DeKALB – Two members of Northern Illinois University President Doug Baker’s Cabinet have announced their departures from the school, school officials said Tuesday.
Alan Phillips, vice president for administration and finance, announced his retirement after a 40-year career in higher education leadership and government in order to spend more time with his family.
Phillips has been with NIU since March 2015. He and his staff were instrumental in developing an extensive budget management plan that allowed the university to endure an over 70 percent loss in state funding for 2016 because of the state’s ongoing budget impasse. His annual salary is $245,000.
“Al’s expertise and strategic work has had an extraordinary impact on the university,” Baker said in a news release. “He and his team have put in place policies and procedures for cost controls and long-term budgeting that will serve us very well going forward. Al will be missed, and we wish him all the best in his well-earned retirement.”
Phillips is set to retire March 1. NIU spokesman Joe King said that the board of trustees will be voting Thursday on hiring a professional search firm to help find his replacement.
“If the board approves of that, and once a firm is in place, we will have a better handle on a timeline,” King said.
Eric Weldy, vice president of student affairs, announced that he would also be leaving NIU to accept a position as vice chancellor for student affairs at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis starting Jan. 1.
Weldy started at NIU in July 2013. Since that time, the university’s retention rate among freshmen and sophomores increased from 66 percent to 73 percent, which Weldy said was one of his proudest accomplishments.
He also helped to streamline the application process for students and expand orientation to allow students to adapt to the university easier. Weldy’s annual salary is $205,000.
“One of the risks you take when you hire excellent people is that they are always in demand elsewhere,” Baker said. “For the last 31/2 years, Eric has worked selflessly to restructure the functions of his office for the greater good of the university. His efforts have positioned us to succeed and we will miss his leadership.”
Decisions regarding future leadership are expected to be announced at the end of the year. King said that no candidates are being considered for Weldy’s position at this point, but if one can’t be found by Jan. 1, then the university would appoint someone internally to carry the responsibilities of the vice president of student affairs in the interim.