Northeastern Illinois University

The Board of Trustees discussed several action and information items. Key action items included the approval of FY26 tenure awards for faculty members, the adoption of a revised university investment policy, and the establishment of a unified tuition rate for three specific graduate programs transitioning to a distance learning format. Information items addressed a proposed revision to Board regulations regarding parental leave benefits for faculty, administrative, and civil service employees. The report also provided updates on news and university events, including the appointment of a new Trustee and details on upcoming alumni and development initiatives.

The committee meeting covered a range of institutional initiatives, including the approval of tenure awards, a review of the committee charter, and updates on the 2026-2031 Strategic Plan. Discussion topics included accreditation and site visits, the expansion of online program offerings and in-state tuition pilots to grow enrollment, updates on undergraduate and graduate admissions strategies, and student retention efforts. Additionally, the committee received reports on housing occupancy, the transition to the Workday Finance system, and various upcoming university events.

The Board of Trustees met to address several university initiatives and reports. Key discussion topics included the approval of the 2026-2031 University Strategic Plan and the approval of the fiscal year 2027 tuition and fee recommendations. The President provided updates on credit hour goal achievement, state appropriation outlooks for the upcoming fiscal year, and introduced new staff members. The Board also received reports from the Academic/Student Affairs, Enrollment, and Technology Committee and the Finance, Buildings and Grounds Committee, heard public comments regarding university funding and advocacy, and discussed draft revisions to board regulations concerning parental leave.

The committee reviewed FY2026 tenure awards for faculty members from the Management, Marketing, and Accounting departments. Key academic updates included a progress report on the First Year Experience graduation requirement and details regarding a recent Higher Learning Commission multi-location site visit. The College of Business and Technology reported on curriculum innovations, including AI integration and new professional partnerships. Additional topics covered included a pilot for fully online graduate programs with flat-rate tuition, enrollment funnel updates for undergraduate and graduate admissions, retention metrics for the Spring 2026 semester, and student housing occupancy rates. The committee also received a status update on the Workday Finance project and an assessment of potential enterprise productivity tools, comparing Microsoft Office 365 with the current Google Workspace environment.

The Statement of Investment Policy for Northeastern Illinois University establishes guiding principles for the management, monitoring, and evaluation of the University's financial assets. It outlines investment objectives, governance responsibilities, asset allocation guidelines for the Long-Term Investment Pool (LTIP), Operating Pool, and Separately Invested Funds, along with risk management standards. Key focus areas encompass asset categories (Global Equity, Fixed Income, Real Assets), liquidity management, performance evaluation, sustainable investing practices, and internal controls, all designed to ensure prudent financial stewardship in accordance with applicable laws and fiduciary standards.