© 2024 WNIJ and WNIU
Northern Public Radio
801 N 1st St.
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-753-9000
Northern Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

NIU's Next President Announced Soon

Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University officials are preparing to announce who their next leader will be. Although school representatives are being cryptic about the announcement, it could come as early as this week.

In a vague news release from the media relations department Friday, NIU acknowledged the search for the school’s next president is in its final stage. The Board of Trustees met with four finalists and “university stakeholders” involved in the search over the past week in closed-door, off-campus meetings. As part of the board’ process for selecting a new president, a public meeting would be scheduled on campus when “a decision appears imminent.” During that meeting, the board would vote on their selection in public, then host a campus-wide reception for the new president and his/her spouse.

The board has called for a special open meeting Tuesday at 1:00 on campus to “vote on a personnel matter”…although university officials will not confirm the vote is about their choice for president.  There is no closed session on the agenda.

The presidential search has been shrouded in secrecy, at the advice of the Atlanta-based consulting firm working with NIU on the search. The search committee contends the identities of candidates must be kept secret in order to attract the best talent. All interviews were held off-campus and members of the "university stakeholders" group -- students, alumni, staff, faculty, and community leaders -- had to sign confidentiality agreements. 

NIU president John Peters announced last year he will step down June 30th.

WNIJ is owned by and licensed to Northern Illinois University.

Susan is an award-winning reporter/writer at her favorite radio station. She's also WNIJ's Perspectives editor, Under Rocks contributor, and local host of All Things Considered.
Related Stories