Each alum and friend of the university who joins the NIU Alumni Association before June 30, 2009 will receive an exclusive members-only “Alumni. Employee. Huskie For Life” T-shirt.
The membership program launched last July is an excellent way to show support for NIU and pride in the university. Members enjoy many benefits on campus and in the community. Membership opportunities are available at two levels: Cardinal & Black and Legacy. Visit myniu.com for more information.
The NIU Community School of the Arts has announced the spring recital schedule.
Soloists, ensembles and high school seniors are all featured on the stage of the Recital Hall and Concert Hall in the Music Building in May and June. Most performances end with a reception. All are free and open to the public.
Six high school seniors are performing solo recitals this spring. All performances are in the Recital Hall.
Sponsored by the NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts, the NIU Community School of the Arts is a year-round program of private music lessons, ensembles and classes in music, art and theatre for children and adults. Summer registration has begun.
For more information, visit www.niu.edu/extprograms or call Renee Page at (815) 753-1450.
Maintenance on the steam distribution equipment will force two shutdowns in May.
Domestic-use hot water and steam/hot water heat will not be available. For more information, call Kevin Howard at (815) 753-6090.
Auditions for the 2009-2010 CSJazz Band and CSA Sinfonia are scheduled from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 30. Placement auditions for the summer String Chamber Music Camp also are scheduled on this day and time.
Call the office of the NIU Community School of the Arts at (815) 753-1450 for a time assignment and details. All rehearsals and performances are in the NIU Music Building.
CSJazz Band is a top regional high school jazz band that rehearses Sunday evenings throughout the school year. Players ages 14 to 20 of trumpet, trombone, saxophone, percussion, piano, bass and vocals are needed. Saxophonist Donnie Norton, NIU jazz alumni and experienced director, is the director.
CSA Sinfonia is a full orchestra that rehearses Wednesday evenings throughout the school year. Players ages 14 to 20 of strings, woodwinds, percussion and brass instruments are needed. Linc Smelser, conductor of the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra and cello teacher, is the director.
String Chamber Music Camp is a summer program for string players ages 12 to 19 interested in playing in small ensembles. The camp is scheduled for the afternoons of Monday, July 6, through Thursday, July 9. Campers enjoy rehearsals, music theory and history classes, a master class with the Avalon Quartet and a recital on Thursday. There is a sight-reading party scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 30. Violinist and chamber teacher Laurie Rodriguez directs the camp.
For more information about these NIU Community School of the Arts programs, as well as the many other ensembles, lessons and classes available for people of all ages, visit www.niu.edu/extprograms or call Renee Page at (815) 753-1450.
NIU’s University Writing Center (UWC) will be located in Founders 302 from Monday, May 18, through Thursday, Aug. 6. The Stevenson South location will be closed for both intersession and summer school.
UWC is a place for all writers at NIU – undergraduates, graduates, staff and faculty – to talk one-on-one about their writing with trained consultants. Writers can discuss topics and ideas, clarify writing assignments and identify strategies for planning, organizing and developing drafts.
Center consultants help writers identify better ways to use language, learn appropriate methods for persuading readers, integrate critical reading and thinking skills into written form and discover ways to effectively use and document sources. Additionally, UWC consultants help writers recognize the different types of writing required for various disciplines as well as prepare résumés and applications for internships, scholarships or careers.
Many faculty have established relationships with the UWC by providing copies of assignments, notes about specific expectations and syllabi. Faculty also frequently ask UWC consultants to visit their classrooms for presentations on topics ranging from specific assignment strategies to general writing and documentation skills to an overview of UWC services and policies.
Consultants also can provide feedback for faculty on their syllabi, class assignments and/or rubrics.
For brochures that explain the hours and services or to arrange a class visit by UWC consultants, call (815) 753-6636 or visiting http://uwc.niu.edu.
The Fall 2009 Teaching Effectiveness Institute is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 13, and Friday, Aug. 14, in the Capitol Room of the Holmes Student Center. The event is sponsored by the Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center.
Day One is designed to introduce faculty to basic principles of teaching, offer information about support resources related to teaching and discuss how faculty deal with students’ needs. It is geared toward an audience who is new to teaching and to those wanting to refresh their knowledge of teaching fundamentals.
Participants will have opportunities to network with both new and experienced faculty at NIU. This institute will include interactive presentations by NIU faculty and staff.
