NEIU’s Faculty Assembly has voted, 188-16, that they have no confidence in the Board of Trustees appointed by the Governor of Illinois.

According to the NEIU website “The board has the authority and responsibility to operate, manage, control and maintain Northeastern Illinois University.” The vote of confidence comes amid an existential enrollment and financial crisis at NEIU, as well as staff protests for fair working conditions, causing the faculty to call into question their confidence in the board to discharge those duties. The Board of Trustees has also shown doubt in its own student body. 

Turnout was down in this vote from the previous confidence vote in President Gibson. Only 204 (40%) of the 515 members voted, down from 49% previously. However, that is still well above the 25% quorum necessary for a valid vote, according to the Faculty Assembly bylaws. Even with 60% of faculty members disengaged from the process, 92% of those voting against the board would seem to indicate that they have few allies among faculty.

The Faculty Assembly vote against the board is not binding. It is a symbolic vote, but not one without weight. The Board of Trustees is appointed by the governor of Illinois, and this vote of no-confidence could bring the university, and its enrollment and financial crisis, to the attention of Governor J. B. Pritzker.

The Faculty Senate will be meeting on Dec. 13, from 3:05 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. in Alumni Hall at the Main Campus to discuss the implications of the vote. You can attend the meeting either in person or via livestream over a Zoom link made available via Targeted Announcement email before the meeting. Opportunity for public comment will be available.