Northern Illinois University President Doug Baker will step down on June 30, the end of the current academic year. He made the announcement at the beginning of the NIU Board of Trustees meeting, which had scheduled a closed session on its agenda to review “Presidential Employment.”

Enrollment at many Illinois public universities has declined in the past decade. This coincides with the state approaching two years without a full spending plan. As a result, college-bound students have tough decisions to make.

"Property taxes are our number one problem tax, our most uncompetitive tax. The General Assembly has already indicated they are willing to pass a property tax freeze," said Governor Rauner.