Among the day’s 10 topics: “Planning an Effective Syllabus,” “Strategies to Energize the Classroom Experience,” “Managing Academic Integrity,” “Students with Emotional and/or Behavioral Concerns,” “Accommodating the Needs of Students with Disabilities.”
Day Two – “Teaching Strategies to Help First-Year Students Do Their Best” – will feature speaker Constance Staley, professor of communication at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.
According to recent reports, many new college students accept disengagement over engagement and less academic investment over more. When faced with a demanding course, the easiest solution is often to give up or change majors. What can those who value higher learning do to help students with lower expectations dig in and grapple with the challenge? How to raise the bar?
Some of the day’s six topics include “Understanding General Principles of Engagement and Disengagement,” “Introducing Initial Teaching Strategies that Generate Motivation and Engagement” and “Designing Specific Hands-on Teaching Strategies for Kisesthetic Learners.”
These workshops are open only to NIU faculty and staff.
Registered participants will receive workshop materials, lunch and refreshments and certificates of participation. Advanced registration is required by Friday, July 24, and early registration is encouraged. Register online for Day One and/or Day Two.
Call (815) 753-0595 for more information.
“Strengthening the First Year of College: Embracing Collaborative Partnerships,” a drive-in conference for the Midwest region, is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 25, at NIU.
The conference provides a forum for faculty, academic administrators and student affairs professionals to share ideas, resources and engaging pedagogy to enhance the learning of first-year students on two- and four-year campuses.
John Gardner, founder and senior fellow of the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, will deliver the keynote address. Plenary speaker is Betsy Barefoot, co-director and senior scholar for the Policy Center on the First Year of College.
A call for programs, registration and other conference information is available online. The deadline for proposals is Friday, July 31. Call (815) 753-1535 or e-mail firstconn@niu.edu for more information.
NIUTEL will not mail individual faculty/staff directory information change forms this year.
The new online directory provides a self-service format. Employees now can update their work information, as well as choose to hide or display personal (home) address and phone number, by accessing the directory Web site.
To update work-related information:
Employees can update: Directory Title, E-Mail Address, Alias Address, Office Address/Location and Office Telephone Number. To make updates:
Personal employee information is hidden by default and requires the employee to change that status in order for it to be displayed. Personal information that remains hidden in the online directory will not appear in the Communiversity 2009-2010 Telephone Directory. To display this information:
To change personal address or telephone information, contact Human Resources Services at (815) 753-6000.
All updates (work-related and personal) must be made no later than Monday, Aug. 3, in order to appear in the Communiversity 2009-2010 Telephone Directory. For more information or assistance, contact NIUTEL at (815) 753-0963.
What better way to show Huskie Spirit than by sharing it with someone else?
Volunteers are needed to help more than 3,000 students move into the residence halls Thursday, Aug. 20. Opening Day begins at 9 a.m.
The Division of Student Affairs also needs faculty and staff volunteers to help with two more events: Huskies Helping Huskies and House Calls.
Huskies Helping Huskies: Volunteers will be stationed at kiosks across campus on Monday, Aug. 24, and Tuesday, Aug. 25, to answer students’ questions or direct them to particular destinations on campus.
House Calls: Volunteers will greet first-year students at assigned residence hall floors the evening of Tuesday, Aug. 25. The volunteers will welcome the students and answer any questions they might have.
Volunteer registration is available online. Volunteers will receive additional information over the summer. Members of the Operating Staff who wish to participate can request release from their normal duties. Staff participation is subject to supervisory approval and should not interfere with normal operational needs of the university.
For more information, visit www.housing.niu.edu or contact Wendy Rodriguez at (815) 753-9651 or wrodriguez@niu.edu.
From the Galapagos Islands to Martha’s Vineyard, the NIU Alumni Association Travel Program is on the move.
Travel to Iceland in July to be surrounded by some of the most awesome scenery found on this planet.
In September, it’s off to the East Coast to discover some of America’s treasures in Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard. Fall is the ideal time to see the East Coast in all of its autumn splendor.
For the truly adventurous, a trip to the Galapagos Islands is planned for December. Experience the biological diversity of the islands that inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution from the luxurious comfort of an expedition-style cruise ship.
Visit myniu.com for more information about these and all other travel destinations.