Northern Illinois University

Office of Retention Programs

Students in class

College Initiatives

College of Business

  • Provides outstanding, free tutorial support for its students enrolled in UBUS 310, a 9 semester-hour course that all business students must complete prior to enrolling in upper-division degree program courses.
  • Offers computer support for its students.
  • Has formed excellent partnerships with the Northern Illinois business community, which provides quality internships and job opportunities.

College of Education

  • Through its Office of Instructional Assistance, the college provides tutorial services for teacher education majors and workshops designed to prepare students for teacher education qualifying examinations.
  • Has developed Project PRIME, which is a bridge program for community college transfer students who wish to pursue teacher education as a career. Students attend a two-week NIU residential program to prepare them academically, socially, and personally for the transition from community college to NIU.
  • Has developed a peer-advising program designed to help education majors establish early and meaningful connections with the university.

College of Engineering and Engineering Technology

  • Offers students state-of-the-art equipment to develop projects and to become knowledgeable about their chosen career field.
  • Offers free tutorial services in math and science courses to help its students successfully complete degree requirements.
  • Provides students with opportunities to become actively involved through membership in any of its 15 active student organizations.
  • Promotes healthy competition by awarding the Engineering Excellence Awards based on the demonstration of engineering ability. The top two finishers in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Technology receive Engineering Excellence Awards and one individual/group receives the best overall Engineering Excellence Award. A Certificate of Achievement and a monetary award will be given to the winners and overall winners will also have their names placed on a perpetual plaque in the lobby of the Engineering Building.
  • The college dean and associate dean visit freshmen engineering courses during the initial weeks of each semester to extend a personal welcome to students. They visit the classes to address any questions the students may have concerning their academic programs or adjustments to NIU and to let students know that they are available to them.

College of Health and Human Sciences

  • Interacts with its students in a variety of ways to develop helpful relationships between faculty and students.
  • Offers an individual departmental orientation program; faculty members teach several freshman orientation courses; and peer mentoring is available.
  • Relationships are developed between faculty members and students through involvement in student professional organizations and academic advising.
  • Has collaborated with Student Housing and Dining Services to offer their students and others a wonderful opporunity to interact with students and faculty who share similar interests in social and human services through the the university residence halls for its majors.

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

  • Freshman Interest Groups (FIGS)—Offer an exciting way for freshmen to instantly connect with other students.
    • FIGS are cohorts of students enrolled in two or three of the same general education courses designed around a common theme in the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences.
    • The FIG program provides an excellent opportunity for students to interact with faculty members and meet new friends in a focused learning community.
    • At the same time, students are fulfilling essential university requirements.

College of Visual and Performing Arts

  • The Undergraduate Artistry and Research Apprenticeship Program provides an excellent opportunity for undergraduate visual and performing arts majors to collaborate with faculty members in a unique way. The program is designed to search for and create new knowledge and to celebrate the accomplishments of undergraduate artistry and scholarship.
  • The college offers math tutorial support and peer advising.
  • Fall 2000 saw the creation of a Fine Arts House academic residential option for majors in the college through a collaborative effort with Student Housing and Dining Services.