Chairman Ford, Vice Chairwoman Hernandez, Minority Spokesperson Severin and esteemed members of the committee, I appreciate the opportunity to provide testimony today on behalf of Northern Illinois University. My name is Lisa Freeman, and I serve proudly as the 13th President of NIU. Accompanying me today are Executive Vice President and Provost Laurie Elish-Piper, Vice President for Administration and Finance George Middlemist and Senior Associate Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer John Acardo.
I want to begin my testimony by highlighting NIU’s significant impact on the lives of the students and communities we serve, and the value that our engaged, public research university adds to Illinois. An impact study conducted in January estimated NIU’s contribution to the regional economy to be 9,200 jobs and $1.2 billion in output attributable to student spending, university operations and capital projects. More importantly, the more than 165,000 NIU alumni living in Illinois contribute significantly to the educated workforce that helps our state attract new business and industry and support the local and state tax base. As noted in the materials that we shared, the average salary for new NIU graduates entering the workforce after earning their bachelor’s degrees in 2021 through 2023 was more than $60,000 and the average salary for all NIU alumni with bachelor’s degrees or higher is more than $95,000. These figures underscore the pivotal role NIU plays in driving economic growth and prosperity for the region and state. Investing in NIU represents more than just a financial commitment; it signifies a direct investment in bolstering the regional and statewide economy, fostering innovation and cultivating a skilled workforce poised for success in an increasingly competitive global landscape.
NIU embraces its public mission and its institutional responsibility for supporting the access and success of students who have been too often overlooked and underserved. NIU has a long history of serving promising students who are the first in their families to attend college, or from under-resourced or minoritized communities. And, we are intentionally growing our capacity to serve adult learners who may be members of the incumbent workforce; place-bound; and parents or caregivers.
Importantly, NIU’s student body is demographically reflective of our region as well as the changing face of our nation. Students of color make up nearly 60% of our undergraduate class. Among the public universities, NIU accounts for 9% of total undergraduate enrollment but 15% of African American undergraduate enrollment and 11% of African American baccalaureate degree completion. Latino enrollment at NIU has increased by nearly 40% over the past decade, and this year, for the first time in NIU’s history, Latinx students comprise 25% of the total undergraduate population, a noteworthy accomplishment positioning us on a trajectory toward becoming one of relatively few high research institutions to receive full designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution.
Our commitment to fostering student access and success, particularly for historically underserved individuals, has driven us to be innovative. We are known for pioneering initiatives and implementing effective practices before they gained widespread adoption. To promote access, we were among the first universities in Illinois and nationally to eliminate the use of standardized tests in merit-based financial aid and admissions. And, we voluntarily joined the Public University Uniform Admission Pilot Program initiated in support of the IBHE strategic plan, providing automatic general admission to students in the top 10% of their high school class. Most recently, to further our dedication to accessibility and affordability, we have expanded the criteria for our AIM HIGH Huskie Pledge. Specifically, we have extended eligibility for free tuition and fees to students from families with adjusted gross family income of $100,000. Under the previous ceiling of $75,000 implemented in 2020, nearly 3,500 full-time students have qualified and enrolled at NIU. The AIM HIGH Huskie Pledge is one of the reasons that currently 43% of NIU undergraduate students pay no tuition or fees. We look forward to making an NIU education more affordable to a larger pool of academically accomplished students.
To foster persistence and degree-attainment for all Huskie students, we are responsive to their needs and provide them with a supportive and engaging environment where they feel seen, heard and valued. In this pursuit, we use evidence to inform our investments in high-impact academic and non-academic supports. We have made significant advancements implementing single-stop service centers, financial advising services, inclusive teaching practices in gateway courses and student well-being and mental health supports. We have also formed effective partnerships with community colleges, community-based organizations and industry partners. This significant commitment of human and financial resources is what enables our creative and capable students to succeed at and beyond NIU.
The power of our holistic approach is exemplified in the outcomes of the NIU Rockford Promise program. Over the past three years, we have welcomed more than 300 graduates from Rockford Public Schools to NIU—tuition- and fee-free; approximately 70% are first-generation and 60% are students of color. To aid in their success, Rockford Promise students engage in mentoring groups and attend monthly student success sessions covering topics such as time management, study skills and campus resources. NIU’s Rockford Promise Scholars’ grades have trended upward each completed semester, with their cumulative grade point average increasing from 3.04 in fall 2022 to 3.26 in fall 2023. And, impressively, at 85%, the first-year retention rate for Rockford Promise Scholars is significantly higher than the average for all new freshmen (70%).
Rockford Promise highlights what is possible when institutions have adequate funding to achieve equitable access and success for historically underserved student populations. Post-pandemic, we have recognized a pressing need to increase academic and non-academic supports for all NIU students. In fact, targeted investment has helped our retention and re-enrollment rates rebound after a significant COVID-related drop-off. For example, this academic year, 88% of full-time undergraduate students returned after the fall 2023 semester, resulting in the second highest fall-to-spring reenrollment rate in over a decade. This accomplishment is significant because of the association between retention and graduation rates, and the important role that NIU plays in promoting the social mobility of Illinois students, families and communities.
NIU is grateful for the governor’s proposal of a 2% increase to our annual operating appropriations and the continued commitment to MAP and AIM HIGH, against the background of a challenging budget climate for our state and public universities. We also commend the legislature for recognizing the toll that historical disinvestment in higher education has taken on the public universities’ abilities to serve Illinois students and drive inclusive economic growth. The legislature’s endorsement of the IBHE strategic plan, “Thriving Illinois,” and the establishment of the Illinois Commission on Equitable Public University Funding, represent important steps toward achieving our shared goals of addressing disparities in educational attainment and providing adequate, equitable and stable funding for Illinois’ public universities.
The FY25 appropriations request approved by the NIU Board of Trustees requested base operating funding of $113.4M and an additional $3M to support new initiatives associated with things like enhanced student success services, adult learner initiatives and expansion of in-demand academic programs. That request exceeds both the governor’s recommended appropriation of $100.6M and the IBHE recommendation of $106.4M. To address the shortfall, we will continue to improve operational efficiency, look for opportunities to leverage relationships as resources and work collaboratively with the governor’s office, legislators and other institutions to pursue operational flexibility. NIU will prioritize sustaining high-impact programs critical to the success of enrolled students but, realistically, we may need to scale back plans to expand student support initiatives including adding summer-bridge programs and expanding advising, tutoring, and coaching.
To conclude, Northern Illinois University remains dedicated to advancing equity, access and student success in higher education and beyond. We clearly understand the needs of our students and the costs of the services required for their success. We are committed to collaborating with policymakers, community partners and stakeholders to ensure that all students, regardless of background or circumstance, have the opportunity to thrive academically and professionally. By adapting, innovating and investing in talented Illinois students, we will continue to provide the transformative educational experiences that enable them and our state to excel in an ever-changing world.