Northern Illinois University’s acting president outlined her vision for the campus in a public address Thursday.
Speaking before faculty, staff, and students, Dr. Lisa Freeman said NIU has been successful in employing a diversity of perspectives across campus. However, she said NIU needs to evolve in order to face future challenges. Chief among those, she said, was the need to guarantee fiscal stability in the wake of an absent state budget and declining enrollment.
“To achieve a sustainable financial model, we must go beyond cutting costs and increasing revenue from traditional sources," Freeman said. "We need to look at new revenue streams with the recognition that we cannot depend on state appropriations as we have in the past."
Other priorities include building a collaborative research center in DeKalb and creating comprehensive strategic and facilities plans. Dr. Freeman is the prime candidate among the university’s search committee to take the position permanently. The group will have a listening session with the Faculty Senate next week.
