the accomplishments that took place on his watch, but also in the hard work and dedication of the Administration and Finance team that actually performed all of the hard work. “I’ve never worked with a more professional and dedicated group of people, who do everything possible every day to ensure the future success of the institution, and I will miss them all”.
A transition plan for leadership of the department will be finalized before Phillips’ departure.
Eric Weldy
Eric Weldy
For Eric Weldy, the university has always come first.
When he joined Student Affairs and Enrollment Management in July of 2013, he took over one of the largest divisions on campus, which included functions as diverse as dining halls, career counseling and new student recruitment. Since then he has carefully analyzed each of its pieces, refined them and, as needed, realigned them with other divisions across the university.
For example, under Weldy, orientation was expanded into a two-day process that helped students connect with the university more quickly and boosted student commitments. He also oversaw an overhaul of admissions that (among other things) reduced application processing time from weeks to days.
Yet, when it became clear that both of those functions could benefit from increased marketing and branding, he was excited to see both shifted into what is now known as Enrollment Management, Marketing and Communications. “It puts our recruiters in the best position to successfully recruit students, and that’s what is important.”
That same university-first attitude governed decisions such as moving Career Services and the university’s cultural centers under Academic Affairs. In each instance, Weldy said, the primary motivation for change was to better serve students.
Among his many accomplishments, Weldy is most proud of the significant improvement in the university’s retention rate.
“In a little over three years, the retention rate among freshmen and sophomores climbed from 66 percent to 73 percent. That is a huge jump by industry standards,” he said, attributing the improvement to collaborative efforts between Student Affairs and Academic Affairs. “That type of collaboration has been a hallmark of my time at NIU. Everyone understands that they truly contribute to student success,” he said.
Like Phillips, Weldy says the thing he will miss most is the people he has worked with at NIU, particularly his staff. “They are one of the most dedicated, resilient and hard-working groups of professionals that I have ever had the privilege to work with. I appreciate the opportunities I’ve been given here, and I will always be an advocate for NIU.”
Weldy will be missed, said Baker.
“One of the risks you take when you hire excellent people is that they are always in demand elsewhere,” said Baker. “For the last three-and-a-half years, Eric has worked selflessly to restructure the functions of his office for the greater good of the university. His efforts have positioned us to succeed and we will miss his leadership.”
Decisions regarding future leadership of the division are under discussion and will be announced after the first of the year.
Date posted: December 13, 2016 | Author: Jennice O'Brien | Comments Off on Vice Presidents Phillips and Weldy announce they are leaving
On Nov. 22, 2016, Human Resource Services learned that a federal judge in Texas has entered a nationwide injunction blocking the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) from implementing the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) changes that were to take effect Dec. 1, 2016. The FLSA change was to modify the overtime eligibility requirements by increasing the required annual salary from $23,660 to $47,476.
This injunction means that we will not be moving forward with implementing the FLSA changes at this time. It is expected that the DOL will appeal this ruling quickly, however, it is uncertain how long the appeal will take. Human Resources will keep you informed as updates are received.
Date posted: December 7, 2016 | Author: Jennice O'Brien | Comments Off on FLSA-related changes on hold after nationwide injunction
After more than two years of preparation, examination and evaluation, the NIU campus community received status reports on Program Prioritization that begin to map out changes resulting from the process.
A report from President Doug Baker covers recommendations from the Program Prioritization Administrative Task Force, while Executive Vice President and Provost Lisa Freeman addresses recommendations from the Program Prioritization Academic Task Force.
The report from Baker recaps each of the 236 administrative programs reviewed and states whether or not he agrees or disagrees with the recommendation. Where appropriate it discusses next steps. In some instances, the report will discuss actions already taken. For instance, it recaps the creation of the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office, an idea that the president endorsed and all involved supported, so it was pursued without delay.
His report also explains which programs have been set aside for “complex conversations.” In those instances, it was determined that decisions could potentially be applied across multiple programs, colleges or divisions, and more time was needed to ensure that all of the issues were explored in appropriate depth. In each of those cases, Monday’s update provided a deadline for when a report on those conversations is due.
Freeman’s report recaps and comments upon recommendations made regarding academic programs. Particular attention is paid to ways that programs within Academic Affairs might cooperate with other divisions to strengthen academic priorities.
Unlike the report regarding administrative programs, Freeman’s report contains few final decisions.
“Because recommendations by the task force would directly affect curriculum they must go through our standard curricular process and shared governance,” Freeman explained. “That is the only way that programs can be created or eliminated, and Program Prioritization does not change that.”
That is not to say, however, that recommendations from the Academic Task Force have not already had an impact. In some cases, academic units agreed with suggested changes and pursued them without waiting for the final report. For instance, the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology voluntarily eliminated several undersubscribed minors within its Technology program, working through the existing channels to do so. Similarly, a new master’s in accountancy is working its way through the curricular process as a result of recommendations from the task force.
Both reports shine a light the tremendous efforts that have been undertaken all across campus since the task forces issued their reports in early May.
