In response to recent confusion, NIU Ombudsman Tim Griffin reports that the Office of the Ombudsman still exists. It has not been closed and its name has not been changed.
The Office of the Ombudsman continues to serve students, faculty and staff from its office in the Holmes Student Center, Room 601. Call (815) 753-1414 for more information.
A customer-requested enhancement to GroupWise addressing is scheduled for implementation this weekend. After the change takes place, the “From” field in sent e-mail will contain the GroupWise user’s alias rather than the e-mail address.
For example, what previously read A10VRH1@wpo.cso.niu.edu (e-mail address) will now read vhuskie@niu.edu (e-mail alias). People who receive these e-mails will be able to easily identify the sender because the alias is more recognizable.
The work will begin at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, and is expected to be completed by noon Saturday, Oct. 11. Users will not be able to log into GroupWise/WebAccess during this time.
Three scenarios are possible:
Under all circumstances, GroupWise will be available no later than 7 a.m. Monday, Oct. 13.
There are additional impacts to GroupWise customers. The ITS Helpdesk team will be available at (815) 753-8100 throughout the weekend to address questions or concerns and provide project updates.
On the menu at Ellington’s this week: Autumn Harvest Café is scheduled for Tuesday, L’Amore di Cibo takes over Wednesday and Lady Liberty concludes the week Thursday.
New this semester is the option to enjoy wine with your meal. One red and one white wine choice will be available with meal service. Wine will be selected for the menu based on wine-and-food pairings made by the students. Wine selections will range from $4.50 to $6.50 per glass.
Autumn Harvest Café features butternut squash soup with apple brandy or baby greens, apple and walnut salad with cranberry vinaigrette for starters, pecan encrusted chicken breast or polenta with hearty vegetable casserole for entrees and hazelnut pumpkin spice cake or honey baked apples for dessert. Each table also will be served honey corn bread.
L’Amore di Cibo features marinated shrimp with Mediterranean salad or spanikopia for starters, chicken Mediterranean or eggplant marinara with couscous for entrees and ouzo-scented almond yogurt and olive oil cake or citrus ricotta figs for dessert. Each table also will be served pita bread with sun-dried tomato hummus.
Lady Liberty features capitol hill cornbread crab cakes or monumental sweet potato soup for starters, presidential pork tenderloin with roasted vegetables or Liberty Islands’ gratin with steamed asparagus for entrees and White House white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake or liberty bell apple crisp for dessert. Each table also will be served Charleston cheese garlic biscuits.
Seating is from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with service until 1 p.m. The cost is $9 per person. Ellington’s is located on the main floor of the Holmes Student Center. Call (815) 753-1763 or visit www.ellingtons.niu.edu to make reservations.
The Women’s Resource Center will host this discussion to address common questions and misconceptions about natural hair care for African American women from 3 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, at the center, 105 Normal Road, DeKalb.
For details, call (815) 753-0320.
This annual event is designed to unify women and men at NIU in an awareness of violence against women. All students and student organizations are invited to march, rally and celebrate women’s right to be safe – day and night.
The event will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7. For details, call (815) 753-0320.
NIU’s Jack Olson Gallery will host artist Mary Ann Papanek-Miller’s “Look for Alice: You Won’t Know Who to Trust” exhibition from Friday, Oct. 10, through Thursday, Oct. 30.
Papanek-Miller will attend an opening reception from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, and give a gallery talk.
The Jack Olson Gallery, located in the NIU School of Art’s Jack Arends Hall, is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. For more information, visit www.olsongallery.niu.edu.
Born in the vicinity of Chicago, Papanek-Miller received her M.A. in metals from NIU and her M.F.A., with a dual emphasis in drawing and metals, from the University of Houston in 1984.
She has exhibited widely across the country, was one of the recipients of the 2004 State of Minnesota Artist Initiative Grants co-supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and completed a commission through the Seattle Arts Commission for the new federal justice center building in Seattle, Wash., which opened to the public in November 2002.
Currently, she is a professor and chair of the Department of Art Media and Design at DePaul University in Chicago. Formerly, she served in the same capacity at the University of Montana, Bemidji State University and the Cornish College of the Arts.
Her current works are available at http://papanekmillerartist.wordpress.com. Past works are hosted at www.papanek-miller-artist.com.
For more information, call (815) 753-4521.
NIU is seeking nominations for the 2008-09 class of Board of Trustees Professorships. Application portfolios are due Wednesday, Oct. 29.
The NIU Board of Trustees Professorships were established in 2007 by President John Peters and the Board of Trustees to recognize those tenured professors who:
In considering the qualifications of nominees, special emphasis will be placed upon those who are renowned scholars or artists and have engaged students in their research and/or other professional activities.
Up to three professorships can be awarded each academic year; the 2008-2009 awards will be made April 30, 2009, at the Faculty Awards Recognition Ceremony. The recipients will receive a stipend of $10,000 per year that will be renewed annually during the five-year term of appointment as Board of Trustee Professors.
The responsibilities of the professorship include delivering the Board of Trustees Professorship Lecture; participating in workshops for the professional development of junior faculty and in activities that advance the university’s reputation and mission; maintaining an active program of teaching, scholarship or artistry and service; and submitting a report detailing activities and accomplishments during the award period.
Additional information about the nomination process and the professorships can be found at http://www.niu.edu/strategicplan/board. Application portfolios should be submitted electronically to the Office of the Provost (kjahns@niu.edu).
NIU’s Presidential Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity has limited travel funds available to help support faculty, staff and students who wish to attend conferences, workshops or seminars for the purpose of learning about or presenting scholarship on lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender topics.
Individuals requesting funds will be asked to submit a PCSOGI Request for Travel Support form, including a breakdown of costs and other sources of funding support. All travel must take place before June 30, 2009). The Request for Travel Support form is available online.
