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.

Founded in 1969, CGS has served at NIU for five decades, generating and sharing knowledge with scores of university and external partners. A 50th Anniversary conference Nov. 7, 2019, not only highlighted the important accomplishments of CGS, but also was future-focused. Visit our 50th Anniversary page for more details, including Conference videos, photos and handouts.

Current CGS Programs

Civic Leadership Academy: The NIU Center for Governmental Studies recognizes that organizations are experiencing decreasing financial resources due to COVID-19. We would like to help you with your training needs. We have been able to convert a selection of our remaining CLA workshops to webinars (online instruction). With the support of our presenters, who have generously donated their time and talent, we are able to offer you the remaining webinars at NO COST. Visit the CLA Page.

Past CGS Programs

Illinois Financial Forecast Forum: The Illinois City/County Management Association, Illinois Government Finance Officers Association, and the Northern Illinois University Center for Governmental Studies sponsored the Annual Illinois Financial Forecast Forum: Private Sector Views that Impact the Public Sector Jan. 24, 2020, at Harry Caray's, Lombard, IL. Visit the Financial Forecast Forum page for a complete wrap-up of the day's program, including photos and links to presentations.

CGS In the News

 CGS Practice Areas

• Association Management
• Community and Economic Development
• Workforce Development
• 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...