(06-13-2017 05:59 PM)HeadoftheHuskie Wrote:  Is it common for boards to use "approval" in the agenda if they aren't going to approve him?

Review and approval of an action.

They don't specify what the purpose of the closed session is (some public orgs do identify if it's to discuss personnel, land acquisition, pending legal action, or collective bargaining).

The optimistic jump I'm taking is that in the closed session they're going to discuss what to do with him, arrive at some conclusion, then come back to open session and do it.

The pessimistic side worries they'll do something less than dismissal.

(06-14-2017 08:49 AM)DogTracks Wrote:  

(06-13-2017 05:59 PM)HeadoftheHuskie Wrote:  Is it common for boards to use "approval" in the agenda if they aren't going to approve him?

Review and approval of an action.

They don't specify what the purpose of the closed session is (some public orgs do identify if it's to discuss personnel, land acquisition, pending legal action, or collective bargaining).

The optimistic jump I'm taking is that in the closed session they're going to discuss what to do with him, arrive at some conclusion, then come back to open session and do it.

The pessimistic side worries they'll do something less than dismissal.

Thanks for the Clarification

Baker out
Stepping down effective end of month.

Chronicle confirmed it as well http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2017/06/1...t/aiojybn/

Now we need someone who can grow the foundation, enrollment and educational standards, and hopefully not forget athletics, or better yet use them as a keystone.

(06-15-2017 09:46 AM)UnknownScout Wrote:  Chronicle confirmed it as well http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2017/06/1...t/aiojybn/

Now we need someone who can grow the foundation, enrollment and educational standards, and hopefully not forget athletics, or better yet use them as a keystone.

I do wish the educational standards were raised, but I don't see this happening much.

Good. Now can we please get some competence at the highest position at our university?

In the couple times I got close to him I got the impression he was on a high horse and like many others at NIU, namely coaches, using NIU as nothing but a stepping stone and nothing more.

That's fine until you make it your own personal interest and take care of your friends, then deny it. Hope he and they liked it, enjoyed the perks. While some dope will hire him, most likely a former colleague, he'll never be put in any higher level position of any higher university. But there is always that private sector and its cronyism so he has that at least.

This doesn't reflect well on the Board of Trustees. They were going to ignore Baker's transgressions but were forced to do something only when events became public. They were complicit and need to be held accountable as well.

Quote:The report's findings were released to university officials nearly a year ago but made publicly available only on May 31.

(06-07-2017 09:36 PM)DogPoundNorth Wrote:  

(06-07-2017 07:19 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(06-07-2017 07:14 PM)Suspect Wrote:  Student costs must remain high to support the $205,000/year NIU's Chief Diversity Officer is making.

These days on college campuses (at least in Illinois), diversity is a priority over the quality of educational offerings.

What does this even mean? Can you provide evidence of this?

I work at a university, this is the case.

Promod Vohra is my guy for President.

Baker was bad from the start like "Clyde W." bad. No clue on how to increase enrollment or at least keeping it from plummeting. Get somebody in to make the necessary cuts and focus on the programs that people want in Business, Nursing, etc. and make them cost effective options. This may mean big cuts, but you have to do what is necessary to lower the cost to be at least be on par with out of state schools or you have no shot.

(06-15-2017 10:43 AM)HuskieBowWow Wrote:  This doesn't reflect well on the Board of Trustees. They were going to ignore Baker's transgressions but were forced to do something only when events became public. They were complicit and need to be held accountable as well.

Quote:The report's findings were released to university officials nearly a year ago but made publicly available only on May 31.

Agree, looks like the Trustees were going to let it go.

Horrible. So it sounds like the Board knew of this since last August, and yet let him stay on. And only after it became "public" did they feel the need to take action. And now, that "action" is a Presidential Transition Agreement" ? Which i suspect is a euphemism for a golden parachute!!!!!

Terrible. Let's see what is in that agreement-- maybe I am wrong and instead it includes an agreement for restitution of all inappropriately paid funds and an agreement to plead guilty and do time. Maybe.

(06-15-2017 12:47 PM)chihuskie Wrote:  Let's see what is in that agreement-- maybe I am wrong and instead it includes an agreement for restitution of all inappropriately paid funds and an agreement to plead guilty and do time. Maybe.

By 2020, children 18 and under who are now considered a minority or ethnic group will be the majority of children under 18 in America. Around 2035-2050 that will be the case for the entire country, so yes universities care about diversity.

(06-15-2017 12:51 PM)dekalb222 Wrote:  By 2020, children 18 and under who are now considered a minority or ethnic group will be the majority of children under 18 in America. Around 2035-2050 that will be the case for the entire country, so yes universities care about diversity.

Illinois universities are extremely diverse. We are not talking only about minorities in this country. The universities hang their hats on, take pride in, and market the fact that they admit students from around the world (mostly from all over Asia) and have a very large population of those students. This is a good thing. There are programs and resources for these students to acclimate them to the U.S. and the American universities. Now, some universities are hiring diversity officers, Associate Chancellors and Vice Provosts for Diversity, together with the requisite staffs and budgets. However, at the same time, faculty and staff are being reduced, educational offerings are being pared down or not expanded, and budgets for academic departments are being annually reduced due to the lack of a state budget. The universities already have robust diversity programs. Yet, these programs are being expanded at a time of belt tightening and strangling budgets for academic and administrative functions of the universities. Sorry, but I don't agree with this.

(06-15-2017 12:47 PM)chihuskie Wrote:  Horrible. So it sounds like the Board knew of this since last August, and yet let him stay on. And only after it became "public" did they feel the need to take action. And now, that "action" is a Presidential Transition Agreement" ? Which i suspect is a euphemism for a golden parachute!!!!!

Terrible. Let's see what is in that agreement-- maybe I am wrong and instead it includes an agreement for restitution of all inappropriately paid funds and an agreement to plead guilty and do time. Maybe.

NIU probably already has half a dozen FOIAs in their inbox for that "Transition Agreement" and any other agreement signed with Baker related to his departure.

Illinois doesn't have a budget because the Governor and his party are trying to break the union and get rid of collective bargaining. This will severely hurt education! It is wrong to hold the state hostage. You can argue over issues, policies but you still need a budget passed. I don't see one being passed until after the next election happens. When was the last time a Republican or Democratic governor didn't pass a budget.

(06-15-2017 01:25 PM)dekalb222 Wrote:  Illinois doesn't have a budget because the Governor and his party are trying to break the union and get rid of collective bargaining. This will severely hurt education! It is wrong to hold the state hostage. You can argue over issues, policies but you still need a budget passed. I don't see one being passed until after the next election happens. When was the last time a Republican or Democratic governor didn't pass a budget.

Last year.

Democrats could pass a budget without the Governor but won't.
They don't want to pass an income tax increase to fund pensions because people are at least a little smart.
The state needs reforms but politicians don't want to make tough choices.
Let's raise the tax on pop instead to an outrageous amount and say we care about obesity. What a f.. crock.