Northern Illinois University
Center for Governmental Studies
Outreach, Engagement, and Regional Development

Mission

The Center for Governmental Studies at Northern Illinois University provides expertise that helps decision-makers implement efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective approaches to economic, social, and information management issues.

Shaping our Future:  Purpose, Partnership, Possibilities
Framing Sustainable Solutions

On Nov. 7, 2019, a one-day convening will be held at Holmes Student Center on NIU’s DeKalb campus to celebrate CGS’s five decades of generating and sharing knowledge with its many university and external partners and chart a course for the future. This celebration will not only highlight the important accomplishments of CGS, but also be future-focused: how to understand and harness the vast demographic, economic, environmental, and technological forces that are reshaping our world. The day includes a keynote address by Neil Howe, an authority on generations and social change in America; and features an afternoon keynote address by Rebecca Ryan, APF, futurist and economist, who brings humor to her presentations. She will address the top trends facing communities including access to air, water, land, and energy, changes in technology, changing demographics, and governance. Visit our 50th Anniversary page for more details!

Current CGS Programs / Upcoming Events

Civic Leadership Academy: Program Descriptions and registration information will be available soon for the 2019-2020 Civic Leadership Academy. Visit the CLA Page.

Past CGS Programs

CGS In the News

 CGS Practice Areas

• Association Management
• Community and Economic Development
• Workforce Development
• Health and Technology Engagement
• Informatics
• Data Visualization
• Public Management and Training
• Survey Research
  

CGS Recent Work

Illinois Critical Access Hospitals: Exploring the Financial Impacts of the Swing Bed Program - The Swing Bed Program is a Medicare program available to Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and rural Prospective Payment System (PPS) hospitals with fewer than 100 beds. To better understand the significance of the Swing Bed Program in rural Illinois, the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (ICAHN) partnered with NIU’s Center for Governmental Studies to survey Illinois CAHs regarding the importance of their Swing Bed Programs in terms of financial indicators, quality outcomes, and community benefits. Three PDFs are available to download from the CGS Reports page.

Policy Profiles February 2019 -“Smart Tip:  A Strategy for Rural Communities to Reverse Population Losses and Increase Tax Revenues” provides how-to-do-It guidelines for rural communities seeking to maintain, sustain, and improve their home town, particularly home towns afflicted with declining population  and struggling local businesses.

Policy Profiles June 2018 - “The Future of Rural Illinois:  Predicaments and Possible Solutions”

Vol. 2 lllinois Municipal Policy Journal - Includes two articles by CGS research associates.

Vol. 1 lllinois Municipal Policy Journal - Includes two articles by CGS research associates.

Unemployment, Labor Force Participation and the Illinois Work Force - Report

"Think Globally/Eat Locally" - Video

More CGS Work...