Chuck Walz
Associate Director, Recruitment & Operations
CWalz@niu.edu
Alma Mater: Northeastern Illinois University and University of Iowa
Major/Degree: M.A., Educational Administration; B.A., English and Spanish
What advice do you have for future students? Think of NIU as a beginning and a time to explore. Getting a bachelor's degree is a starting point. Use your time at NIU to discover things that you wouldn't normally. Above all, get involved in on-campus activities and meet as many people as you can.
What are 3 things you love about NIU? DeKalb itself: DeKalb is the only college town within easy reach of Chicago. Thus, you have a unique blend of urban, suburban, and exurban characteristics from which to draw. More than anything else, a college town like DeKalb offers a wide variety of cultural, academic, and social offerings that you won't find in other towns of its size.
The people: Students, faculty, and staff on campus are friendly and easy to approach. I felt at home the first day that I arrived on campus, and I still feel the same way.
NIU's comprehensiveness: With over 65 undergraduate majors, 78 graduate programs, and a law school, you can really enjoy being part of something bigger. When we as Admissions staff meet with the public, we can pretty much always feel good that whatever a student is looking for, NIU offers it.
What is your favorite place on campus? Algeld Hall. Altgeld was the first building constructed on campus in 1899 and serves as a reminder of NIU's proud history. The restoration of Altgeld, which was completed in 2004, did this great building justice. Every time I enter Altgeld, it reminds me of why I'm proud to be a part of the NIU community!