NIU Today

The presidents and chancellors of the 14 public universities in Illinois have unanimously endorsed a six-point proposal for addressing the state’s pension funding crisis as it relates to the State Universities Retirement System (SURS), and in a letter to the governor and legislative leaders they called it “a thoughtful and responsible approach.” “We write to...

A downstate judge ruled Tuesday that health care for retired state workers is not constitutionally guaranteed. A long-standing benefit had allowed retirees with 20 or more years of service to retire with full health insurance coverage (for themselves, but not dependents) without paying premiums. A series of lawsuits filed in Sangamon County sought to preserve...

Education will sustain a painful hit in a new State of Illinois spending plan unveiled today during Gov. Pat Quinn’s annual budget address. Calling it the “most difficult budget ever,” the governor said the state must solve its public-employee pension crisis, which will drain nearly $7 billion of the Illinois general revenue in the coming...

Clersida Garcia, associate professor in the NIU College of Education’s Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, has been appointed to a four-year seat on the Governor’s Council on Health and Physical Fitness. Garcia, a 22-year veteran in the field of physical education, has given more than 100 presentations at state, national and international conferences and...

Before Noemi Rodriguez began classes at NIU, she interned at Children’s Memorial Hospital. “I fell in love with the nurses at Children’s Memorial. I admired their work,” says Rodriguez, a sophomore nursing major from Chicago. “There are some respectable nurses, and there are bad nurses, and I will become a respectable nurse. I love the...

Gov. Pat Quinn delivered his State of the State Message today to a joint session of the Illinois General Assembly. Governors typically use the State of the State to highlight their priorities and to call on the General Assembly to act on these priorities. Details on implementation – and the resources needed to accomplish these...

In Springfield … Last week, the Illinois House of Representatives began its Spring Session. On Wednesday, the House adopted rules that will govern its operations over the next two years (the 98th General Assembly), and House committee appointments were announced. Thursday’s House session was canceled, and the Senate did not convene. Next week should see...

The 97th General Assembly came to a close late in the afternoon Tuesday, Jan. 8, when both the House of Representatives and the Senate adjourned sine die. The members of the 98th General Assembly were inaugurated at noon Wednesday, Jan. 9.

NIU-Rockford will host one of four events this month sponsored by the Illinois Open Technology Challenge. The event is scheduled from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, in Room 101 of the NIU regional center at 8500 E. State St. ILOpenTech brings governments, developers and communities together in a common mission to use public...

A committee of lawmakers in Springfield endorsed a proposal Monday that would enact sweeping changes to the state’s employee pension system. Under the plan endorsed by the House Personnel and Pensions Committee (on a 6-3 vote) the changes would include: A six-year suspension of the annual 3 percent cost of living increase currently given to retirees....

Flanked by children yelling “Thanks in Advance” through red megaphones, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn unveiled a campaign Sunday, Nov. 18, to call attention to the state’s pension funding problems. Quinn said in a press release, “Children have a critical stake in pension reform and that’s why we are here today calling Illinois citizens to action....

The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) today announced the appointment of Harry Berman to serve as its interim executive director. Berman served as provost and former interim chancellor at the University of Illinois-Springfield. Berman succeeds Executive Director George W. Reid, who on Wednesday announced his decision to step down. Gov. Pat Quinn noted the...