The university’s fiscal 2023 budget exhibits a shortfall that officials attribute to a variety of factors, including the state budget impasse of 2015-2016, high inflation, the COVID-19 pandemic and declining enrollment. George Middlemist, vice president of administration and finance and CFO at NIU, said the university community can rest assured knowing that there is a plan in place to address the budget deficit. “The university is currently seeking out opportunities across campus to reduce the budget deficit with a goal of cutting it in half by June 30, 2024, and eliminating the deficit within three years,” Middlemist said. “As part of those efforts, we have identified potential new revenue sources. We are also working to identify potential expense reallocations and reductions to reduce the deficit.”
