NIU steps up peace efforts in southern Philippines
 NIU this past spring completed a three-year program aimed at planting seeds of peace among youth activists in a conflict-torn region of the southern Philippines. Now the university is cultivating established leaders there as well.
A dozen high profile Filipino leaders who are committed to peace in their homeland arrived on campus early this month for a three-week training institute and study tour.
The institute participants, all from the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, include a priest, lawyers, a university chancellor, a Muslim religious scholar, nongovernmental organization leaders, government representatives and former combatants in the region's civil unrest.
The U.S. Department of State provided a grant of $167,500 to NIU to partner with Filipino groups and offer the training institute, run by NIU's Center for Southeast Asian Studies and the International Training Office. Similar institutes have been offered on campus to youth activists from the same region of the Philippines.
FULL STORY
 Three members of the House Committee on Science got a firsthand look at NIU's efforts to reduce the amount of gasoline university vehicles burn each year.
Two of the university's hybrid Toyota Prius vehicles (one from the sedan pool, the other a part of the NIU police fleet) were prominently displayed at a June 5 meeting of the committee, hosted by U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert (R-Hinsdale), at the Naperville Municipal Center.
The Prius vehicles are hybrids, powered alternatively by a standard internal combustion engine and an electric motor, depending upon the situation. The university began adding the vehicles to its fleet in the 2003 model year. Currently, about 20 percent of the university auto fleet is comprised of the hybrids, including four of five police cruisers.
The hybrid cars have performed extremely well, NIU transportation manager Bill Finucane said.
FULL STORY
All in the Family
 Only one month after Jenna Sticken crossed the stage to collect an NIU bachelor's degree in special education, the 22-year-old has started graduate school.
And just like the last four years, as she begins her pursuit of a master's degree in orientation and mobility to work with children with visual disabilities, she will study in her mother's classroom.
Jodi Sticken has taught in the College of Education's Department of Teaching and Learning since 1982, two years before Jenna was born.
“I didn't know what I wanted to do,” Jenna says, “but I used to go to work with her when I was little, and right before I moved into school my freshman year, I realized I'd had so much fun. It's a rewarding career.”
“One summer, I was an O&M specialist for a transition program for high school-age blind kids, and she ended up coming with me. It was the summer after third grade for her, and she ended up having a great time,” Jodi says. “When she decided to go into this field, I said, ‘You've got to be kidding me. You always said the last thing you'd do is teach.' ”
FULL STORY
 With the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry on an upswing, Jon Carnahan is hoping to take it to a new level.
“We have an opportunity to become a force in Illinois and in the nation,” says Carnahan, a veteran NIU professor who officially took over as chemistry chair this month.
He replaces James Erman, who has retired after 36 years of service to the university, the last eight as chemistry chair. Under Erman, a Distinguished Research Professor, the department expanded its research role and further cemented its reputation for producing high-quality graduates.
The American Chemical Society (ACS) has ranked the department, which boasts about 140 undergraduate majors, among the top 25 in the nation for the number of ACS-certified bachelor's degrees awarded annually. The NIU department also is well known for producing highly sought after chemistry and science teachers.
FULL STORY
 Sixty students from Rockford Jefferson High School will spend the week of June 19 on campus for a close-up look at where college degrees could take them.
Camp organizers also hope the students will leave understanding the personal changes and hard work required to eventually – and actually – enroll in college.
Thirty sophomores and 30 juniors who are not necessarily college-bound are taking part in the second “summer institute,” paid for partly by Project REAL, NIU's federally funded partnership with the Rockford Public Schools and Rock Valley College.
Interest in the camp contrasts an otherwise indifference toward education among many of the students: Last year's debut proved so popular that the participants (who are now the returning juniors) formed an “NIU Club” at Jefferson in the fall and raised money to attend a second summer.
FULL STORY
 The NIU College of Education's Donor Recognition Dinner was held Friday, May 19, at NIU-Naperville.
The Donor Recognition Dinner is sponsored by the college's Alumni Council and Development Board. The dinner provides the college an opportunity to honor its donors and to share with them how their gifts have made a difference to the college.
Each year at this event, the Philanthropic Award and Friend of the College Awards are presented during the dinner. The College of Education Development Board nominates and selects recipients who exemplify the spirit of giving and who have made a significant difference to the college through their generosity.
This year, the College of Education recognized Anthony and Carolyn Kambich, Donald G. and Helen Gum Westlake and IBM.
The College of Education Alumni Council also recognizes exceptional friends of the college. Recipients of the Friend of the College of Education are selected based on a number of criteria that include long-term service and/or support, influence over state and federal educational policy, and volunteerism in support of the college.