“This process is helping us to reshape the institution by aligning our budget with our mission,” Baker said. “An enormous amount of work has gone into this effort over the last two-plus years. While some things will take years to implement, this report will demonstrate that we are off to a great start.”
A final President’s Report is due in May 2017, but the process will continue to guide decision making on campus for years to come.
Date posted: November 28, 2016 | Author: Jennice O'Brien | Comments Off on President’s Program Prioritization progress report released
After six years of guiding the Office of the General Counsel at Northern Illinois University, Jerry Blakemore has announced that he will be leaving the university at the end of the calendar year to join the University of North Carolina at Greensboro as their general counsel.
“During his time at NIU, Vice President Blakemore not only guided the university through numerous litigations, but also participated in efforts to help shape legislation related to banning concealed weapons on college campuses across the state, higher education procurement reform and rule making regarding violence against women,” said President Doug Baker. “We are very appreciative of his numerous contributions to NIU and wish him the best in his new endeavor.”
Blakemore also helped guide the development of policies on a broad range of issues including freedom of expression, social media, creating a smoke-free campus, and adjusting policies pertaining administrative leave. During his time at NIU he participated in reform of the university constitution and contributed to a task force devoted to issues surrounding sexual misconduct and Title IX.
Blakemore’s participation in the National Association of College and University Attorneys also boosted the perception of NIU as a leader in higher education. Within that organization he held a variety of roles, including serving as secretary of the board and chairing both the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee and the Compliance Committee.
While doing all of that, Blakemore embraced the university’s cornerstone goal of student career success, mentoring eight, third-year law students (all of whom gained admission to the Bar) and three political science undergrads who went on to law school. He also initiated an annual internship with one of Chicago’s leading law firms, Mayer Brown.
With those (and many other) accomplishments during his time at NIU, Blakemore leaves with a sense of satisfaction, “My greatest honor has been to work with the members of the Office of the General Counsel, a group of dedicated professionals whose character, integrity and commitment to NIU is un-paralleled,” he said.
A member of that staff, Greg Brady, will be presented to the board of trustees for approval as acting general counsel while a search is conducted. “Greg is uniquely qualified to serve in that role,” said Blakemore. “He is an exceptional attorney who bleeds black and red, and he has been an invaluable asset to the office during my time here.”
Date posted: November 28, 2016 | Author: Jennice O'Brien | Comments Off on Blakemore accepts position at UNC-Greensboro
Items that The Giving Project made for Huskie students in need. Scarves and tote bags are available at the Huskie Food Pantry (on a first come first serve basis).
Do you want to make gifts for people in need? The Operating Staff Council (OSC) is hosting workshops as a way for NIU Huskies to give to others. Join some Huskies who are excited about creating practical and useful items for those in need while collaborating on ideas for projects.
Upcoming workshops are scheduled for 12 to 1 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 1 and Thursday, Dec. 15, in the Glidden Room of the HSC. Come to one or all!
For ideas on materials to bring or for other workshop dates, refer to www.niu.edu/osc. No skill or experience is needed, just a desire to give back to our community. A crochet instructor will be on hand for novices. Faculty, staff and students are welcome!
President Baker will issue a Program Prioritization progress report to the campus community on Monday, Nov. 28. The report will provide an update on the programs reviewed in the spring by the Program Prioritization Task Forces.
Date posted: November 17, 2016 | Author: Jennice O'Brien | Comments Off on Program Prioritization progress report to be issued Nov. 28
NIU students, faculty, staff and local residents can renew driver’s licenses and state IDs, purchase annual vehicle license plate stickers, register as organ and tissue donors or conduct other transactions on campus at a mobile office of the Illinois Secretary of State.
The mobile office will visit campus from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21, 2016, in the lower level of the Holmes Student Center. The mobile office also will return to campus on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017.
Acceptable forms of payment include personal checks, cash, MasterCard, American Express and Discover credit and debit cards. Other services available include vehicle title registration and parking placards for persons with disabilities.
Beginning Thursday, Nov. 10, NIU will host three candidates for the position of director of Community College Partnerships. The campus community is invited to attend an open forum for each candidate to learn more about their qualifications for the position and to provide feedback to the search committee on their candidacies.
This position is responsible for leading, initiating and coordinating all NIU partnerships with community college partners throughout the state of Illinois. The candidates, open forum times and locations are listed below.
Ronald Smith Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016 3-3:50 p.m., Location: Altgeld Hall 225
Brian Bacon Tuesday, November 15, 2016 3-3:50 p.m., Location: Altgeld Hall 225
Items that The Giving Project made for Huskie students in need. Scarves and tote bags are available at the Huskie Food Pantry (on a first come first serve basis).
Do you want to make gifts for people in need? The Operating Staff Council (OSC) is hosting workshops as a way for NIU Huskies to give to others. Join some Huskies who are excited about creating practical and useful items for those in need while collaborating on ideas for projects.
Upcoming workshops are scheduled for 12 to 1 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 10, in the Glidden Room of the HSC. Come to one or all!
Other dates and locations are listed at www.niu.edu/osc. No skill or experience is needed, just a desire to give back to our community. Faculty, staff and students are welcome!
When 
