Types of Employment

NIU employees hold permanent and temporary appointments in the following employment categories:

  • Faculty
  • Supportive professional staff
  • Civil service

NIU also offers employment opportunities to students.


Permanent Appointments

In general, a permanent appointment:

  • Provides full benefits
  • Requires participation in the state's retirement system
  • Is full time (positions of less than 100% may be offered, with benefits reduced proportionally)

Faculty

Faculty positions include:

  • Those in the professional ranks (professor, associate professor, assistant professor)
  • Instructor, research and other associates

Supportive Professional Staff

A wide variety of position titles are used in the supportive professional staff category. These positions meet specialized administrative, professional and technical needs. Employees in this category receive an academic contract for a term appointment. They receive all the rights, privileges and benefits academic staff members receive, except those that apply specifically to those with faculty rank, such as eligibility for tenure.

Civil Service

Civil service employees are also referred to as operating staff members. This employment category includes a wide range of positions, including clerical, managerial and those in the trades. Procedures related to these positions are governed by the State Universities Civil Service System.


Temporary Appointments

In general, a temporary appointment:

  • Is for a maximum of one year or less
  • Provides no benefits

Faculty and Supportive Professional Staff

Temporary faculty and supportive professional staff positions are usually noncontinuous appointments of one year of less. Some benefits may be provided based on position title and appointment length.

Civil Service

Some civil service positions are offered as extra help. Employees in extra help positions work a maximum of 900 hours.


Student Employment

Many jobs for students are available on campus. A student may work on campus up to 20 hours per week. These jobs provide valuable work experience and help offset the cost of attending college. Students with financial need are often eligible for the work-study program. This program helps broaden the range of academic and career-related positions available to qualified students.

Graduate students may be employed as graduate assistants in their programs. Graduate assistantships usually include teaching, research and/or clinical components.

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