This year the College of Education recognized Thomas and Judith Crowell and Thomas Nolan.
FULL STORY |
|
Kelly Wesener has accepted the position of executive director of Housing and Dining and will join NIU in early July.
Wesener currently is the director of residence life at Southeast Missouri State University. Previously she was at Hope College in Michigan, Indiana University, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and Western Illinois University.
She has an Ed.D. in higher education administration from Indiana University; a master's of science in college student personnel from Western Illinois Univeristy and a bachelor's of arts in communication from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
An exhibition titled “DeKalb at 150: The DeKalb Sesquicentennial” is open through June 30 in the lobby of Founders Memorial Lobby.
NIU's Community School of the Arts is offering a variety of summer day programs for children and adults.
Programs include Rhythm in Motion, CSA Chamber Intensive, a group piano class, Jazz Intensive, Jazz History, Oil Painting, CSA Celtic Band and Arts Jam.
To learn more about summer offerings for children and adults, call Renee Page at (815) 753-1450. -- MORE
David Zoberis Sr., who received a bachelor of fine arts degree in painting from NIU's School of Art in May, shares his view of everyday town life in DeKalb through a series of new watercolors in the sesquicentennial exhibition on display at the DeKalb Area Women's Center galleries during June.
The public is invited to view these “Works from Within” through June 28 at the OnStage Gallery and the Great Hall Exhibition space in the DAWC, which is open for public viewing from 7 to 9 p.m. Fridays, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. the first and third Saturdays, from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, June 14, and by appointment at (815) 758-1351.
The artist's reception will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 23, and is open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
The DAWC Galleries are located at 1021 State Street in DeKalb, with the accessible lift entrance from the alley north of the building. Parking is provided one-half block south of the corner at State and 11th Streets. -- MORE
The library's online catalog system (provided by CARLI, a statewide consortium of academic libraries) will be upgraded to a new version this month. This upgrade will affect some features of the system.
Users will not be able to place requests for materials in other CARLI libraries through the online catalog or through I-Share (the statewide version of the online catalog). Users can, however, submit interlibrary loan requests through this request form.
Starting Wednesday, June 14, the online catalog will be “frozen” in read-only status; no new materials will be added the catalog during this period, and the circulation status of items may not be up to date.
Users still can check out materials after June 14. Items cannot be renewed via the “My Account” function in the online catalog, but renewal is available in person at the Circulation Desk. Anything returned during the upgrade period will not be discharged until the upgrade is completed; however, no items will become due during this period. The exact duration of the upgrade is still unknown, but it should be completed by the end of June. Please check the library's Web site for updates.
NIU's catalogs are now available in a new online content management format.
Both the 2006-07 undergraduate and graduate catalogs can be viewed. Among the features of the online catalogs are advanced search capabilities; a portfolio option where the user can save favorite programs and courses and connect with the Office of Admissions for additional information; and the ease of making changes and communicating revisions to faculty and staff who work with curriculum.
Print versions of the 2006-07 undergraduate catalog are already available, and print versions of the 2006-07 graduate catalog should be available by June 30. Archives of past undergraduate and graduate catalogs are available. Print versions of the 2006-07 catalogs are posted to those respective Web sites.
The NIU Women's Basketball team will host the Fore Hoops Golf Outing from 9:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 7, at River Heights Golf Course.
The cost is $100 for golf & dinner, $25 for dinner only, $100 for hole sponsorship, $25 for cart sponsorship and $475 for foursome golf and hole sponsorship.
Register by July 31 by contacting Assistant Coach Melissa Parker at (815) 753-1492 or parker@niu.edu.
The NIU Art Museum's popular “Art to Lend” program takes place next month.
NIU employees can view available artworks from the museum's permanent collection that can be rented for display in university offices. Visit the Altgeld Gallery, on the west end of the first floor, between Monday, June 5, and Thursday, June 15, to view and make selections from the works on exhibit. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by appointment.
As in previous years, works will be assigned by lottery based on preferred selections. The lottery is scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday, June 15, in the North and Rotunda galleries of Altgeld Hall.
Delivery and installation for artwork will take place during the latter half of June and resume in August and September, depending on the amount of work selected and the availability and schedules of museum staff. Those not at the drawing, or without completed contracts, will be notified by phone June 19 or 20. A contract/invoice then will be sent. For more information, or a copy of the “Art to Lend” policy, call (815) 753-1936. -- MORE
A printable abridged version of Northern Today is available. --CLICK HERE |