For more information, call Patricia Liberty Baczek at (815) 753-5428 or e-mail lgbt@niu.edu
Northern Pride weekly lunches offer an informal opportunity for those in NIU’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and ally community to meet, socialize and network.
The lunches are from noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays in the Blackhawk Cafeteria East Meeting Room and are open to students, faculty and staff. Those attending can purchase lunch at the Blackhawk Cafeteria or bring their own lunch. The East Meeting Room is located directly across from the cash registers in the cafeteria.
For more information, contact the LGBT Resource Center at (815) 753-5428 or at lgbt@niu.edu.
This interactive, reality-based self-defense workshop will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13, in the Chick Evans Field House.
The event is sponsored by the Women’s Resource Center. Space is limited; call (815) 753-0320 to make a reservation.
NIU will offer free flu shots to any full- or part-time faculty or staff with health care coverage through one of the State of Illinois Health Care Plans, including the HMO. Retired employees and survivors with State of Illinois health care coverage, not yet eligible for Medicare, also are eligible.
Flu shots will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, in the Duke Ellington Ballroom of the Holmes Student Center and again from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13.
Participants must present a state health insurance card and NIU OneCard ID to receive a free flu shot. Adult dependents and others also can receive flu shots at a cost of $35 each. Flu shots for children younger than 19 must be received at the DeKalb County Health Department.
For more information, call (815) 753-9191.
NIU’s Civic Leadership Academy begins its 2008-09 programming season Thursday, Oct. 9.
“Fundamentals of Economic Development and Land Use Planning: Conflicting or Parallel Goals – Exploring the Role of Government” will present insights into economic development and the role governments increasingly play in this critical piece of community health.
Recent trends and debates in approaches, tools and the relationship between land-use decisions, planning, zoning and other regulatory frameworks also will be covered.
The workshop will provide participants with key concepts and models of economic development and land use planning which, coupled with realistic expectations and strategies, will equip participants with a foundation for supporting their own existing economic development strategies or to implement changes where needed.
Co-presenters are Bob Gleeson, director of Center for Governmental Studies and associate director of Regional Development Institute; Mike Peddle, associate professor of public administration; and Roger Dahlstrom, assistant director and senior research associate for the Center for Governmental Studies.
Registration and more information about CLA workshops are available online.
The University Women’s Club of NIU will hold its annual fall open house from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the home of President and Mrs. Peters, 901 Woodlawn, DeKalb.
The University Women’s Club invites every woman associated with the university, whether she is a current or retired faculty or staff member, or the wife of a current, retired or deceased faculty or staff member, to join this long-standing organization of NIU women.
Meet people with a common interest in NIU, participate in distinct interest groups, enjoy social events and support the club’s philanthropic endeavor of providing scholarships to deserving NIU women students.
The Greater Kishwaukee Area Concert Band will present “Going Through Europe” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, in the Boutell Memorial Concert Hall, which is accessible to all. Conductor John Hansen has selected music from different parts of Europe for this free “tour.”
Open to anyone age 18 and older who has played a wind or percussion instrument in the past, this all-volunteer band requires no auditions. Rehearsals are held from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday evenings in the Huntley Middle School band room in DeKalb.
For more information, call (815) 825-2350 or (815) 899-4867.
The NIU Division of International Programs is seeking nominations for two awards that will be presented this fall during the annual International Recognition Reception.
The “Outstanding International Educator Award” honors an NIU faculty or staff member who has contributed significantly toward international education at the university. The Division of International Programs for the first time this year will recognize the award recipient with a travel reimbursement of $500.
The 2008 award recipient will have made sustained contributions to the enhancement of international education at NIU through teaching, research, public service and student-service efforts.
Joseph Grush, vice provost for resource planning, will speak at this year’s International Recognition Reception, which will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17, in the Holmes Student Center Sky Room.
The second major honor, the award for Outstanding Contribution to International Education at NIU, recognizes the academic unit or support unit that made the most significant contribution toward international education on campus during the last academic year. Last year, the award was won by the Department of Political Science; Marketing Professor Dan Weilbaker was recognized as the Outstanding International Educator.
The deadline for this year’s award nominations in both categories is Friday, Oct. 17.
More information on the awards and nomination forms is available online or by calling Sara Clayton at (815) 753-9526.
Northern Public Radio (89.5 WNIJ) invites participation in its fall membership campaign, scheduled for the week of Oct. 17 to Oct. 24.
A growing percentage of the station’s annual budget comes directly from listener-members and local business support.
Those who wish to volunteer some time answering pledge calls at the DeKalb studio, 801 N. First St., can contact Diane Drake at ddrake@niu.edu for available shifts.
Northern Public Radio is the broadcast service of NIU.
Nominations are being sought for NIU’s 2009 Presidential Research Professorships, which recognize outstanding accomplishment and future potential in academic research or creative artistry.
Faculty members may be nominated, or may initiate their own candidacy, by submitting letters of nominations or self-nominations to James Erman, interim vice president for research, by Monday, Oct. 20.
The nomination and self-nomination letters must include the candidate’s qualifications in accordance with the award specifications. Four complete sets of application materials must then be submitted to Erman’s office by Monday, Nov. 10.
Up to three new Presidential Research Professors are designated each year. Upon appointment, each award recipient will receive a base-salary increment of $2,000.
Additionally, a grant of $5,000 will be provided during each year of the appointment, provided the recipient remains a full-time NIU faculty member. The grant money is to be used for scholarly activities. Award recipients also receive one semester of release from teaching and other non-research responsibilities.
More detailed information on the award and on the call for nominations can be found at www.niu.edu/provost/awards/prp.shtml.