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* From the Northeastern Illinois University President…
TO: University Community
FROM: Richard J. Helldobler, Interim President
DATE: February 3, 2017
RE: Preparations for a salary-savings program
Today I write to you with strong feelings of discouragement and frustration. It had been my hope that our state leaders would have found a way forward to providing us with either additional stop gap funding or a resolution to the budget impasse. Regrettably, that is not the case, and there does not seem a solution in the near future.
It has been 19 months since we have operated without a state spending plan, and as a result, Northeastern Illinois University is experiencing the worst budgetary climate it has ever experienced in its history. In spite of all this, we remain strong in our resolve to serve and provide our students with a quality education.
As I have communicated in the past, the University will complete the spring semester and hold the May Commencement ceremony. However, without stop gap funding or an adequate appropriation, we must find ways to stay afloat beyond that. A salary-savings plan, or furlough program, we have determined, is the most fair and least intrusive way for Northeastern to survive financially through the summer months until fall tuition dollars become available.
So, we have begun preparations to negotiate and roll out a salary-savings plan, or furlough program, starting in the spring semester. Those who took part in the program last spring know that a furlough plan was negotiated and is a mandatory unpaid leave of absence. Last time, we required one furlough day each week. For this spring, we have not yet determined what those requirements will be. To prepare for any negotiated plan, we have reached out to each of the five collective bargaining units that represent Northeastern employees, letting the leaders know that we would like to begin to negotiate the details and discuss how to implement such a program. I anticipate that these negotiations could last about four to five weeks, which would be roughly the amount of time before we would have to begin any agreed-upon plan to garner enough salary savings to remain solvent through the summer.
In addition to the unions, we have had discussions with other leaders at the University in the spirit of shared governance to alert them to our next moves given the budget outlook. These discussions included representatives from the Civil Service and Administrative and Professional Councils, Student Government Association, University Budget and Planning Council, University Advisory Council and the Faculty Senate.
For those of you who are Administrative and Professional or non-negotiated employees, I invite you to join me and the vice presidents at an open discussion on Tuesday, Feb. 7, from 3:05 to 4:05 p.m. in the Auditorium of the Main Campus. We can talk about our preparations and what a salary-savings program might entail for you. As always, if we are not able to talk to you in person, we invite you to submit your input or questions to the University Feedback Form. Additionally, this meeting will be available via livestream at the following link while the event is taking place: http://connectcast.tv/neiustream.
We are doing everything we can both in Springfield and here in Chicago to advocate for higher education funding and manage our finances judiciously. If you are so inclined, on Wednesday, Feb. 8, the University will provide bus transportation to and from Springfield from the Main Campus so that any interested student, staff or faculty member can participate in the Statehouse Rally to Save Higher Education. Please refer to the Jan. 31 Targeted Announcement about this event. I will be on the bus and hope to share the ride with many of you.
The only thing that will keep us from a salary-savings plan, or furlough program, is receiving adequate funding from the state. At the moment, that prospect looks grim. However, should we receive appropriate funding prior to the implementation of the plan, or after beginning the plan, we will hit the pause button, assess our financial situation, meet with appropriate leadership and discuss options.
These are very difficult financial times for Northeastern, but we will do what needs to be done to continue to provide for our students an exceptional learning environment. It is my hope that you will remain engaged in the process moving forward, whether through your union, various councils or faculty or student governance bodies. We need you at the table for these important discussions.
I want to express my sincere gratitude to you and each and every student and member of our faculty and staff for your continued commitment to Northeastern.
Thank you.
*** UPDATE *** From the University Professionals of Illinois, which is a branch of the IFT…
Dear UPI Members:
We will be sitting down at the table with the administration with regard to cost-saving measures.
We have, however, already communicated our perspective to the president and provost: furloughs are a very bad idea because they hurt the entire university; furloughs harm our students individually and retention generally; UPI agreed to furloughs last year with the proviso that we would not do so again.
As with any negotiations, our position will develop in consultation with our membership and we will be calling on all of you.
Please remember that we have the support of organizations throughout the state and in Chicago. Most importantly, we will work with our partners in the student body and with other unions and councils across the university to help craft the best political response to Illinois’s failure to represent and foster the livelihoods of the state’s people.
In solidarity and in support of the arts and sciences and professional schools at our university,
The NEIU/UPI 4100 Executive Board
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 11:16 am
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Rauner: What did you expect with being a hostage and all?
Comment by PublicServant Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 11:24 am
we, the people, are being held hostage. How would the Governor like that, personally, as he, a man of great means, is not suffering?
Comment by Amalia Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 11:26 am
I ask myself this question. When was the last time we had a truly good Governor? Cause this ain’t it.
Comment by Saluki Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 11:40 am
“I’m frustrated too, but…”
Comment by IllinoisBoi Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 11:40 am
It’s going to get worse at the other state universities & community colleges - many of whom are bleeding students and treading water financially.
University boards + presidents, time to wake up, smell the coffee and state the obvious:
Bruce Rauner has badly weakened higher ed in the last 2 years. He has no plan to reverse course. He needs to be replaced in 2018. Period.
Comment by Handle Bar Mustache Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 11:42 am
“When was the last time we had a truly good Governor? Cause this ain’t it.”
Dick Ogilvie. It’s been that long, folks.
Comment by Keyrock Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 11:55 am
I started to comment that I hope all the university presidents are teaming up to pressure the Governor but then I laughed because Rauner does not care!!!
Comment by don the legend Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 11:56 am
The pain needs to be more widespread. The whole state, not just parts, needs to be shut down for this crisis to stop.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 12:09 pm
Wow! Helldobler for Governor! Working with interested parties to come up with solutions. Talking to unions. Talking to mangers. Coming up with a feasible budget. Understanding the importance of higher education. Now that’s Governor-ing!
Comment by The Real Just Me Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 12:45 pm
Saluki- “When was the last time we had a truly good Governor? Cause this ain’t it.”
I was a low-level Ogilvie employee, and a higher level Quinn and Rauner functionary. IMHO Dick Ogilvie was the last good governor.
Comment by Keyrock Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 1:32 pm
How about upper admins and faculty earning at least $90,00 per year (who earn a collective $71,320.61 per DAY according to latest ISBHE salary publications) take one extra day each to offset furloughs that would literally harm the lower level full-time permanent employees, many of whom are literally earning poverty wages. Some employees risk becoming homeless if this heartless plan goes through. P.S. Shared governance at NEIU is a MYTH - Rich tries to dictate everythign, so stop with the fake praises!
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 2:18 pm
What a shame. Republicans want some labor and economic reforms. Democrats want revenue to balance budget. Modest agreements can’t be met, layoffs and chaos happen.
Comment by BK Bro Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 3:15 pm
In 2014 and 2015, NEIU made US News & World Report’s Best Of list for diversity and lowest student debt.
http://neiu.edu/about/news/northeastern-tops-us-news-world-report-lists-diversity-low-student-debt
How is this not a good investment of state money?
Comment by Blue Bayou Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 3:16 pm
“How is this not a good investment of state money?”
Faculty and staff union membership./s
Comment by Huh? Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 4:09 pm
Check out NEIU’s company on this list:
https://lendedu.com/blog/college-risk-reward-indicator-2017
Amazing.
Comment by Blue Bayou Friday, Feb 3, 17 @ 4:45 pm