While there is some debate over which of NIU’s five presidential commissions was officially first, there is little doubt that they have over the past four decades provided tremendous insight into the needs and concerns of specific constituencies.

In his book The Achieving Institution, President William Monat describes a group of female faculty and staff who came to him with the idea of a formal group somewhere around 1978 or 79. He “enthusiastically accepted it,” he wrote, and the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women was created in 1980.

Some forty-three pages later, Monat described meetings with African-American students and staff that “resulted in my creation of a Presidential Commission on the Status of Minorities, similar to my earlier formation of the Commission on the Status of Women.”

Regardless of which came first, the commissions provided Monat and each succeeding NIU president with valuable input on quality of life issues.

The Presidential Commission on the Status of Women uses awards, education and research to address issues that impact all women who are members of the university community.

The Presidential Commission on the Status of Minorities advises the president on the status of minority students, faculty and staff, and recommends improvements in the quality of life and opportunities for ethnic minorities.

The Presidential Commission on the Persons with Disabilities serves as a university-wide advocate promoting awareness, educating the university community and assisting individuals on disability-related issues.

The Presidential Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity makes recommendations to the president on actions needed in areas including academic programs, student services, workplace matters and university policies.

The newest presidential advisory group is the Presidential Commission on Interfaith Initiatives. This group advises the president on research and actions needed to accommodate the needs of individuals who wish to practice their religious, spiritual or philosophical beliefs in a supportive climate.