NIU reports curricular changes to Illinois Board of Higher Education for fiscal 2025

Northern Illinois University reported a package of curricular changes to the Illinois Board of Higher Education for fiscal year 2025, including new programs, deletions and name changes, Provost Lori Eilish Piper told the Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Personnel Committee.
Piper summarized the submission: “In fiscal 25, we created 1 degree program, 6 certificate programs, 2 minors, 2 concentrations, and 6 specializations. In addition, 3 certificates were approved as stand alone certificates. During the fiscal year 25, we also deleted 2 programs, 4 certificates, 2 specializations, and 2 emphases. Finally, 5 programs were approved for name changes.” She said the full details are in the board book and that the changes were reported to the IBHE in June as required.
Nut graf: The annual listing is a routine, required communication to the state higher-education regulator; the provost described these changes as part of normal catalog maintenance and continuous program improvement.
Committee chair Veronica Herrero emphasized that these were changes the board had already discussed in prior meetings and that the item was a summary report rather than a new policy decision. Piper also tied this listing to an earlier May report on academic programs, saying the data helps programs “engage in continuous improvement processes and identify challenges and opportunities.”
The item was informational and did not require a committee vote. Piper noted the report’s role in curriculum oversight and said the full program-level data is available in the accompanying board materials.
Ending: Committee members had no further questions on the listing and the meeting moved to other matters and adjournment.